PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thanh Thornton (ranked 25082 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kim Bo Myung (ranked 6252 p4p, 421 weight class). Kim Bo Myung will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Thornton
vs
Bo Myung

157 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

171 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thanh Thornton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kim Bo Myung!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Myung fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thornton sprawls well initially but Myung persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Thornton pushes Myung off but Myung dives into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Thornton manages to work his way to half guard, despite Myung's best efforts.
Myung looks winded!
Thornton wants to get back to full guard.
Thornton is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Myung's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Myung's back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thornton throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Myung!

Thornton is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Myung knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Myung for a finish.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Myung tries to break free.
Myung is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thornton working for the choke.
Myung turns into Thornton and is now in his guard.
Myung wants to stand and escape but instead Thornton has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Our spies down at at Cozad MMA Las Vegas inform us that Myung has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Thornton slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Myung.
Myung throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Myung tries to roll over but Thornton keeps him under control.

Thornton looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thornton is working for a submission of some sort.

Thornton is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Myung is just riding it out for now. Thornton eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Myung wants to get back to full guard but Thornton has mounted him!
Myung looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Thornton is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Myung defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thornton looking to break Myung's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Myung remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Thornton will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Myung turns into Thornton and is now in his guard.
Thornton working a defensive guard here.

Thornton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Myung is aware though and is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Myung wants to control from the top but Thornton keeps moving.
Myung is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thanh Thornton dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Myung closes the distance and clinches.

Myung manages to break the clinch.

Myung shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Thornton is trying to defend but Myung finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Thornton regains full guard. Nicely done.
Myung controls from within his opponent's guard.
Myung is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Myung won't allow Thornton to sweep him here.
Thornton wants to improve his position but instead Myung has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Myung not doing much here.
Myung is nestled in close to Thornton, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Thornton moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Thornton is trying to control the position but Myung postures up.
Thornton wants to improve his position but instead Myung has moved into half guard.
Thornton wants to get back to full guard.
Thornton could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Thornton missing with punches from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Myung not doing much here.
Thornton is trying to get back to full guard.
Myung is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Thornton manages to get to full guard.
Thornton lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Myung looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thornton passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Myung tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thornton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Thornton in side control, throwing shots but Myung defends.
Myung tries to bench press Thornton off him but Thornton keeps the position.

Thornton wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Myung, who protects the arm well.

Thornton looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thornton working away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Myung can do anything to dispel that myth.
Myung tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
You can see the frustration on Myung's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Thornton is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Myung has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Myung tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Thanh Thornton will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Myung fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thornton sprawls well initially but Myung persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Thornton has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Myung is on him like a limpet, forcing Thornton back against the cage.
Myung is trying to break free.
Myung is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thornton is keeping busy.
Thornton scores with a shot to the side of Myung's head.
Myung wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Thornton has Myung pressed against the cage, preventing Myung from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thornton leaning his opponent against the cage.
Myung tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thornton's elbow.
Myung takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Thornton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Myung's brow.
Myung blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Myung lands a takedown into guard.
Thornton controls Myung momentarily but Myung frees himself.
Myung stopping the sweep attempt from Thornton.

Thornton scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Myung misses with a few strikes there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Thornton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Myung misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thornton appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Thornton scores with a head kick. Myung tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Thornton keeps the fight on the outside.

Myung feints and as Thornton raises his hands in defense, Myung changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Thornton kicks Myung off and gets to his feet.
Myung avoids the head kick by Thornton.

Myung looking to score a takedown here. Thornton is defending well but Myung drives through and ends up in Thornton's guard.

Thornton pushes Myung off and gets back to his feet.
Thornton throws a head kick that half lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Myung blocks a head kick by Thornton.
Myung lands a two punch combo.
Myung looks to score with a jab to the body but Thornton is just out of range.

Myung decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Thornton manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Myung keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

Myung escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thornton avoids a punch combination nicely.
As Myung tries to get set, Thornton tries to push him back and clinch up but Myung manages to avoid the attempt.
Myung avoids the head kick by Thornton.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Myung drives through with a takedown into guard.
Myung wants to pass the guard but Thornton is keeping the position.
Thornton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Myung works over Thornton with some ground and pound from guard.
Kim Bo Myung has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thanh Thornton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thornton has his hands on Myung's head, controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thanh Thornton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thornton, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thanh Thornton!