PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marduk Thorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melekh David (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thorn kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Rob Dougan - Clubbed to Death. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Thorn
vs
David

165 cm
20
150 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
154 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marduk Thorn!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Melekh David!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thorn throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
David lands an overhand right.
A head kick misses from Thorn.
Thorn tries to clinch but David is having none of it.
David tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Thorn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thorn doesn't manage to clinch there - David circles away.
David has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Thorn.
Thorn stuffs the takedown.

David throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Thorn tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. David is in Thorn's guard.
David missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
David is looking to work some ground and pound but Thorn has wrist control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
David wants to pass the guard but Thorn is keeping the position.
David is looking to work some ground and pound but Thorn has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
David trying to control the position from guard on top but Thorn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

David is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
David has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Thorn has passed into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David is looking to reverse the position.
David sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

David looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
David is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorn wants to get back to his feet.
David regains full guard. Nicely done.
Thorn wants to stand and escape but instead David has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
David pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thorn is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
David looking to sit in guard and control but Thorn gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
David looking for a sweep. Not yet David, not yet.
Thorn wants to stand but David is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melekh David dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thorn throws a nice outside leg kick.

David looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Thorn avoiding damage under a succession of punches from David.
Thorn looks like he's trying to stand up.
Thorn avoiding damage under a succession of punches from David.
Melekh David has got the better of the ground game so far.
David missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

David 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.

David is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
David works his way into full mount!

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David punishing his opponent with strikes.
David lands a nice shot to the head.
David is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
David working the ground and pound effectively.
David can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thorn is looking to escape.
Thorn knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for David on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

David looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
David tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
David looking to finish with strikes here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

David moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Thorn has worked his arm free - good work by Thorn!
David is looking to take a break and control but Thorn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thorn takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
David wants to control for a moment but Thorn uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melekh David showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Thorn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

David takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
David fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thorn manages to avoid it.
Thorn takes one to the chin there.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! David crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Thorn - the referee stops the clock and David gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Thorn. David manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
David shoots in but no luck this time.

David scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
David throwing shots but Thorn is blocking nicely.

David is trying to work for a kimura but Thorn is defending well.
David is looking to take a break and control but Thorn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thorn makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
David lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
David lands a jab to the nose.
Melekh David is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

David manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Thorn on his heels. He'll look to pass Thorn's guard now, I'm sure.
David trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
David trying to control but Thorn is working from the bottom.
David in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
David content to stall in guard here.
David trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
David trying to control the position from guard on top but Thorn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
David looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
David stays in close to Thorn's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Melekh David.
Thorn looks for the body kick but David saw that one coming.
Thorn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thorn closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The fighters circle momentarily. David darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
David has a takedown stuffed.
Marduk Thorn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thorn throws a body punch but David moves out of range.
David avoids the head kick by Thorn.
David lands a really nice looking cross but Thorn seems unphased.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by David or perhaps it was just good defense by Thorn which made him look bad.
Marduk Thorn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Melekh David.
Thorn tries to clinch up.
David moves out of range of the body kick.
Thorn throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Thorn - that will leave a mark!
Thorn uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by David.
This has been an exciting period of action!
David avoids the body shot from Thorn.
David ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
David doesn't manage to clinch there - Thorn circles away.
Thorn lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Marduk Thorn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
David tries to clinch up but Thorn circles away and keeps his distance.
Thorn throws a quick inside leg kick.
Thorn throws a head kick that misses.
Thorn displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from David.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melekh David really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thorn throws a head kick that misses.
David avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

David moves into the clinch successfully.

David jumps guard.

David working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thorn doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but David is tightening it up a little... Thorn has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Thorn reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Thorn taps out! Nice BJJ there by David!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:38 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Melekh David!
Melekh David is the new featherweight champion!
In his post fight interview, Melekh David started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.