PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Layton (ranked 4899 p4p, 4838 weight class) and Zachary Thornton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Layton
vs
Thornton

190 cm
25
227
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
235
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jack Layton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zachary Thornton!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Ryoma Takatsuka and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Layton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thornton blocks a jab.
Layton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thornton moves away.
Thornton tries to counter by closing the distance.
Layton throws a body shot but no joy.

Thornton decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Layton keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Layton works his way to full guard. Good work.
Layton pulls Thornton in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Layton working a defensive guard here.
Layton looking for a sweep. Not yet Layton, not yet.
Thornton being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Layton tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Layton has a closed guard, preventing Thornton from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thornton trying to control the position from guard on top but Layton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Layton is trying to keep Thornton in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Layton misses with an uppercut. Thornton saw that one coming.

Thornton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Thornton is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Layton knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Layton sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Layton is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thornton's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thornton's back!
Thornton is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Layton.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Layton's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Thornton is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Layton trying to control momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Layton is riding his opponent, not letting Thornton buck him off.
Layton struggling to land strikes to the head as Thornton covers up.
Layton struggling to land strikes to the head as Thornton covers up.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Layton's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Layton biding his time, looking for the opening.
Layton not allowing Thornton to control his hands.
Thornton needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.
Layton keeps control of the position easily here as Thornton tries to buck him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Layton trying to control.
Layton really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Thornton.
Thornton trying to control the hands but Layton won't let him.
Even with his hooks in, Layton manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Layton just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Layton dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thornton walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Thornton takes one to the chin there.
Layton lands a jab to Thornton's midsection.
Layton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thornton can do to turn this around?

Thornton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Layton sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Layton wants to control but Thornton is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Layton makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Layton.
Layton is adopting a defensive guard.
Layton is trying to control the position but Thornton postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Layton 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!
Layton throwing strikes from guard but Thornton blocks nicely.
Layton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton controlling Layton's posture.
Layton stopping the sweep attempt from Thornton.
Layton wants to control from the top but Thornton keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Thornton can do anything to dispel that myth.
Layton sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Thornton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Layton passes Thornton's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Thornton is trying to get back to full guard.
Thornton is looking to escape.
Layton thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Layton is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thornton wants to improve his position but Layton is controlling well.
Layton trying to control from half guard but Thornton is working away.

Thornton looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thornton wants to control but Layton is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Layton.
Jack Layton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Layton has managed to clinch.
Layton lands with a light punch inside.
Layton is leaning against Thornton and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Thornton is breathing heavily.
Layton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Layton creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A hook to the body from Layton.
Layton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Good body shot from Layton.
A shot in the inside from Layton.
Layton misses with a hook to the ribs.
A nice right hand lands inside from Layton.

Thornton is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Still in the clinch, Layton scores with a nice short uppercut.
Thornton is still on wobbly legs! Can Layton finish him?
A hook to the body from Layton.

Layton has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Thornton uses from the top position.
Layton bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thornton's guard.

Layton 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thornton trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Layton stays in close to Thornton's body and controls the position.
Thornton seems to have recovered his senses.
Thornton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Layton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Layton throwing strikes from guard but Thornton blocks nicely.
Layton's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Layton postures up.
Layton is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Thornton is trying to control the position but Layton postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Layton dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Layton lands with an uppercut that bounces Thornton off the cage and back into range.
Thornton walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Layton swings for the body but Thornton moves out of range.
Layton jabs Thornton right on the nose. Thornton blinks but takes it well.
Layton avoids a kick to the body.
Layton keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Thornton closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Layton gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Layton gets back to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Layton controls Thornton momentarily but Thornton frees himself.
Layton controlling the position.
Layton is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Layton looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Layton has Thornton pulled in close to control his posture.
Layton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thornton wants to pass the guard but Layton is keeping the position.

Thornton is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Layton has his hands on Thornton's head, controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Thornton takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Thornton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Layton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thornton slips under a jab from Layton.

Layton gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Thornton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Layton looking for a guillotine here but Thornton defends easily.
Layton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thornton manages to get himself to full guard.

Layton slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Thornton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Layton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Layton remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Layton trying to control the action but Thornton is working from the bottom.
Layton content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Thornton struggling a bit here.
Thornton parries the strikes from Layton easily there. Layton is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Thornton to escape.
Layton taking a breather here.
Layton working the body and head with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thornton is not content to let Layton control the position.
Layton controls the position.
Layton wants to control but Thornton is keeping him busy.
Layton happy to just control the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Layton misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Zachary Thornton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Layton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thornton keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Layton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Layton has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Layton!
A very excited looking Jack Layton rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.