PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Greg Thornton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franco Maajka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Greg Thornton has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Thornton
vs
Maajka

180 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

185 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Greg Thornton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Franco Maajka!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Donald Grub and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maajka fails with an attempt to clinch.

Thornton drives through and clinches with Maajka against the cage.
Knees to the body from Maajka.
Maajka is trying to stall.
Thornton fails to pull guard.
Maajka prevents Thornton from breaking the clinch.

Thornton pulls guard effortlessly.
Maajka thows a big elbow that misses.
Maajka wanted to stand there but Thornton had control of the position.
Thornton wants to stand but Maajka is controlling the position.
Thornton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Maajka decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Nice takedown defense from Maajka. No joy for Thornton on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thornton shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Thornton was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Thornton looking to control and managing it successfully.
Maajka tries to lock up and control but Thornton gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maajka working to try and regain half guard.
Thornton can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Maajka is looking to escape.
Thornton is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Maajka can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thornton controlling his opponent.
Maajka is squirming around, avoiding Thornton's attempts to control the action.
Maajka trying desperately to get to his feet.
Thornton lands a nice shot to the head.
Thornton takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Maajka gets back to half guard.
Thornton is pressing down on Maajka's thigh, looking to free his foot. Maajka is holding on for now.
Thornton is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Thornton is trying to control. Maajka wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thornton wants to free his trapped foot but Maajka is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Maajka regains full guard. Nicely done.

Maajka kicks Thornton off and gets to his feet.
Maajka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maajka tries to clinch but Thornton moves away

and Thornton counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thornton.
Thornton prevents Maajka from getting back to his feet.
Thornton is stalling in the full guard.

Maajka has an active guard here but Thornton has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thornton decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Franco Maajka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maajka wants to clinch

and Thornton counters with a single leg into guard. Maajka didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thornton slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Thornton won't allow Maajka to sweep him here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maajka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thornton trying to control but Maajka is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Thornton dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Maajka tries to clinch up

and Thornton counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Maajka 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.
Thornton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Maajka is looking to stand up but Thornton isn't so interested in that idea.
Thornton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Maajka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thornton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thornton won't allow Maajka to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Thornton is pushing down on Maajka's leg trying to pass to half guard. Maajka is fighting to maintain full guard but Thornton has managed to sneak the leg through.

Thornton wants to work for an arm triangle but Maajka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Thornton tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Thornton is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thornton performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Maajka is trying to stand back up but Thornton is controlling him
Well, if Thornton is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Thornton wants to free his trapped foot but Maajka is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Maajka wants to control but Thornton is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Thornton changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Maajka looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Thornton has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Thornton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thornton lunges at Maajka with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Maajka's hand.
Maajka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Thornton scores a takedown into full mount!
Thornton controlling from the full mount.
Thornton avoids the attempt from Maajka to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maajka really wants to buck Thornton off and get back to his feet.
Thornton tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Maajka is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Maajka regains half guard.
Maajka is looking to escape.
Thornton throwing shots but Maajka is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Thornton dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Thornton decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Maajka wants to get back to his feet.
Maajka makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Maajka.
Maajka keeping moving, preventing Thornton from controlling successfully.
Thornton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maajka is keeping the position for now.
Thornton trying to control the position from guard on top but Maajka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maajka is looking to stand up but Thornton isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton tries to free his leg and advance position but Maajka is retaining full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Maajka wants to clinch but Thornton slips to the side

and Thornton counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Thornton seems to be looking for submissions.
Thornton thows a huge punch but Maajka dodges it nicely.
Thornton wants to stand but Maajka has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thornton missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Thornton perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Maajka throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Thornton throwing shots but Maajka is blocking nicely.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Maajka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maajka swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Thornton decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maajka's guard.
Greg Thornton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thornton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Maajka wriggles free and stands up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thornton circles away from the clinch attempt

and Thornton counters with a single leg into guard. Maajka didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Thornton is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Maajka is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Maajka has escaped and now he's on top!
Maajka throwing strikes but missing.
Greg Thornton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Thornton kicks Maajka off and gets to his feet.
Maajka wants to clinch
and Thornton counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Thornton looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Maajka!
Maajka working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maajka is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Maajka is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Maajka tries to hold on but Thornton postures up.
Maajka might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Thornton kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Thornton connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thornton landing shots from mount.
Thornton avoids the attempt from Maajka to control.
Franco Maajka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Thornton is working for a guillotine from mount but Maajka frees his head quite easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Greg Thornton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thornton, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Greg Thornton!