PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Terrence Thornton (ranked 915 p4p, 125 weight class) and Sergio Garcia (ranked 887 p4p, 120 weight class). Thornton comes to the cage accompanied by Pusha T - Exodus 23:1. Garcia has chosen Ludacris - Beast Mode as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Sergio Garcia was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Thornton
vs
Garcia

187 cm
39
178 lbs
24 - 9 - 1

183 cm
29
182 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Sin City Allstars

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Terrence Thornton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sergio Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thornton slaps away a takedown attempt from Garcia, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Garcia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thornton manages to avoid it.
Thornton has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Garcia misses with the body kick
and Thornton makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Thornton misses with a straight right.
Thornton feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Garcias jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Garcia works Thornton's body with a nice hook.
Garcia throws an overhand right that lands on Thornton's shoulder, as Thornton tries to avoid the shot.
Garcia ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thornton moves away.
Thornton tests Garcia's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Garcia throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Thornton counters with a nice body kick.
Thornton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Garcia tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thornton was well out of range. Poor timing from Garcia.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Garcia has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Thornton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Garcia.
Thornton jabs at Garcia's body.
A swing and a miss from Thornton.
Garcia tries a head kick but it misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Thornton shoots in and bounces Garcia off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Thornton postures up and lands a big shot to Garcia's brow.
Thornton wants to pass the guard but Garcia is keeping the position.
Thornton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Thornton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thornton postures up in Garcia's guard and throws a big left but Garcia blocks it.
Garcia looking to control.
Thornton won't allow Garcia to sweep him here.
Garcia lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Garcia must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thornton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Garcia can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thornton looking to control.
Thornton keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.

Thornton looking for a guillotine here but Garcia defends easily.
Thornton is trying to control the position but Garcia postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Garcia trying to control the position from guard on top but Thornton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Garcia working some strikes from top position.
Garcia lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Garcia wants to stand and escape but instead Thornton has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Garcia seems keen to control Thornton's posture.
Thornton throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garcia working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thornton.
Garcia working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is pulling down on Thornton's head. It's preventing any offense from Thornton, at least for the moment.
Thornton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Garcia is pulling down on Thornton's head to control his posture.
Thornton sitting in guard here, content to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Thornton postures up in Garcia's guard and throws a big left but Garcia blocks it.
Thornton stopping the sweep attempt from Garcia.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thornton chips away with some ground and pound.
Thornton is looking to work some ground and pound but Garcia has wrist control.
Thornton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Terrence Thornton dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Garcia looks to score with a jab to the body but Thornton is just out of range.
Thornton scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Garcia takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Terrence Thornton is winning the standup battle so far.
Thornton misses with an uppercut.
Thornton lands a jab to the nose.

Thornton gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Thornton keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.
Thornton keeping full guard, as Garcia tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia won't allow Thornton to sweep him here.
Thornton is working hard here to advance position.

Thornton working for a triangle but Garcia defends it easily.
Terrence Thornton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thornton is trying to keep Garcia in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia scoring with punches to the head and body.
Garcia trying to control the position from guard on top but Thornton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Garcia looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Thornton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Thornton looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Garcia controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Thornton keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thornton misses with a hook
and Garcia counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Garcia is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Garcia scores with a leg kick.
Thornton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Garcia can do to turn this around?
Garcia tries to clinch but Thornton is having none of it.
Thornton ducks under a wild hook from Garcia.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton shoots in for a double leg but Garcia sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Garcia shoots in but Thornton avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thornton lands a head shot.
Thornton is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Thornton connects with a jab.
Garcia keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thornton.
Garcia changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Thornton, as that shot connected.
Thornton misses with a hook.
Thornton fails to land the takedown.
Garcia works Thornton's body with a nice hook.
Thornton missing with a left hand there. Garcia was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thornton takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Garcia feints and then cracks Thornton's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thornton down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia slips a jab from Thornton.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Thornton crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Garcia - the referee stops the clock and Thornton gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Garcia. Thornton manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thornton lands a body shot.
Thornton misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Terrence Thornton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garcia looks to land a body kick but Thornton moved away.
Decent striking displayed by Thornton there.
Thornton slips a jab and a cross from Garcia.
Thornton throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thornton stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Garcia.
Garcia throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Garcia lands a nice looking body kick.
Garcia throws a leg kick that misses.
Thornton misses with a hook to the body
and Garcia counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thornton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sergio Garcia will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Thornton throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Garcia sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Garcia misses the shot to the body.
Garcia misses with a lunging right hand
letting Thornton counter with a right hand.
Garcia jabs Thornton right on the nose. Thornton blinks but takes it well.
Garcia displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thornton throws out the jab.
Garcia misses with a leg kick.
Garcia connects with a jab.
Thornton throws the left hand but Garcia avoids the punch easily.
Thornton throws an off balance right hand
and Garcia counters with a nice leg kick.
Garcia misses with a left hand

and Thornton counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Garcia controls Thornton momentarily but Thornton frees himself.
Thornton throws a big right hand that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Garcia is on top in guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thornton being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thornton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thornton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Garcia.
Garcia slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Thornton looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Garcia has picked Thornton up and slammed him! Thornton can't keep hold of the triangle and Garcia manages to pass to side control!
Thornton tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Garcia wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Thornton throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Garcia wants to control but Thornton is keeping him busy.

Garcia decides to stand back up.
Garcia takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Thornton dives in for a single leg takedown but Garcia sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Thornton lands a nice shot to the body.
Thornton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thornton shoots in looking for a takedown but Garcia manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thornton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Thornton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Garcia but Garcia pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Terrence Thornton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot to the body from Thornton misses
and Thornton takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Garcia is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thornton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thornton takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Donk. Garcia catches Thornton right on the button with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Garcia closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Thornton's guard.
Thornton is trying to keep Garcia in close.

Thornton looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Garcia passes into side control.
Garcia working the body and head with strikes.
Garcia trying to control the position but Thornton is working away.
Thornton managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Garcia.
Thornton tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Garcia wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is looking to take a break and control but Thornton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thornton sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Garcia trying to control from Thornton's half guard. Thornton has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Garcia trying to control the position from guard on top but Thornton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Thornton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Garcia is aware though and is defending well.
Garcia showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Thornton keeping moving, preventing Garcia from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergio Garcia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Garcia has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergio Garcia!
Sergio Garcia decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.