PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Weidman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nautica Thorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chris Weidman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Weidman
vs
Thorn

180 cm
26
250 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

190 cm
20
270 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent knees
Determined

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Weidman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nautica Thorn!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thorn scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Thorn controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thorn is trying to work for a kimura but Weidman is defending well.
Thorn with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Thorn with the ground and pound but Weidman uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Weidman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thorn is one step ahead there.

Thorn stands up from Weidman's guard - Thorn perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nautica Thorn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thorn rushes Weidman and presses him up against the cage.
Thorn misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short left from Thorn.

It looks like Chris Weidman has been cut.
Weidman wants to break free but Thorn has control.
Thorn using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Thorn breaks the clinch.
Chris Weidman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Thorn gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Thorn has Weidman pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Thorn pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Weidman tumbling to the mat - Thorn dives into Weidman's guard.

Weidman is working an open guard so Thorn takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
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!

Weidman gets tackled into the cage by Thorn. Thorn maintains the clinch.
Thorn with a knee to the head.
Weidman is breathing heavily.
Weidman is trying to break free.

Thorn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Weidman could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Thorn takes the fight into the clinch.
Thorn stalling against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorn lands a knee to the head.

Thorn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Thorn shoots in and bounces Weidman off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Thorn stands up over Weidman, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Weidman is working an open guard so Thorn takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Thorn drives through and clinches with Weidman against the cage.

Thorn lands a big knee to the head and Weidman goes down! Thorn is looking to finish!

Weidman is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thorn is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Weidman knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Oh Weidman is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Thorn has hold of Weidman's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Weidman tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Thorn cranks the arm and Weidman screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Weidman, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Nautica Thorn!
After winning the bout, Nautica Thorn thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.