PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hatori Hanzo (ranked 1894 p4p, 1593 weight class) and Magnus Thoressen (ranked 231 p4p, 191 weight class). Hatori Hanzo had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Hanzo
vs
Thoressen

177 cm
27
163
11 - 8 - 1

178 cm
29
167
12 - 9 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hatori Hanzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Magnus Thoressen!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thoressen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hanzo.
Hanzo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thoressen.
Thoressen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hanzo.
A right-left combo lands from Thoressen.
Thoressen defending well as Hanzo loads up on a big left hand.
Thoressen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Thoressen swats away the attempt to clinch by Hanzo.
Hanzo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thoressen misses with a hook. Hanzo ducked under it nicely.
Hanzo tries to clinch but Thoressen is having none of it.

Hanzo lands a big head kick that sends Thoressen tumbling to the mat! Hanzo takes a step backwards and waves Thoressen back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Thoressen is rocked!

It looks like Magnus Thoressen has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hanzo moves out of range as Thoressen strikes.

Thoressen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hanzo struggles to land a body shot inside as Thoressen controls his hands.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hanzo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Thoressen's brow.
Thoressen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hanzo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thoressen lands a shoulder strike.
Hanzo lands a hook that snaps the head of Thoressen backwards.
Hanzo has a couple of punches blocked by Thoressen.

Hanzo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thoressen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hanzo doesn't seem bothered though.
Thoressen ducks under a wild hook from Hanzo.
Hanzo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Thoressen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hanzo.
Hanzo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thoressen moves away.

Hanzo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thoressen.
Hanzo lands an elbow inside that Thoressen shrugs off.
Thoressen misses with a knee strike.
Thoressen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hanzo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thoressen's elbow.
Hanzo takes a shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thoressen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hanzo lands with a left to the head.
Thoressen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hanzo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thoressen scores with a knee to the head.
Thoressen misses with a knee to the head.
Hanzo misses with some punches.
Hanzo blocks an uppercut.
Thoressen misses with the head strike.
Thoressen prevents a body shot from Hanzo.
Hanzo lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Thoressen backwards.
Thoressen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thoressen tries to land a knee to the head but Hanzo blocks with his arms.
Hanzo misses with the head strike.
Hanzo is looking for a takedown.
Hanzo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Thoressen lands with a left to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thoressen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hanzo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hanzo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hanzo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Thoressen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hanzo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Thoressens head.
Thoressen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hanzo blocks it with crossed arms.
Thoressen tries a knee to the head but Hanzo blocks it.
Thoressen misses with a knee to the head.
Thoressen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Thoressen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hanzo blocking some punches.
Thoressen avoiding damage as Hanzo throws knees to the body.
Hanzo misses with some punches.
Thoressen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hanzo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hanzo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thoressen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nice elbow from Hanzo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thoressen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hanzo lands a hook that snaps the head of Thoressen backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Thoressen.
Thoressen misses with a knee strike.
Thoressen misses with a knee to the head.
Thoressen has Hanzo pressed against the cage, preventing Hanzo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hanzo swings wildly with an uppercut but Thoressen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thoressen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hanzo lands with a left to the head.
Thoressen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thoressen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hanzo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Still in the clinch, Hanzo scores with a nice short uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thoressen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Thoressen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thoressen working aggressively here.
Thoressen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hanzo struggles to land a body shot inside as Thoressen controls his hands.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Magnus Thoressen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Magnus Thoressen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thoressen throws a hook but Hanzo avoids it easily.
Hanzo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hanzo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hanzo tries to clinch up
and Thoressen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thoressen throws a looping overhand right but Hanzo ducks down to avoid it.
Hanzo is looking to clinch but Thoressen is avoiding it.
A jab from Thoressen misses.

Thoressen takes the fight into the clinch.
Magnus Thoressen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanzo struggles to land a body shot inside as Thoressen controls his hands.
Thoressen tries to land a knee to the head but Hanzo blocks with his arms.
Hanzo throws a head punch that misses.
Hanzo digs a right hand into Thoressen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Thoressen's gas tank.
Thoressen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hanzo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanzo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thoressen swings wildly with an uppercut but Hanzo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thoressen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hanzo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice body punch from Hanzo - that landed with a thud.
Hanzo lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hanzo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hanzo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Thoressen working aggressively here.
Thoressen throws a head punch that misses.
Thoressen misses with the head strike.
Thoressen misses with some punches.

Hanzo breaks from the clinch.
Hanzo takes a swing at Thoressen's ribcage but misses.
Hanzo throws a leg kick that misses.
Thoressen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hanzo tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hanzo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thoressen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Magnus Thoressen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Good leg kick by Hanzo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thoressen avoids the body shot from Hanzo.
Hanzo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hanzo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thoressen looks to land a combination. Hanzo sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hanzo doesn't manage to clinch there - Thoressen circles away.
Thoressen throws a head kick that half lands.
Hanzo fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fighters circling - Thoressen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Some bone on bone action there as Thoressen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Thoressen throws out a counter right but Hanzo avoids it with no problem.
Hanzo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Thoressen lands an overhand right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thoressen connects with a crisp jab.

Hanzo gets a clinch.
Hanzo scores with a nice hook to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Hanzo fails to land.
Thoressen blocks an uppercut.
Hanzo tries to throw a body punch but Thoressen avoids it by throwing Hanzo back against the cage.
Hanzo throws a head punch that misses.
Thoressen misses with a knee strike.
Thoressen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Thoressen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hanzo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hanzo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Thoressen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hanzo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thoressen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Thoressen in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Hanzo misses with some punches.
Hanzo blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thoressen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hanzo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hanzo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thoressen's elbow.
Hanzo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thoressen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hanzo misses with a punch to the body.
Hanzo trying to stall but Thoressen improves his position.
Thoressen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thoressen misses with a knee strike.
Thoressen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hanzo.
Thoressen misses with a knee to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hanzo.
Hanzo lands a hook that snaps the head of Thoressen backwards.
Thoressen misses with some punches.
Hanzo tries a body shot but Thoressen blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Magnus Thoressen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Magnus Thoressen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hanzo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A big right from Thoressen misses.
Hanzo misses with a hook to the body
and Thoressen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thoressen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Thoressen instigates a clinch.
Hanzo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hanzo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thoressen misses with a knee strike.
Hanzo blocking some punches.
Hanzo is leaning against Thoressen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Thoressen misses with a knee strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanzo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hanzo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A right hook to the body lands for Hanzo.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thoressen.
Hanzo throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thoressen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A shot in the inside from Hanzo.
Hanzo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thoressen tries to land a knee to the head but Hanzo blocks with his arms.
Hanzo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Thoressen looking to throw knees to the head but Hanzo is blocking nicely.
Hanzo lands a nice elbow.
Hanzo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hanzo pushes Thoressen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Thoressen misses with a knee to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Thoressen fails to land.
Hanzo misses with the head strike.
Hanzo pushes Thoressen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hanzo tries to work over Thoressen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hanzo lands a knee to the body.
Thoressen blocks a body shot from Hanzo.
Thoressen misses with a punch on the inside.
Hatori Hanzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hanzo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right handed body shot lands from Hanzo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hanzo throws an elbow that misses.
Thoressen lands a right hand.
Hanzo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thoressen has a couple of punches blocked by Hanzo.
Thoressen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short uppercut from Thoressen.
Hanzo misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thoressen.
Thoressen blocks an uppercut.
Hanzo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hanzo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short right from Hanzo on the inside.
Hanzo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thoressen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hanzo blocks it with crossed arms.
Thoressen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hanzo can't find room to land a body shot as Thoressen controls the action.
Hanzo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hanzo misses with a punch to the body.
Hanzo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thoressen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thoressen blocks an uppercut.
Thoressen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Thoressen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hanzo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thoressen lands a nice uppercut.
Thoressen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A right hand to the body from Hanzo.
A short right from Hanzo.
Hanzo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Hanzo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanzo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hanzo throws a punch but it's blocked by Thoressen.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hanzo.
Thoressen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hanzo blocks it with crossed arms.
Hanzo throws an elbow but it misses.
Hanzo throws a head punch that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thoressen misses with the head strike.
Thoressen scores with a nice hook to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hanzo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hanzo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thoressen's elbow.
Hanzo tries a body shot but Thoressen blocks it.
Thoressen working aggressively here.
Thoressen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hanzo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thoressen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hanzo can't find room to land a body shot as Thoressen controls the action.
Hanzo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hanzo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A right hook to the body lands for Hanzo.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hatori Hanzo.
I think Thoressen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Magnus Thoressen!
A relieved looking Magnus Thoressen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Hatori Hanzo spoke after the fight, saying 'I got a white belt what'd yall expect'.