PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johann Thorsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stan Winner (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.

Thorsen
vs
Winner

168 cm
21
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
176 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Attliction

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johann Thorsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stan Winner!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thorsen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Winner is not content to let Thorsen control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Winner can do anything to dispel that myth.
Winner is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Thorsen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Winner wants to get back to full guard.
Winner is trying to maintain the position but Thorsen is very close to passing his half guard.
Thorsen trying to control from half guard but Winner is working away.
Thorsen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Thorsen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Winner is trying to maintain the position but Thorsen is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Thorsen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Winner!
Thorsen looking to control but Winner is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Winner holds on to Thorsen as tight as he can, avoiding damage.
Winner is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Winner might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Thorsen kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Winner is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Winner sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Winner is staying active underneath Thorsen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Winner is looking to control Thorsen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Winner avoid being mounted?
Winner is controlling Thorsen's trapped leg to prevent Thorsen from advancing to side control.

Despite being in the dominant position, Stan Winner just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thorsen throws a leg kick but Winner moved away.
Thorsen wants to clinch.
Thorsen is breathing heavily.
Thorsen swings for the body but Winner moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen shoots in for a takedown but Winner shows good takedown defense.

Winner gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Winner breaks the clinch.
Thorsen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Winner avoids the head kick by Thorsen.
Thorsen tries to clinch up

and Winner counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Winner looking to pass the guard.
Thorsen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Winner controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I looks like Winner might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Winner looking to pass the guard.
Winner is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stan Winner 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.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Winner.
Winner controls the position.

Winner stands up and beckons Thorsen to his feet.
Thorsen looks to clinch
and Thorsen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thorsen throws a jab but it's blocked by Winner.

Thorsen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Thorsen lands in his opponent's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Winner is on top in guard.
Winner is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Winner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Winner controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Let's hope that Winner has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Winner decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Thorsen, up you get!
Winner misses with a hook. Thorsen ducked under it nicely.
Thorsen wants to clinch

and Winner counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Thorsen is controlling Winner's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen wants to control but Winner is keeping busy.

Thorsen has one foot on Winner's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Winner. No joy for Thorsen on that attempt.

Thorsen gets the takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Winner manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Thorsen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Thorsen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Thorsen stands up out of the half guard.

Thorsen gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen trying to pass the guard but Winner defending well.
Winner is not content to let Thorsen control the position.
Thorsen prevents Winner from improving his position.
Winner moves into full guard.
Thorsen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thorsen wants to control from the top but Winner keeps moving.
Winner trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thorsen trying to control but Winner is working from the bottom.
Winner managing to control the position.
Stan Winner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Winner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thorsen is one step ahead there.
Winner has his hands on Thorsen's head, controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thorsen wants to control from the top but Winner keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stan Winner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Thorsen shoots in for a double leg but Winner sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Winner avoids the head kick by Thorsen.
Winner tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thorsen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thorsen scoring well with a low kick there.

Winner scores with a takedown into Thorsen's guard.
Thorsen wants to sweep here but Winner controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thorsen is on top in guard.
Thorsen stopping the sweep attempt from Winner.
Winner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thorsen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Winner pushes Thorsen off and scrambles back to his feet.
Thorsen has a takedown stuffed.
Thorsen avoids the head kick by Winner.
Thorsen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thorsen throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Winner is looking to clinch but Thorsen is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen misses with a takedown attempt

and Winner counters with a shoot takedown. Thorsen fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johann Thorsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Winner controlling from the top position.
Thorsen pulls Winner in close to prevent any damage.
Winner is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Winner advances to half guard.
Thorsen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Thorsen gets full guard.
Winner postures up.
Winner stopping the sweep attempt from Thorsen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen controls Winner momentarily but Winner frees himself.
Thorsen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Thorsen looking for a sweep. Not yet Thorsen, not yet.
Thorsen is working hard here to advance position.
Thorsen is trying to keep Winner in close.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A nice combination there by Thorsen.
Thorsen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Thorsen rushes Winner and presses him up against the cage.

Thorsen jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Winner looking to pass the guard.

Thorsen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Winner postures up.
Thorsen being controlled here, momentarily.
Winner wants to get up but he can't break Thorsen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Winner is stalling in the full guard.
Thorsen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stan Winner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Winner winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stan Winner!