PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Noburo Kobayashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Thor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Noburo Kobayashi has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Kobayashi
vs
Thor

185 cm
21
205 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
215 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Crippler's Corner

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Noburo Kobayashi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damien Thor!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Alan Glass and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kobayashi fails with the takedown.
Kobayashi closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Thor misses with a takedown attempt

and Kobayashi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thor's guard now.
Kobayashi tries to free his leg and advance position but Thor is retaining full guard.
Kobayashi slips nicely into half guard.
Thor is looking to control Kobayashi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thor avoid being mounted?

Kobayashi decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Kobayashi tries to clinch up.
Kobayashi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thor counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kobayashi tries for a takedown but Thor circles away easily

and Thor counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kobayashi!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Noburo Kobayashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kobayashi regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thor is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobayashi tries to roll over but Thor keeps him under control.

Thor is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Thor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kobayashi keeps working.

Kobayashi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Thor is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kobayashi tries to roll over but Thor keeps him under control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kobayashi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Thor counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Thor showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kobayashi is looking for a triangle but Thor pushes his legs off easily.
Kobayashi is breathing heavily.
Thor won't allow Kobayashi to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kobayashi looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thor passes into half guard.
Thor works his foot free and advances to mount.
Thor with good strikes from the mount here!
Thor wants to control the pace but Kobayashi is squirming around nicely.
Kobayashi is trying desperately to improve position.
Thor looking to control but Kobayashi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kobayashi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kobayashi is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Thor looking for the RNC.
Thor is hanging on to Kobayashi's back as he tries to escape.
Thor tries to keep control of the position but Kobayashi is staying busy.
Kobayashi tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Thor trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kobayashi tries to improve his position but instead Thor has taken his back!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kobayashi trying to control the hands but Thor breaks the grip.

Thor has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Kobayashi has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Kobayashi covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi trying to control the hands but Thor won't let him.
Thor controlling well, preventing Kobayashi from escaping the position.
Thor tries to get the hooks in deep but Kobayashi pushed the leg off.
Kobayashi tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Kobayashi manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Kobayashi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kobayashi is defending against the submission attempts here by Thor.
Kobayashi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kobayashi keeping moving, preventing Thor from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Damien Thor will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kobayashi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kobayashi tries to clinch but Thor is having none of it.

Thor bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Thor controls the position from side control.
Thor trying to control the action but Kobayashi is working from the bottom.
Damien Thor has got the better of the ground game so far.

Thor working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Thor is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kobayashi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kobayashi is trying to control Thor's posture but Thor avoids it.
Thor gets to mount! Kobayashi was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kobayashi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Thor.
Thor is breathing heavily.
Thor prevents Kobayashi from getting the reversal.
Kobayashi manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Kobayashi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kobayashi is looking to escape.
Kobayashi trying to control here.
Kobayashi regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Thor.
Thor trying to control but Kobayashi is working from the bottom.
Kobayashi trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Kobayashi working for a triangle but Thor defends it easily.
Thor is stalling in the full guard.
Kobayashi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thor wants to control from the top but Kobayashi keeps moving.
Thor won't allow Kobayashi to sweep him here.

Thor drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thor jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kobayashi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thor's calf.
Kobayashi with a lazy takedown attempt

so Thor counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Kobayashi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Thor wants to control from the top but Kobayashi keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thor is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Kobayashi 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.
Thor works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Thor looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Thor is looking to take a break and control but Kobayashi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thor sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kobayashi defending well though.

Kobayashi actively working from the bottom here.

Thor postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Kobayashi to stand up.

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

and Kobayashi counters with a single leg into guard. Thor didn't expect that.

Thor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thor bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kobayashi's guard.

Kobayashi looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Thor has picked Kobayashi up and slammed him! Kobayashi can't keep hold of the triangle and Thor manages to pass to side control!
Thor wants to control but Kobayashi is keeping him busy.
Kobayashi manages to get back to half guard.
Kobayashi trying to control here.
Kobayashi wants to get back to full guard.
Kobayashi is working hard here to advance position.
Kobayashi trying to hold on to Thor's head to control him but Thor postures up.
Kobayashi is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Thor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kobayashi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Thor!
Kobayashi looking to control but Thor is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Kobayashi get's back to his feet.
Kobayashi shoots and misses

and Thor counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kobayashi!
Thor can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kobayashi is looking to escape.
Kobayashi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kobayashi has given up his back. Will we see Thor going for some submissions?
Kobayashi tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Kobayashi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Thor looking to finish Kobayashi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kobayashi!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobayashi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thor avoids the attempt from Kobayashi to control.

Thor is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kobayashi can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Kobayashi is looking to get to half guard.
Thor looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kobayashi is trying desperately to improve position.
Thor pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.

Thor working for a submission but Kobayashi is keeping him at bay.
Kobayashi tries to reverse the position but Thor maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Kobayashi defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Thor.
Kobayashi is looking to improve his position but Thor isn't that keen on the idea.
Kobayashi tries to hold on but Thor pushes him away.
Kobayashi working to try and regain half guard.
Kobayashi wants to hold on but Thor pushes him away.
Thor dominating with strikes here.

Thor wants to finish this one by submission but Kobayashi is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Thor.
Kobayashi reaches up and holds on to Thor to control the position.
Thor wants to stand but Kobayashi is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kobayashi is desperately trying to improve his position but Thor has a good base and remains in mount.
Thor wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
BOOM! Thor connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Thor sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kobayashi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Thor trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Thor is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Kobayashi doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Thor counters with a single leg into guard. Kobayashi didn't expect that.

Thor stands up from Kobayashi's guard - Thor perhaps looking for a knockout.
Thor dips to his left and cracks Kobayashi with an uppercut!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thor drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Thor trying to control but Kobayashi is working from the bottom.
Kobayashi is controlling Thor's posture.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kobayashi keeping full guard, as Thor tries to pass.

Kobayashi is looking for a triangle but Thor pushes his legs off easily.
Kobayashi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thor stays in close to Kobayashi's body and controls the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kobayashi wants to stand but Thor is controlling the position.

Kobayashi has his feet on Thor's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kobayashi shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Thor's guard.
Kobayashi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kobayashi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Thor has his takedown stuffed
and Kobayashi counters with a series of strikes. Thor will be more careful next time no doubt.

Kobayashi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kobayashi is controlling the pace.

Kobayashi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Thor is controlling Kobayashi's trapped leg to prevent Kobayashi from advancing to side control.

Thor kicks Kobayashi off and gets back to his feet.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobayashi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Thor counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Thor trying to mount his opponent but Kobayashi defends it.

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

Kobayashi looking for submissions off his back.
Thor working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Kobayashi's thigh. Kobayashi counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Thor trying to control but Kobayashi is working from the bottom.
Kobayashi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kobayashi keeping moving, preventing Thor from controlling successfully.
Kobayashi throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kobayashi with a lazy takedown attempt

and Thor counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kobayashi won't be happy with that.

Thor tries for a kimura but Kobayashi is defending well.
Kobayashi is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Thor's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kobayashi manages to get to full guard.

Kobayashi had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Thor is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kobayashi Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Thor's back instead.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kobayashi has got his arm under Thor's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Thor has spun round into Kobayashi's guard beautifully! Well done that man!

Kobayashi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kobayashi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thor is one step ahead there.
Kobayashi controls Thor momentarily but Thor frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kobayashi looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Thor is defending well. Kobayashi quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Thor has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Kobayashi celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Noburo Kobayashi!
Noburo Kobayashi retains his light heavyweight title!