PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and clark thorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). clark thorn has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Silva
vs
thorn

181 cm
21
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
19
195 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wanderlei Silva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, clark thorn!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
thorn is looking to clinch but Silva is avoiding it.
A left and a right from Silva both land. Nice combination.
thorn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silva sprawls well. Silva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. thorn gets slowly back to his feet.
thorn throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Silva tries for a takedown but thorn circles away easily

and thorn counters with a takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
thorn trying to control the position but Silva is working away.
Silva is trying to get back to his feet.
Silva gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

thorn is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva wants to improve his position but thorn is controlling well.
Silva works his way to full guard. Good work.
thorn postures up and lands a big shot to Silva's brow.
thorn trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. thorn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. thorn manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
thorn wants to get up but he can't break Silva's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
thorn looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Silva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. thorn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. thorn manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Silva is on top in guard.

Silva drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and thorn dives on top into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

thorn stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Silva is looking to clinch but thorn is avoiding it.
thorn tries to clinch but Silva is having none of it.

thorn scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

thorn seems to be working for a kimura but Silva defends the submission attempt.
thorn trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Silva regains full guard. Nicely done.
thorn distracts Silva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Silva is looking to stand up but thorn isn't so interested in that idea.
Silva 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.
Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

thorn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

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

thorn looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
thorn is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wanderlei Silva dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Silva shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and thorn counters by moving into the clinch.

Silva manages to pull guard.
thorn makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
thorn passes into half guard.
Silva regains full guard. Nicely done.
thorn wants to control from the top but Silva keeps moving.
thorn works a leg free and moves into half guard.
thorn looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

thorn is looking for submissions but instead, Silva has regained full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silva had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. thorn defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

thorn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Silva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
thorn cracks Silva with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silva keeping moving, preventing thorn from controlling successfully.

Silva looking for submissions from the bottom but instead thorn passes into side control.
thorn is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

thorn stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Silva shoots for a double leg takedown but thorn sprawls well. He's pushed Silva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but thorn circles away quickly and effectively.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and thorn counters with a nice double leg into side control. Silva won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silva is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on thorn's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
thorn tries to stand but can't do so whilst Silva controls his leg.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to stand up here but thorn is controlling him well.

Silva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Silva is looking for a sweep. thorn is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
thorn is nestled in close to Silva, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
thorn is looking to take a break and control but Silva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silva lands with a nice body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but clark thorn will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

thorn misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Silva counters with a one-two to the body.
thorn throws a lazy head kick
and Silva counters with a thumping low kick.
Silva ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
thorn takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and thorn counters with a takedown into side control.
Silva is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Silva sneaks back into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
thorn wants to control but Silva is keeping him busy.

Silva kicks off thorn and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
thorn circles away from the clinch attempt.
thorn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Silva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and thorn counters with a takedown into side control.
Silva on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Silva pushes thorn away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, thorn gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Silva tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Silva can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
thorn looking to control but Silva is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
thorn dominating with strikes here.
thorn looking to control but Silva is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silva wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

thorn looking for the RNC.
Silva is in bad spot here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva is keeping busy.
thorn scores with strikes from the back.
clark thorn has got the better of the ground game so far.
thorn has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Silva.
thorn is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Silva. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Silva is trying to stand back up.

thorn looking for the choke but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

thorn looking for the RNC.

Silva is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake thorn off. It looks like it's working - thorn slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Silva displaying calm under pressure there.
Silva misses with a takedown attempt

and thorn counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Silva. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Silva looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
clark thorn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think thorn 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... clark thorn!