PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Thornton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Pinheiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Pinheiro's choice of entrance music: Movado - Neva Believe U . The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Thornton
vs
Pinheiro

177 cm
25
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
26
163 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Aaron Thornton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rico Pinheiro!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thornton pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thornton misses with a double jab

and Pinheiro decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thornton's guard.
Pinheiro with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thornton wants to stand and escape but Pinheiro is having none of it.
Thornton has momentary wrist control but Pinheiro slips an elbow through the middle.
Pinheiro postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Thornton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pinheiro has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pinheiro with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Pinheiro with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Pinheiro with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Pinheiro is working Thornton over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pinheiro scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pinheiro slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
A lull in the action here as Pinheiro stalls from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinheiro scores with punches from side control.
Pinheiro is chipping away with strikes.
Pinheiro lands a nice forearm strike.
Thornton takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Thornton is letting Pinheiro control him for a moment.
Pinheiro landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Thornton pushes Pinheiro away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Pinheiro gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Thornton is breathing heavily.
Pinheiro looks up at the clock and then as Thornton takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Pinheiro smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Pinheiro creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pinheiro cracks Thornton with a big elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thornton wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Pinheiro 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Thornton taking punishment in the form of punches.
Pinheiro working the body and head with strikes.
Pinheiro working the ground and pound.
Pinheiro scoring with punches and elbows.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pinheiro prevents Thornton from escaping the position.
Thornton is working to avoid the ground and pound but Pinheiro connects with a decent elbow.
Pinheiro in side control lands a decent elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pinheiro lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Pinheiro is looking to take a break and control but Thornton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pinheiro working the ground and pound.

Pinheiro is trying to get an arm triangle but Thornton is defending well.
Pinheiro scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinheiro is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Thornton will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Pinheiro creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Pinheiro working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Thornton is pushing Pinheiro's head away, looking to escape. Pinheiro manages to hold on to the position though.
Pinheiro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thornton keeps working.
Pinheiro working the ground and pound.
Pinheiro is looking to take a break and control but Thornton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pinheiro grinds an elbow into Thornton's temple.
Pinheiro working the ground and pound.
Pinheiro looks up at the clock and then as Thornton takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Pinheiro smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Thornton being controlled for a moment.
Thornton is pushing Pinheiro's head away, looking to escape. Pinheiro manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thornton taking a bit of punishment here - Pinheiro scoring with strikes.
Thornton takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Pinheiro is chipping away with strikes.
Pinheiro working the ground and pound.
Pinheiro controls the position from side control.
Thornton wants to get back to his feet but Pinheiro drags him back down.
Pinheiro lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Thornton down.
Pinheiro looks up at the clock and then as Thornton takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Pinheiro smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Pinheiro connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Thornton some visible discomfort.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thornton trying to remain calm as Pinheiro controls from the top position.
Check out the look on Pinheiro's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Pinheiro wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thornton keeps working.
Pinheiro prevents Thornton from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from Thornton enables Pinheiro to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Thornton manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Pinheiro trying to control but Thornton is working from the bottom.
Thornton knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pinheiro on the ground.
Pinheiro is pushing down on Thornton's leg trying to pass to half guard. Thornton is fighting to maintain full guard but Pinheiro has managed to sneak the leg through.
Pinheiro landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Thornton is trying to stand.
Pinheiro trying to mount his opponent but Thornton defends it.
Pinheiro winds up and cracks Thornton with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Pinheiro looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Pinheiro stops Thornton from getting back to his feet.
Thornton is in trouble now - Pinheiro has advanced to mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Pinheiro working for a guillotine from mount but Thornton is in no mood to give up.
Pinheiro can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thornton is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinheiro controlling the pace for now.
Thornton is trying to stand.
Pinheiro scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Thornton?
Thornton is in a horrible position here. Pinheiro smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Thornton is trying to stand up.
Pinheiro landing strikes from the mount and Thornton is in trouble!
Pinheiro controlling from the full mount.

Thornton defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Pinheiro.
Pinheiro is landing with some decent strikes but Thornton is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinheiro in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rico Pinheiro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pinheiro working Thornton over with strikes here.
Pinheiro looking to finish Thornton with some ground and pound. This is bad for Thornton!
Pinheiro working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Pinheiro with good strikes from the mount here!
Pinheiro is landing with some decent strikes but Thornton is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Pinheiro sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pinheiro working the ground and pound effectively.
Pinheiro lands with some strikes.
A nice elbow there by Pinheiro.
Thornton is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Pinheiro looking to finish Thornton with some ground and pound. This is bad for Thornton!

Pinheiro looking for a guillotine from mount but Thornton is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Pinheiro putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Pinheiro trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pinheiro working Thornton over with strikes here.
Pinheiro is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Pinheiro landing punches.
Thornton is in a horrible position here. Pinheiro smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Pinheiro working for a submission but Thornton is keeping him at bay.
Pinheiro landing strikes, looking to finish!

Pinheiro looking to secure an arm triangle but Thornton defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pinheiro sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Pinheiro has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Thornton's face.
Pinheiro dominating with strikes here.
Thornton is in a horrible position here. Pinheiro smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pinheiro postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Thornton looks a forlorn figure.
Pinheiro landing strikes, looking to finish!
Pinheiro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pinheiro lands a big shot there that rocks Thornton but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Pinheiro working Thornton over with strikes here.

Pinheiro has hold of Thornton's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Thornton manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Thornton is bucking up trying to escape but Pinheiro cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Pinheiro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A shot to the liver by Pinheiro. Beautiful body shot.
Thornton throws a left and a right that both miss

and Pinheiro decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thornton's guard.
Thornton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pinheiro is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Thornton has momentary wrist control but Pinheiro slips an elbow through the middle.
Pinheiro trying to control but Thornton is working from the bottom.
Pinheiro works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thornton looks like he's trying to stand up.
Pinheiro takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Pinheiro seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Pinheiro winds up and cracks Thornton with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Thornton scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Pinheiro manages to mount him!
Pinheiro is landing with some decent strikes but Thornton is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton really wants to buck Pinheiro off and get back to his feet.
Pinheiro raining down shots from the mount!
Pinheiro won't let Thornton get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Pinheiro postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Thornton looks a forlorn figure.
Pinheiro scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Thornton?
Pinheiro working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Pinheiro tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The referee warns Thornton that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Pinheiro looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Pinheiro working for a guillotine from mount but Thornton is in no mood to give up.
Thornton in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Pinheiro scoring with strikes but Thornton is staying in there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinheiro lands with some strikes.
The referee warns Thornton that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Pinheiro working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Pinheiro with a couple of short strikes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pinheiro sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Pinheiro looking to finish Thornton with some ground and pound. This is bad for Thornton!
A nice elbow there by Pinheiro.
Pinheiro looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Pinheiro connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Thornton is rocked!
Pinheiro landing strikes, looking to finish!
Oh Thornton is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pinheiro lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thornton hang on?
Pinheiro controlling the position easily from mount.
Pinheiro's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton wants to try and get back to his feet.
Thornton seems to have got his legs back now.
Pinheiro landing strikes, looking to finish!
Pinheiro lands a heavy elbow.
Pinheiro content just to control the position here.
Pinheiro in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Pinheiro landing shots from mount.
Pinheiro postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Thornton looks a forlorn figure.
Pinheiro working Thornton over with strikes here.
Pinheiro lands a big elbow.
Rico Pinheiro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pinheiro lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Thornton is bucking up trying to escape but Pinheiro cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Pinheiro fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The referee warns Thornton that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Thornton's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Pinheiro lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thornton hang on?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pinheiro landing strikes, looking to finish!
Pinheiro unloading with bombs!
Pinheiro sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Thornton takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pinheiro working Thornton over with strikes here.
Thornton squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Aaron Thornton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pinheiro takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rico Pinheiro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pinheiro 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 24:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 24:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Pinheiro!