PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between JJ Thor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pablo Henrique (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.

Thor
vs
Henrique

191 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Sublime Supplements
Gold Standard Nutrition

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 Las Vegas, JJ Thor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pablo Henrique!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thor tries to keep at a distance but Henrique has taken the fight into the clinch.
Henrique stalling.
A hook to the body from Henrique.

Henrique breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henrique tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thor swivels and escapes.

Thor fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Henrique sprawls well initially but Thor persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Thor is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Henrique is just riding it out for now. Thor eventually gives up the hold.
Henrique wants to get back to his feet.
Henrique makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Henrique.

Thor drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Henrique dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thor has an active guard here but Henrique has managed to pass into half guard.
Henrique thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thor's head.
Thor wants to improve his position but Henrique is controlling well.

Thor looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Thor looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thor manages to get to full guard.
Henrique controls from within his opponent's 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.

Thor is looking for a triangle but Henrique pushes his legs off easily.
Thor keeping moving, preventing Henrique from controlling successfully.
Thor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Henrique throwing strikes from guard but Thor blocks nicely.

Thor is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Thor had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Henrique is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Thor Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Henrique's back instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thor is not going to allow Henrique to sit and survive in this position.
Henrique is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Thor off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Thor is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Henrique controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Thor is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Henrique preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Thor.
Thor is breathing heavily.
Henrique wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henrique is in a bad position with Thor working for a choke. Henrique manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
Thor keeping moving, preventing Henrique from controlling successfully.
Henrique trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thor keeping moving, preventing Henrique from controlling successfully.
Henrique looking to pass the guard.
Henrique wants to get up but he can't break Thor's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Thor has his foot on Henrique's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Henrique works his way back into a safe position though.
Henrique trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Thor dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Thor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Henrique counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thor won't be happy with that.
Thor tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Henrique wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Henrique stands up.
JJ Thor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Henrique doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Thor counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thor.

Thor drops back, looking for a kneebar! Henrique looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Henrique looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Henrique!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Henrique wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thor keeps working.
Thor is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henrique is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Henrique is breathing heavily.
Thor manages to get back to half guard.
Henrique is keen to just control but Thor is a slippery customer.

Thor actively working from the bottom here.

Thor looking for submissions off his back.
Henrique seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thor does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Thor tries to get to full guard but Henrique has control of the leg.

That's two 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.
Thor is not content to let Henrique control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Henrique with a poor takedown

and Thor counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Henrique!
Henrique tries to hold on but Thor pushes him away.

Thor is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Henrique is surviving well by controlling Thor's body position as best he can.

Thor working for a submission but Henrique is keeping him at bay.

Thor looking for a guillotine from mount but Henrique is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thor swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Henrique is now in Thor's guard. A big mistake from Thor there, giving up the dominant position!

Thor is looking for a triangle but Henrique pushes his legs off easily.
Henrique landing some decent shots from guard.
Henrique preventing the sweep.

Henrique decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Thor, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henrique with a lazy takedown attempt

and Thor counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thor.
JJ Thor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pablo Henrique.
Thor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Henrique swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Thor is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Thor wants to pass the guard but Henrique is keeping the position.
Henrique looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thor is one step ahead there.

Thor drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Henrique manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Thor has Henrique in his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Thor working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Henrique doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Henrique manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Thor 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!

Henrique tries to clinch but Thor moves out of range.
Henrique misses with a hook to the body

and Thor counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Henrique slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thor is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Henrique is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Henrique has escaped and now he's on top!

Thor is looking for a triangle but Henrique pushes his legs off easily.
Thor keeping full guard, as Henrique tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henrique seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Thor keeping moving, preventing Henrique from controlling successfully.
Henrique controls from within his opponent's guard.

Thor working for submissions but it's allowed Henrique to get to half guard.
Henrique wants to free his trapped foot but Thor is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Henrique takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

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.

Thor looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thor on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Thor looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Thor actively working from the bottom here.
Thor tries to get to full guard but Henrique has control of the leg.
Henrique is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
JJ Thor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Henrique trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henrique is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Thor is surviving well by controlling Henrique's body position as best he can.
Henrique postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Thor looks a forlorn figure.
Henrique landing strikes from the mount and Thor is in trouble!
Henrique controlling from the full mount.
Henrique prevents Thor from getting the reversal.
JJ Thor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Henrique tries to control but Thor wriggling away.
Thor regains half guard.

Thor actively working from the bottom here.

Thor looking for submissions off his back.
Henrique tries to stand and escape but Thor is controlling the position.

Thor is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Henrique pulls his head out easily.

Thor looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pablo Henrique has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henrique looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thor with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to JJ Thor.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thor, 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JJ Thor!