PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edmond Honda (ranked 1053 p4p, 1030 weight class) and Svend Thorsby (ranked 49 p4p, 25 weight class). Honda comes to the cage accompanied by E. Honda Stage Theme Extended. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Honda
vs
Thorsby

186 cm
42
265
29 - 22 - 0

209 cm
26
260
10 - 5 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

HELLBENT
Bondi MMA 🏝️

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 22 - 0, fighting out of New York, Edmond Honda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Svend Thorsby!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Ben Watson and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Honda missing with a left hand there. Thorsby was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Honda works over Thorsby's head and body with a nice combination.
A jab from Honda does it's job there.
Honda misses with the combination.
As Honda backs off Thorsby throws a huge counter combo but Honda manages to avoid it all.
Honda swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thorsby feints and then cracks Honda's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Honda down.
Honda ducks under a wild hook from Thorsby.
Honda has his takedown stuffed
and Thorsby counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Edmond Honda has been cut.
A big right from Thorsby misses.
Honda closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thorsby circles away.
Honda has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Edmond Honda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thorsby scores with a leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Honda.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edmond Honda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Honda lands a nice looking body kick.

Thorsby has closed the distance and engaged Honda in a clinch.
Thorsby is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Thorsby tries a body shot but Honda blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorsby prevents a body shot from Honda.
Thorsby misses with the head strike.
Thorsby holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Thorsby stalling the fight.
The crowd are getting on Thorsby's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Thorsby working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Thorsby lands a nice uppercut.
Thorsby trying to control the position but instead, Honda has worked for underhooks and has pushed Thorsby into the cage.
Honda has a couple of punches blocked by Thorsby.
Thorsby misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thorsby lands with a short shot to the head.
Honda misses with a punch to the body.
A short uppercut from Thorsby.
Thorsby stalls.
Thorsby blocks an uppercut.
Honda looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Honda goes for a takedown in the clinch but Thorsby prevents it.
Thorsby lands a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorsby lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Honda.
A short left from Honda.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thorsby lands a hook that snaps the head of Honda backwards.
Thorsby lands with a right to the head.
Honda tries to circle away but Thorsby has him pinned against the cage.
Honda works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Thorsby has Honda pressed against the cage.
Honda wants a takedown but no success here.
A short body shot lands from Thorsby as the two fighters clinch.
Honda is breathing heavily.
Honda letting Thorsby take a breather here.
Thorsby makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Honda is looking to break free of the clinch but Thorsby has double underhooks.
Honda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thorsby working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Honda tries for a takedown. No joy.
Thorsby lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Honda letting Thorsby take a breather here.
Honda has a couple of punches blocked by Thorsby.
Honda goes for a takedown in the clinch but Thorsby prevents it.
Thorsby holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Thorsby has Honda pressed against the cage, preventing Honda from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Honda can't find room to land a body shot as Thorsby controls the action.
Thorsby gets through Honda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Thorsby gets underhooks to prevent Honda's takedown attempt.
Honda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thorsby's elbow.
Still in the clinch, Thorsby scores with a nice short uppercut.
Thorsby lands a shoulder strike.
Thorsby lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thorsby pushes Honda back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thorsby blocks a body shot from Honda.
Thorsby presses Honda against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Thorsby lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Thorsby scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Thorsby stalls.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Honda.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Honda.
Thorsby working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Thorsby lands a left hand that snaps the head of Honda backwards.
A right hand to the body from Thorsby.
Thorsby softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Honda misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Thorsby lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A bit of stalling here from Thorsby.
Thorsby working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Thorsby lands a body shot in the clinch.
Thorsby lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Honda or not.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Thorsby.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Honda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Honda is working for takedown but Thorsby is calmly controlling the position for now.
The referee calls for Thorsby to work.
A nice right hand lands inside from Thorsby.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Svend Thorsby dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Edmond Honda's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thorsby's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Thorsby duly obliges.
Honda lands a body shot.

Thorsby has Honda up against the cage in a clinch.
Honda wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Good body shot from Thorsby.
Honda wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Thorsby lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Svend Thorsby seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Thorsby effectively controlling the action here.
Thorsby has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Thorsby takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Honda misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short uppercut from Thorsby.

Edmond Honda's cut is getting worse.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Honda wants a takedown.
Honda has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Thorsby after a bit of a struggle.
The referee calls for Thorsby to work.
Thorsby blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Thorsby can't find room to land a body shot as Honda controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorsby throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thorsby's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Honda is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edmond Honda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right from Thorsby on the inside.
Thorsby lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Honda can't break the clinch.
Thorsby softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thorsby scores with a nice hook to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Honda's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Thorsby lands a hook that snaps the head of Honda backwards.
Honda looking for a takedown.
Thorsby cracks Honda with a nice body shot.
Thorsby holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Thorsby lands a body shot.
Thorsby lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thorsby.
Stalling in the clinch from Thorsby.
Thorsby scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Honda being controlled against the cage.
Thorsby is stalling here.
Thorsby lands with a right to the head.
Thorsby lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Honda throws a punch but it's blocked by Thorsby.
Thorsby slows down the pace here.
Thorsby lands an uppercut.
Thorsby blocks a body shot from Honda.
Honda working hard to break the clinch.
Thorsby lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Edmond Honda's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Honda misses with a body punch.
Thorsby blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorsby lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Thorsby tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Honda wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Honda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thorsby's elbow.
Honda goes for a takedown in the clinch but Thorsby prevents it.
Thorsby throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hondas head.
Honda can't break the clinch.
Honda's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Thorsby lands a hook to the side of the head.
Honda misses with a punch on the inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Thorsby.
Thorsby leaning against his opponent.
Thorsby continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Thorsby lands a left hand that snaps the head of Honda backwards.
Thorsby leaning against his opponent.
Thorsby lands a body punch in the clinch.
A short uppercut from Thorsby.
A bit of stalling here from Thorsby.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorsby avoiding damage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Svend Thorsby.

Thorsby shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Honda is trying to defend but Thorsby finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thorsby is looking to take a break and control but Honda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thorsby with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Thorsby tries to pass the half guard into mount. Honda knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Honda is refusing to be controlled, as Thorsby sits in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Svend Thorsby showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Edmond Honda's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Honda takes one to the chin there.

Honda closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Honda lands in his opponent's guard.
Thorsby keeping full guard, as Honda tries to pass.

Thorsby throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thorsby controlling Honda's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thorsby is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thorsby has his foot on Honda's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Honda works his way back into a safe position though.
Honda stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thorsby swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Honda trying to control the position from guard on top but Thorsby is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Thorsby is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Honda working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thorsby is trying to control the position but Honda postures up.

That's two 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.
Thorsby controlling Honda's posture.
Honda preventing the sweep.
Honda slips nicely into half guard.
Thorsby taking some punishment here, with Honda in his half guard.
Thorsby gets back to full guard.
Honda working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Honda is in close to Thorsby's body, working some short punches and elbows.
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.
Thorsby tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Honda might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Honda pushes down on Thorsby's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Thorsby wants to improve his position but Honda is controlling well.
Thorsby is trying to maintain the position but Honda is very close to passing his half guard.
Honda looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thorsby is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four 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.
Thorsby is pressing down on Honda's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Thorsby trying to control the position here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thorsby is on top in guard.

Honda looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Thorsby puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Thorsby is taking a breather. Honda says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thorsby missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Edmond Honda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Svend Thorsby is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Thorsby thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Honda's head.

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 Edmond Honda.
Well Thorsby has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 27:29
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Svend Thorsby!
A relieved looking Svend Thorsby thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
The defeated Edmond Honda had this to say: 'You must defeat Sheng Long to stand a chance!'.