PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Poulter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Thorne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thorne has chosen Crazy Train as his entrance music. 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.

Poulter
vs
Thorne

189 cm
29
208 lbs
24 - 9 - 0

194 cm
27
219 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Poulter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Damien Thorne!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice leg kick lands there from Poulter.
Poulter misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thorne looks to score with a jab to the body but Poulter is just out of range.
Poulter ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thorne moves away.
Poulter misses with a body kick.
Poulter fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Poulter throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Poulter. Thorne shrugs it off though.
Poulter throws a head kick but Thorne moves out of range.
Thorne ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Poulter moves away.
Thorne keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poulter throws a nice inside leg kick.
Poulter throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A head kick misses from Poulter.
Poulter connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Poulter misses with a body kick.
Poulter misses with a head kick.
Poulter moves out of range as Thorne strikes.
Thorne ducks right into an uppercut from Poulter.
Poulter tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorne lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Poulter throws a big shot that misses.
Thorne tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Poulter was well out of range. Poor timing from Thorne.
Thorne takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thorne avoids the body shot from Poulter.
Poulter fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Thorne moves out of range as Poulter throws a body kick.
Paul Poulter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Poulter sizes up Thorne with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Poulter misses with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poulter throws a shot to the body.
Poulter misses with a low kick.
Thorne takes a kick to the side of the head.
Poulter misses with a body kick.
Thorne does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Poulter pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Poulter scores with a head kick.

It looks like Damien Thorne has been cut.
Poulter lands a leg kick that knocks Thorne off balance momentarily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thorne feints and then cracks Poulter's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Poulter down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorne blocks the body kick.
Poulter is looking to land body kicks.
Thorne scoring well with a low kick there.
Poulter throws a lazy head kick

and Thorne counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thorne.
Thorne misses with a hook to the ribs.
Poulter connects with a knee to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Thorne misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Poulter.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Poulter has had enough of the clinch but Thorne keeps him there for the moment.
Thorne lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Poulter dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Damien Thorne's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Poulter misses with a jab to the body

and Thorne counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Thorne stalling against the cage.
Thorne jumps guard but Poulter turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Poulter.
Poulter blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thorne pushes Poulter back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Poulter avoiding damage.
Thorne struggles to land a body shot inside as Poulter controls his hands.
Poulter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Thorne swings wildly with an uppercut but Poulter uses good head movement to avoid it.
Poulter lands a nice shot to the body.
Poulter missing with knees to the body.
Thorne can't find room to land a body shot as Poulter controls the action.
Thorne misses with a punch to the body.
Thorne struggles to land a body shot inside as Poulter controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poulter is looking to break free of the clinch but Thorne has double underhooks.
Thorne is looking to control Poulter's arms but Poulter gets an underhook and turns him. Now Thorne has his back to the cage.
Thorne jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Poulter walks away with a smile on his face. Thorne gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Poulter lands with a nice body kick.
Poulter tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick from Poulter lands but Thorne takes it in his stride.
Thorne moves out of range as Poulter throws a body kick.
Poulter misses with a head kick.
Thorne moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Poulter explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorne throws a solid leg kick but Poulter takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Thorne.
Poulter throws a sloppy body shot

and Thorne counters by clinching up.
Thorne blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Poulter is looking to control Thorne's arms but Thorne gets an underhook and turns him. Now Poulter has his back to the cage.
Thorne lands a nice shot to the body.
Thorne misses with a body punch.
Thorne works on Poulter's body with a couple of short punches.
Thorne tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Poulter blocks a body shot from Thorne.
Thorne keeps control of Poulter as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Good body shot from Thorne.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Poulter tries to break free but Thorne pushes him back against the cage.
Poulter misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thorne lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Poulter blocks a body shot from Thorne.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorne lands with a right to the head.
Nice body punch from Thorne.
A short uppercut from Thorne.
Thorne tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Poulter's elbow.
Thorne tries to pull guard but Poulter forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Paul Poulter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Thorne.

Poulter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Poulter moves out of range of the leg kick from Thorne.

Thorne pushes Poulter up against the cage in a clinch.
Poulter blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Damien Thorne seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Thorne misses with a hook to the ribs.
Poulter scores a nice knee to the body.
Thorne misses with a hook to the ribs.
Poulter using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thorne has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thorne is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Poulter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Poulter scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Thorne dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Poulter throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Poulter throws a head kick that half lands.
Poulter throws a head kick that half lands.

That has opened up Damien Thorne's cut even more.
Poulter lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Poulter throws a head kick but Thorne moves out of range.
Thorne moves out of range of the body kick from Poulter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Paul Poulter will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Damien Thorne'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!

Thorne takes a swing at Poulter's ribcage but misses.
Poulter thows a body shot but no joy.
Thorne misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thorne takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thorne thuds a left hand into Poulter's body.
Nice body kick there by Poulter.
A lazy body kick from Poulter

and Thorne moves into the clinch.
Thorne misses with a body punch.
Poulter blocks a body shot from Thorne.
Poulter tries to work over Thorne's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poulter looking to throw knees to the head but Thorne is blocking nicely.
Poulter tries to break free but Thorne pushes him back against the cage.
Thorne throws a head punch that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Thorne.
Thorne swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thorne tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Poulter just stands there and leans against the cage.
Thorne trying to stall but Poulter improves his position.
Poulter tries to break free but Thorne pushes him back against the cage.
Thorne misses with a punch to the body.
Thorne has Poulter pressed against the cage, preventing Poulter from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thorne lands with a light punch inside.
Thorne misses with the head strike.
Thorne throws a punch but it's blocked by Poulter.
Poulter working hard to break the clinch.
Poulter utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Poulter is trying to break the clinch but Thorne is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thorne.
Thorne tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Poulter throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Thornes head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Poulter misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thorne.
Poulter connects with a nasty looking knee right to Thorne's face.
Thorne lands a hook to the side of the head.
Poulter trying to land knees to the body.
Thorne swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Poulter is trying to break free.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Thorne as Poulter tries to tie him up.
Poulter tries to land knees in the clinch but Thorne avoids the damage to the body.
Poulter tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Poulter blocks an uppercut.
Thorne misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poulter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Poulter lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Poulter misses with a leg kick

and Thorne holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Poulter is trying to push Thorne away but Thorne has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Thorne can't find room to land a body shot as Poulter controls the action.
Thorne blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Paul Poulter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Poulter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Poulter dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thorne. That did some damage!
Thorne avoids the body shot from Poulter.
Poulter keeps Thorne at a distance using the push kick.
Poulter throws a body kick that misses
and Thorne counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Damien Thorne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poulter tries to land a front kick but Thorne steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Poulter throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Thorne counters by moving into the clinch.
Poulter wants to break the clinch but can't.
Poulter unloads a knee to the mid-section. Thorne lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thorne misses with the head strike.
Thorne tries to throw a body punch but Poulter avoids it by throwing Thorne back against the cage.
Thorne's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thorne tries to throw a body punch but Poulter avoids it by throwing Thorne back against the cage.
Poulter prevents a body shot from Thorne.
Thorne working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Thorne is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Poulter is defending well for now.

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 Paul Poulter.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Poulter, 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Poulter!
Paul Poulter gave a mention to Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).