PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Thates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Hornie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roy Hornie has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Raphael Thates's chin.

Thates
vs
Hornie

188 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

FNF Energy - (Buy 1 155, Get one Free!)

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raphael Thates!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roy Hornie!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hornie clinches with his opponent.
Hornie fails to pull guard.

Hornie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hornie misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thates.
Hornie tries for a takedown but Thates sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hornie is looking to clinch.

Hornie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Thates gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Thates wants to control but Hornie is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thates is holding on to half guard well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thates tries to get to full guard but Hornie has control of the leg.
Thates keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Thates wants to get back to full guard but Hornie has passed into side control.

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.
Thates is working to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hornie working for a guillotine from mount but Thates is in no mood to give up.
Thates tries to control Hornie's body but Hornie pushes him off. Thates squirms to his side and now Hornie has his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thates just trying to survive but Hornie is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Hornie looking for the choke from the back.
Thates turns into Hornie and is now in his guard.
Hornie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hornie looks gassed!
Thates is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Thates has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four 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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Raphael Thates just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Thates throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hornie.
Thates tries to clinch up.
Hornie shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Raphael Thates has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Hornie.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Thates drives through and clinches with Hornie against the cage.
Thates is trying to break the clinch but Hornie is controlling him.

Hornie breaks the clinch.
Hornie takes a swing at Thates's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Roy Hornie will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thates shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hornie as he avoids it easily.

Hornie gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thates tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hornie just stands there and leans against the cage.
Thates wants to get back to striking at distance but Hornie won't allow it.
Thates has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hornie is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Thates. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hornie goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Hornie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hornie swings for the body but Thates moves out of range.
Hornie throws a shot from downtown. Thates moves away and avoids it.
Hornie shoots for a takedown but Thates saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thates looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hornie takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hornie shoots and misses

and Thates counters with a shoot takedown. Hornie fights it but they end up in guard.
Hornie is breathing heavily.
Hornie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thates controlling from the top position.
Thates passes Hornie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hornie trying to hold on to Thates's head to control him but Thates postures up.
Thates trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Thates trying to mount his opponent but Hornie defends it.
Hornie trying to control but Thates postures up.
Hornie tries to kick Thates off but Thates keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thates tries to pass to full mount but Hornie defends it.

Thates is looking for a kimura here.
Thates thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hornie shoots in and drives through. Thates sprawls well.

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.
No joy there for Thates, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hornie avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
No luck for Hornie with that takedown attempt.
Thates wants to clinch.
Thates moves in looking to clinch but Hornie pushes him off.
Thates misses with a body kick.
Thates takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Thates gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hornie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hornie wants to get up but he can't break Thates's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Thates is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raphael Thates dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Hornie swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thates shoots for a double leg takedown but Hornie sprawls well. He's pushed Thates's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hornie doesn't manage to clinch there - Thates circles away.
Hornie tries to clinch up

and Thates decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hornie's guard.

Thates stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Hornie slips under a jab.
Thates closes the distance and clinches up with Hornie, looking for a takedown. Thates pushes Hornie against the cage but Hornie circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Hornie has managed to clinch.
Thates tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hornie just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Thates. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hornie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hornie breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thates goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Thates displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hornie.
Thates uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hornie.
Thates fails with a takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hornie looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thates pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hornie tries for a takedown but Thates circles away easily

and Thates decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hornie's guard.
Raphael Thates overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thates controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Thates gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thates scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Thates takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hornie has hold of Thates's hands but Thates slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hornie wants to get back to his feet.

Thates is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hornie doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thates.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thates with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

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.
Hornie pushes Thates off looking to stand but Thates dives back in and keeps control.
Thates performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Thates looks to land a strike but Hornie avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raphael Thates showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thates has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raphael Thates!