PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anders Thorsen (ranked 5760 p4p, 3817 weight class) and Al Hoffa (ranked 666 p4p, 519 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Thorsen
vs
Hoffa

183 cm
19
190
2 - 4 - 0

179 cm
19
185
2 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Vegan Gains

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anders Thorsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Al Hoffa!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Roberts and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hoffa shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hoffa seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hoffa wants to pass to mount but Thorsen is defending the position.
Hoffa wants to take a breather but Thorsen is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoffa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thorsen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Well, if Hoffa 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoffa is pressing down on Thorsen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thorsen is holding on for now.
Hoffa content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Hoffa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thorsen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Thorsen is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Thorsen is trying is best to control the position here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Thorsen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Hoffa scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hoffa in particular looking to stall.
Hoffa's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoffa is trying to control the action in half guard but Thorsen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Thorsen trying to hold on to Hoffa's head to control him but Hoffa postures up.
Hoffa tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thorsen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hoffa is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Thorsen tries to roll over but Hoffa keeps him under control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.

Hoffa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hoffa seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hoffa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hoffa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Thorsen desperately trying to maintain half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Al Hoffa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hoffa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thorsen.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hoffa.
Hoffa trying to control the position but Thorsen is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hoffa tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hoffa has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hoffa moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hoffa goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Thorsen rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Hoffa's guard! Nice work there by Thorsen!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoffa looking for a sweep. Not yet Hoffa, not yet.
Thorsen postures up.
Hoffa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hoffa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thorsen.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thorsen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hoffa keeping full guard, as Thorsen tries to pass.
Hoffa wants to sweep here but Thorsen controlling him for the moment.
Hoffa has his hands on Thorsen's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hoffa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thorsen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hoffa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thorsen stands up over Hoffa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Thorsen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thorsen chips away with some ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hoffa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Thorsen stands up over Hoffa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Thorsen chips away with some ground and pound.
Thorsen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hoffa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen trying to control but Hoffa is working from the bottom.
Thorsen stands up over Hoffa, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hoffa managing to control the position.
Hoffa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thorsen.
Hoffa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thorsen's guard.

Hoffa won't allow Thorsen to sweep him here.
Hoffa looking to sit in guard and control but Thorsen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hoffa is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoffa working a defensive guard but Thorsen manages to pass into side control anyway.
Hoffa is trying to improve his position.
Hoffa takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Thorsen in side control lands a decent elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thorsen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Thorsen throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Thorsen is working Hoffa over with some ground and pound from side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Anders Thorsen dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Thorsen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hoffa with the counter takedown but Thorsen avoids it easily.
Thorsen throws an ugly left hook that misses

so Hoffa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hoffa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thorsen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hoffa trying to control but Thorsen is working from the bottom.
Hoffa looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoffa wants to control from the top but Thorsen keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoffa is stalling in the full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Thorsen has control of Hoffa's left arm, preventing Hoffa from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Thorsen shoots in looking for a takedown. Hoffa tries to sprawl out of it but Thorsen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hoffa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thorsen dives in for a single leg takedown but Hoffa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anders Thorsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hoffa has clasped his hands together around Thorsen's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Hoffa wants to control but Thorsen is keeping him busy.
Hoffa has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Thorsen!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoffa trying to control but Thorsen is having none of it.

Hoffa is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Thorsen has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Thorsen!
Thorsen is in close to Hoffa's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Thorsen is looking to work some ground and pound but Hoffa has wrist control.
Thorsen is fighting to break Hoffa's control of his arms but Hoffa is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Thorsen is looking to work some ground and pound but Hoffa has wrist control.
Anders Thorsen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoffa is pulling down on Thorsen's head to control his posture.
Thorsen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hoffa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thorsen throwing strikes but missing.
Hoffa looking to control.

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.
Thorsen with a nice head shot there.
Thorsen 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.
Hoffa is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Thorsen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Thorsen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Thorsen preventing the sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hoffa keeping moving, preventing Thorsen from controlling successfully.

Hoffa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thorsen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thorsen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Al Hoffa.
I think Hoffa 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Anders Thorsen!
Our winner, Anders Thorsen, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.