PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marquis Desmarais (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Thorne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Desmarais
vs
Thorne

185 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marquis Desmarais!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Thorne!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Desmarais cracks Thorne with an open hand slap.
Desmarais throws a head kick that misses.
Desmarais jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Desmarais tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Desmarais scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Desmarais looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Nice uppercut there from Desmarais.
Desmarais throws a leg kick but Thorne checks it.
Desmarais lands an overhand right.
Desmarais shoots in and drives through. Thorne sprawls well.
Thorne stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Desmarais.
Desmarais jabs at Thorne's body.
Desmarais tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thorne swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Desmarais looks to score with a jab to the body but Thorne is just out of range.
Desmarais jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Desmarais shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Thorne tries to keep at a distance but Desmarais has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thorne tries to pull guard but Desmarais holds him up against the cage and eventually Thorne drops back down to his feet.
Desmarais with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Desmarais is stalling here.
Desmarais unloads a knee to the mid-section. Thorne lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Desmarais working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Thorne missing with knees to the body.
Desmarais tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Desmarais lands an uppercut.
Thorne is looking to break free of the clinch but Desmarais has double underhooks.
Desmarais missing with knees to the body.
Desmarais stalls.
Desmarais unloads a knee to the mid-section. Thorne lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Desmarais avoiding damage as Thorne throws knees to the body.
Desmarais tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Desmarais landing knees to the body.
Desmarais has a couple of punches blocked by Thorne.

Thorne breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Desmarais dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thorne. That did some damage!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Desmarais throws a head kick but Thorne moves out of range.
Desmarais pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A nice leg kick lands there from Desmarais.
Desmarais thows a body shot but no joy.
Thorne lands with an overhand left.
Desmarais wants to clinch up but Thorne keeps it at a distance.

Desmarais gets a takedown into half guard.
Desmarais wants to stand but Thorne has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Desmarais is breathing heavily.

Thorne actively working from the bottom here.
Thorne manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thorne is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Thorne scrambles and gets back to his feet.
A swing and a miss from Thorne.
Thorne rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Desmarais moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Desmarais uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Thorne has time to react.
Thorne fails with an attempt to clinch.
Desmarais tries to clinch up.

Desmarais closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Thorne looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Desmarais stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorne avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Desmarais.
Thorne wants to control but Desmarais is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Desmarais passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Thorne!
Thorne is desperately trying to improve his position but Desmarais has a good base and remains in mount.
Desmarais lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marquis Desmarais dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Desmarais smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Desmarais moves into the clinch successfully.
Desmarais wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short uppercut from Desmarais.
Desmarais lands an elbow just above Thorne 's eye.
Desmarais looking to slow down the pace here.
Thorne lands an elbow inside that Desmarais shrugs off.
Thorne on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Desmarais breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A left lands for Desmarais.
Desmarais misses with a double jab.
Thorne scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Desmarais throws the kick towards the body but Thorne avoids it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thorne is looking to clinch but Desmarais is avoiding it.
Thorne tries to clinch there but Desmarais circles away.

Desmarais takes the fight into the clinch.
Thorne dodges an elbow strike from Desmarais.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Desmarais lands an elbow inside.
Thorne lands a hook that snaps the head of Desmarais backwards.
Desmarais cracks Thorne with a nice body shot.
Thorne wants to stall.
Thorne fails to pull guard.
Desmarais lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Thorne backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Thorne with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Desmarais tries a knee to the head but Thorne blocks it.

Thorne turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Thorne manages to end up in side control.
Desmarais tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thorne wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Thorne decides to stand back up. Thorne steps back and let's Desmarais get back to his feet.

Thorne pushes Desmarais up against the cage in a clinch.
Desmarais throws an elbow that misses.
Thorne tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Thorne just misses with a elbow thrown towards Desmarais's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Come on Thorne - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Desmarais is looking to control Thorne's arms but Thorne gets an underhook and turns him. Now Desmarais has his back to the cage.
Thorne avoids the elbow strike from Desmarais, against the cage.

Thorne breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thorne closes the distance and clinches up with Desmarais, looking for a takedown. Thorne pushes Desmarais against the cage but Desmarais circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Marquis Desmarais has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Thorne.
Desmarais falls off balance throwing a combination

and Thorne counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thorne decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Donk. Desmarais catches Thorne right on the button with a cross.
Desmarais misses with a body shot.
Thorne gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Desmarais counters with an outside leg kick.
Desmarais shoots in but Thorne avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Desmarais throws a looping overhand right but Thorne ducks down to avoid it.
Marquis Desmarais seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thorne clinches up against the cage.

Thorne pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thorne has a closed guard, preventing Desmarais from standing up.
Desmarais wants to pass the guard but Thorne is keeping the position.
Desmarais trying to control the position from guard on top but Thorne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Desmarais stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Thorne misses with the combination.
Thorne tries to clinch there but Desmarais circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorne fails with an attempt to clinch.
Desmarais sizes up Thorne with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Thorne avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A good leg kick by Thorne.
Thorne takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Thorne uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Desmarais.

Thorne has Desmarais up against the cage in a clinch.
Thorne blocking some punches.
Thorne fails to pull guard.

Thorne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thorne keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Desmarais.
Desmarais misses with an uppercut.
Desmarais throws a sloppy body shot

and Thorne counters by clinching up.
Desmarais misses with an elbow over the top.
Thorne is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Thorne showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Thorne ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Desmarais moves away.
Desmarais tries to clinch but Thorne moves away
and Thorne counters with a left and a right that stings Desmarais.
Desmarais takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Desmarais buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Thorne fails with a takedown attempt.
Desmarais lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Desmarais tries to clinch up.
Desmarais scores with a crisp jab that stopped Thorne in his tracks.
Desmarais misses with the combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Desmarais looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thorne showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Desmarais.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Desmarais darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Desmarais shoots in and drives through. Thorne sprawls well.
Thorne is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Desmarais throws a one two combo.
Marquis Desmarais is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thorne is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Thorne wants to stall.
Knees in the clinch landing for Thorne.
Desmarais lands an elbow inside.
Thorne tries to pull guard but Desmarais won't allow it.
Marquis Desmarais has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Thorne.
Desmarais is leaning against Thorne and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Desmarais misses with a hook from the clinch.
Desmarais using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Thorne throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Desmarais blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorne is looking to control Desmarais's arms but Desmarais gets an underhook and turns him. Now Thorne has his back to the cage.
Desmarais blocks a body shot from Thorne.
Thorne blocks the elbow strike.
Thorne tries to pull guard but Desmarais won't allow it.
Thorne avoids the elbow strike from Desmarais, against the cage.
Desmarais is looking to break free of the clinch but Thorne has double underhooks.
Thorne is looking to break free of the clinch but Desmarais has double underhooks.

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

Thorne tries to keep at a distance but Desmarais has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thorne fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Thorne breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Desmarais bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Thorne's head backwards.
Desmarais avoids the head kick by Thorne.
Thorne stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Desmarais.
Thorne moves in looking to clinch but Desmarais pushes him off.
Desmarais doesn't manage to clinch there - Thorne circles away.

Thorne gets a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorne throwing shots but Desmarais is blocking nicely.

Thorne stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Thorne fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Desmarais throws a right and a left that Thorne avoids nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Desmarais misses the target.
Thorne fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thorne closes the distance but Desmarais moves to the side
letting Desmarais counter with a right hand.
Good leg kick by Desmarais there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Desmarais scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Thorne doesn't seem bothered though.
Desmarais misses with a head kick.

Desmarais clinches.
Thorne lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Thorne tries to score a body lock takedown but Desmarais shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Thorne tries to pull guard but Desmarais won't allow it.

Thorne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Desmarais moves in looking to clinch but Thorne pushes him off.
Desmarais throws a head kick but Thorne moves out of range.
Thorne wants to clinch up but Desmarais keeps it at a distance.
Thorne throws a series of punches but Desmarais moves out of range.
Desmarais misses with a combination

and Thorne counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Thorne manages to break the clinch.

Desmarais fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thorne sprawls well initially but Desmarais persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marquis Desmarais showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Desmarais has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marquis Desmarais!