PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kristian Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Thorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kelly might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Senses Fail - Bonecrusher. Thorn is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Knockin heads off - Lil Jon ft eastside boyz. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kelly
vs
Thorn

195 cm
24
285 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

203 cm
28
250 lbs
11 - 3 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kristian Kelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Jeff Thorn!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thorn takes a swing at Kelly's ribcage but misses.
Thorn bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kelly's head backwards.

It looks like Kristian Kelly has been cut.
Jeff Thorn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thorn ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kelly misses the jab.
Kelly tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thorn was well out of range. Poor timing from Kelly.
Kelly takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kelly will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thorn rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kelly counters with a stiff right hand.
Kelly connects with a body shot that sends Thorn's belly button to the back.
Thorn throws an off balance right hand
and Kelly counters with a left to the body.
Kelly misses with a takedown attempt - Thorn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thorn throws a sloppy body shot
and Kelly counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kelly swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thorn misses with a left hand
and Kelly counters with a straight right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thorn misses the body punch
and Kelly counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Thorn throws an off balance right hand

and Kelly decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thorn's guard.
Kelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Thorn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly throwing strikes but missing.
Kelly trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kelly working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kelly advances to half guard.

Kelly is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Kelly seems to be working for a kimura but Thorn defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kelly is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

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.
Kelly missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kelly wants to free his trapped foot but Thorn is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Thorn is staying active underneath Kelly, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Kelly is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kelly thows a huge punch but Thorn dodges it nicely.
Kelly working the head and body with strikes.
Kelly trying to pass the guard but Thorn defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kelly is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thorn doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kelly.
Kelly missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Kelly is trying to work for a kimura but Thorn is defending well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kelly looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

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.
Kelly wants to pass to mount but Thorn is defending the position.
Kelly 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.
Kelly stalling.
Thorn is looking for a sweep. Kelly is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kelly looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Kristian Kelly wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Thorn with a hook.
Thorn misses the body punch

and Kelly counters with a single leg into guard. Thorn didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kristian Kelly dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kristian Kelly's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thorn misses with a shot to the body

and Kelly counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kelly is looking to advance position but Thorn won't allow it.
Thorn wants to control but Kelly is keeping busy.
Kelly drops an elbow to the side of Thorn's head.
Thorn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kelly looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Kelly is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Thorn sees it coming and defends easily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kristian Kelly overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kelly seems to be looking for submissions.

Kelly is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Thorn defends it well.

Kelly seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Thorn has recovered full guard.
Thorn pulls Kelly in close to prevent any damage.

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.
Kelly postures up in Thorn's guard and throws a big left but Thorn blocks it.
Kelly postures up in Thorn's guard and throws a big left but Thorn blocks it.
Kelly pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thorn is keeping the position for now.
Kelly trying to control but Thorn is working from the bottom.
Kelly postures up in Thorn's guard and throws a big left but Thorn blocks it.
Thorn really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kelly. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Thorn is looking for a triangle but Kelly pushes his legs off easily.
Kelly trying to control but Thorn is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kelly engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Thorn can't keep his opponent in guard - Kelly advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kelly wants to take a breather but Thorn is having none of it.

Kelly is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Thorn is pressing down on Kelly's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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.
Kelly throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thorn is pulling down on Kelly's head to control his posture.
Kelly passes Thorn's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kelly wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thorn keeps working.
Thorn blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kelly.
Kelly is keen to just control but Thorn is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kristian Kelly dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kristian Kelly's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Thorn throws a hook but Kelly blocks it.
Kelly misses with a left hand
and Thorn makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Thorn misses the shot to the body.
Thorn swings away with a body shot that misses

and Kelly counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kelly looking to pass the guard.
Thorn pulls Kelly in close to his closed guard and prevents Kelly from doing any damage or advancing position.
Thorn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thorn trying to control the position.

Kelly drops back, looking for a kneebar! Thorn looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Thorn looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Thorn!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thorn wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Thorn working away.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kelly throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thorn preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kelly tries to free his leg and advance position but Thorn is retaining full guard.
Kelly preventing the sweep.
Kelly trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kelly slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Thorn is looking to regain half guard here but Kelly keeps moving and retains side control.
Thorn is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kelly tries for a kimura but Thorn is defending well.

Kelly is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Thorn knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Thorn wants to control but Kelly postures up.

Kelly tries for a kimura but Thorn is defending well.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly is looking to take a break and control but Thorn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Kelly thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kelly wants to control but Thorn is keeping him busy.
Jeff Thorn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Kristian Kelly showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kelly, 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kristian Kelly!