PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cris Bernard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Able Thorn (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.

Bernard
vs
Thorn

200 cm
23
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Cris Bernard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Able Thorn!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Wagner Zegers and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bernard chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Thorn misses with a double jab
and Bernard counters with a head kick.
Bernard misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thorn misses with the combination.
Able Thorn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bernard connects with a solid leg kick.
Bernard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Thorn misses with a jab, cross combination.
Good leg kick by Bernard there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A nice leg kick lands there from Bernard.
Bernard fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bernard misses with a series of wild punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bernard's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Bernard duly obliges.
Bernard lands a two punch combo.
Sloppy strikes from Bernard. Those never looked like landing.
Bernard misses with a double jab.
Bernard throws a leg kick which misses Thorn's front leg but catches the back leg as Thorn tries to avoid it.
Bernard with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard lands with a kick to the temple. Thorn shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Bernard throws a series of punches but Thorn avoids them all with ease.
Bernard throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Bernard is breathing heavily.
Bernard misses with a low kick as Thorn jumps back.

Thorn darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Thorn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bernard is trying to stand back up but Thorn is controlling him
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Bernard is trying to stand back up but Thorn is controlling him
Thorn has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorn landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
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!

Thorn stands up and beckons Bernard to join him on the feet.

Thorn shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bernard manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Thorn gets to his feet - Bernard follows without any prompting.

Thorn clinches with his opponent.

Thorn breaks the clinch.
Bernard fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Bernard dodges the punch combination from Thorn.
Thorn misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorn looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bernard misses with a two punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Bernard.
Bernard misses with the combination.
Thorn throws a lazy uppercut
and Bernard counters with a nice kick to the body.
Bernard with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Thorn to score with a decent uppercut.

Thorn has closed the distance and engaged Bernard in a clinch.
Bernard is trying to break free.

Thorn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thorn throws a right hand that Bernard ducks under and follows up with a left that Bernard also avoids with ease.

Thorn feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Thorn postures up and lands a big shot to Bernard's brow.
Thorn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Thorn stands and steps away. Bernard gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Thorn throws a lazy right hand but Bernard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thorn throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bernard's waist but Bernard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thorn off to one side.
Bernard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bernard scoring well with a low kick there.
Thorn will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bernard throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Thorn.
Sloppy strikes from Thorn. Those never looked like landing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bernard pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Thorn back to the cage. Bernard follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Bernard swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Bernard throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Cris Bernard will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thorn drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Bernard pushes Thorn off and gets back to his feet.
Thorn misses with a double jab.
Thorn tries to close the distance and clinch but Bernard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thorn swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bernard dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thorn. That did some damage!
Bernard lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Bernard throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Thorn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bernard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bernard lands with a slapping head kick.
Thorn dodges the punch combination from Bernard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bernard misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thorn shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bernard is trying to defend but Thorn finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Thorn takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Thorn lands a nice short elbow.

Thorn gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Bernard misses with a double jab.

Thorn instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thorn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thorn just misses with a punch to the body.

Thorn shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bernard napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Thorn decides to stand back up. Thorn steps back and let's Bernard get back to his feet.
Thorn throws a nice looking combination but Bernard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sloppy strikes from Bernard. Those never looked like landing.
Bernard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thorn.
Thorn looks to land a combination but Bernard avoids it well.
Thorn slips a jab and a cross from Bernard.
Bernard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thorn lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bernard circles away quickly and effectively.
Thorn takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Bernard moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Cris Bernard is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thorn throws a right hand that Bernard ducks under and follows up with a left that Bernard also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bernard.
Bernard fails to land with a series of punches.
Thorn looks to land a combination but Bernard avoids it well.
A nice leg kick lands there from Bernard.
Bernard throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bernard stuffs the takedown.
Bernard lands with a kick to the temple. Thorn shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Some wild striking there from Bernard.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thorn.
Thorn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bernard.
Cris Bernard is winning the standup battle so far.
Thorn throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bernard lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thorn circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorn misses with a jab to the body
and Bernard counters with a three punch combo that has Thorn backing up. Thorn nods at Bernard to acknowledge the strikes.
Bernard throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cris Bernard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bernard thows a leg kick but Thorn checks it
and Thorn counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Bernard avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bernard throws a leg kick which misses Thorn's front leg but catches the back leg as Thorn tries to avoid it.
Thorn will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cris Bernard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Able Thorn.
Bernard misses with a wild combination.
Thorn throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bernard sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thorn moves in looking to clinch but Bernard pushes him off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Some wild striking there from Bernard.

Thorn scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Able Thorn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bernard swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Thorn counters with an outside leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Bernard.
Thorn will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thorn lunges at Bernard with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Bernard's hand.
Bernard looks to land a combination but Thorn avoids it well.
Thorn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Thorn fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bernard sprawls well initially but Thorn persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bernard wants to get back to his feet.

Thorn decides to stand and escape the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thorn scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thorn closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Thorn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
That kick from Bernard tenderised Thorn's leg. Thorn is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bernard throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Thorn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bernard throws a nice inside leg kick.

Thorn clinches up against the cage.

Thorn manages to break the clinch.
Bernard avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bernard misses with a double jab.
Bernard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thorn fails with a takedown attempt.
Thorn's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Bernard swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorn scores with a nice head shot.
Thorn throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bernard's waist but Bernard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thorn off to one side.
Bernard's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Bernard duly obliges.
Bernard takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bernard misses with a wild combination.

Thorn shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bernard's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Thorn stands up and waves to Bernard to follow him.
Thorn lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernard scoring well with a low kick there.

Thorn stands and steps away. Bernard gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Thorn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cris Bernard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Able Thorn.
Bernard moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Thorn throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bernard.
Bernard throws a one two combo.
Thorn shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bernard as he avoids it easily.
Bernard feints a jab promting Thorn to slip. Bernard then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Thorn slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Bernard moves out of range as Thorn strikes.
Thorn moves out of range of the body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thorn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bernard scores with a three punch combo!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thorn fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bernard to the ground. Thorn is now in Bernard's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Thorn decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bernard, up you get!
Bernard lands a nice looking kick to the body. Thorn takes a step back to recover.
Thorn shoots in for a double leg but Bernard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thorn tries to clinch but Bernard is having none of it.
An inside leg kick lands from Bernard.
Bernard throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thorn.

Thorn shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bernard manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Thorn stands up from guard. Let's bang!

And that's the end of the fight!
Able 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Able Thorn!