PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Azrael Arkane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry Thorne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thorne has chosen Finntroll - Trollhammaren as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Arkane
vs
Thorne

195 cm
28
180 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

188 cm
33
169 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Azrael Arkane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Larry Thorne!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arkane misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Arkane fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thorne lands with a thumping leg kick.
Arkane shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thorne as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Azrael Arkane. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arkane fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thorne slaps away a takedown attempt from Arkane, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Thorne lands a head kick. Arkane smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Arkane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've been informed that Thorne has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Thorne throws a head kick that misses

and Arkane counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Arkane.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arkane looking for a takedown.
Arkane tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thorne lands an elbow inside.
Arkane has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Thorne avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Thorne with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Arkane wants a takedown.
Thorne with a knee to the head.
Arkane takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorne lands a nice knee to the body.
Arkane is breathing heavily.
Thorne lands a good knee to the midsection. Arkane won't want to take too many of those.
Thorne throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thorne tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thorne tries to land a knee to the head but Arkane blocks with his arms.
Nice elbow from Thorne.
Thorne with a knee to the head.
Arkane takes an elbow to the forehead.
Arkane really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arkane takes a knee right on the jaw!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Thorne.
Thorne crunches a lovely knee into Arkane's ribcage.
Thorne lands a nice elbow.
Thorne with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thorne unloads a knee to the mid-section. Arkane lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Thorne tries a knee to the head but Arkane blocks it.

Arkane turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Thorne tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorne is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thorne dodges the ground and pound from Arkane.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorne can't do much from the bottom here.
Arkane controls the position.
Thorne regains half guard.
Thorne trying to hold on to Arkane's head to control him but Arkane postures up.
Arkane wants to free his trapped foot but Thorne is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Arkane thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thorne is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arkane moves nicely into side control.
Thorne is being controlled here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Arkane in side control, throwing shots but Thorne defends.
Thorne regains half guard there - taking advantage of Arkane's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Thorne dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thorne stuffs the takedown attempt from Arkane. Arkane gets slowly back to his feet.
Arkane tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Thorne displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Arkane.
The fight stays on the outside here - Arkane looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thorne throws a leg kick but Arkane sees it coming and moves out of range.
That kick from Thorne tenderised Arkane's leg. Arkane is trying to keep his angry face on.
Larry Thorne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Arkane changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thorne looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thorne is looking to regain half guard here but Arkane keeps moving and retains side control.
Thorne struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Arkane is looking to take a break and control but Thorne is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Arkane creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Thorne sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Arkane working away.
Arkane is looking to take a break and control but Thorne is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thorne tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Arkane wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arkane scoring with punches from side control.
Arkane is looking to take a break and control but Thorne is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Arkane.
Thorne sneaks back into half guard.
Arkane wants to pass the guard but Thorne is defending well.
Arkane perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arkane sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thorne defending well though.
Thorne is looking for a sweep. Arkane is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Thorne is refusing to be controlled, as Arkane sits in half guard.
Thorne tries to kick Arkane off but Arkane keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Arkane controlling the action here.

We're going to have a standup here because Azrael Arkane wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Thorne fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Arkane.
A chopping leg kick lands by Thorne.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorne throws a leg kick but Arkane moved away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Thorne.
Thorne tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Arkane was well out of range. Poor timing from Thorne.
An inside leg kick lands from Thorne.
Thorne swings for the body but Arkane moves out of range.
Thorne misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Arkane shoots in for a takedown but Thorne shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Azrael Arkane. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thorne moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Arkane misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thorne comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Arkane takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Thorne drives through and clinches with Arkane against the cage.

Arkane gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Thorne is controlling Arkane's trapped leg to prevent Arkane from advancing to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Larry Thorne will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Thorne throws a front kick aimed at Arkane's knee but Arkane avoids it well.
Thorne will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Thorne tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thorne connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Arkane fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Arkane on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Thorne drives through and clinches with Arkane against the cage.
Thorne lands a damaging elbow.
Thorne lands an elbow inside that Arkane shrugs off.
Thorne connects with a nasty looking knee right to Arkane's face.
Knees in the clinch landing for Thorne.
Thorne lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Arkane has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Thorne avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Thorne landing some nice looking knees to the body.
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 working Arkane over with knees to the body.
Thorne misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorne throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thorne lands a good knee to the midsection. Arkane won't want to take too many of those.
Knees to the body from Thorne.
Thorne scores with a knee to the head.
Thorne gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Thorne lands an elbow that stopped Arkane in his tracks for a moment.
Thorne landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Arkane takes a knee right on the jaw!
Thorne lands a knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thorne crunches a lovely knee into Arkane's ribcage.
Thorne comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Thorne landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Thorne lands a nice elbow.
Thorne lands a damaging elbow.
Thorne connects with a nasty looking knee right to Arkane's face.

Arkane is rocked!
Arkane has Thorne pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Thorne manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Oh Arkane is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Azrael Arkane. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Thorne.
Thorne lands an elbow inside that Arkane shrugs off.
Thorne has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thorne lands an elbow inside.
Thorne misses with a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Thorne.
Arkane managing to block the knees to the body from Thorne.
Arkane wants a takedown but no success here.
Thorne is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Thorne connects with a knee to the head.
Larry Thorne seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Thorne lands a nice knee to the body.
Thorne lands a good knee to the midsection. Arkane won't want to take too many of those.
Thorne lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thorne obliges.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thorne obliges.
Thorne scores with a knee to the head.
Thorne has Arkane pressed up against the cage in a tight Thai clinch. Arkane is arching his back, trying to avoid the knees but a big one sneaks through from Thorne - that's hurt Arkane badly! Oh, another knee lands and Arkane is covering up! The referee steps in to save him - possibly a bit early but Arkane doesn't seem to be complaining.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Larry Thorne!
Larry Thorne opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.