PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Terrence Thornton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcelo Aurelio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thornton comes into the arena with Pusha T - Exodus 23:1 blaring out of the sound system. Terrence Thornton is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Thornton
vs
Aurelio

187 cm
27
178 lbs
14 - 3 - 1

180 cm
24
173 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Vikai Gear

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 14 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Terrence Thornton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcelo Aurelio!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thornton cracks Aurelio with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Aurelio misses with a hook. Thornton ducked under it nicely.
Thornton waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Aurelio.

Thornton is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Aurelio's half guard.
Aurelio is looking to improve his position.
Aurelio trying to hold on to Thornton's head to control him but Thornton postures up.
Aurelio is pressing down on Thornton's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Thornton controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Our spies down at at RNC Sport Club inform us that Aurelio has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Aurelio escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thornton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thornton looking to sit in guard and control but Aurelio gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thornton keeping full guard, as Aurelio tries to pass.
Aurelio trying to control but Thornton is working from the bottom.
Thornton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aurelio controlling from the top position.
Aurelio trying to control the position from guard on top but Thornton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Thornton is trying to control the position but Aurelio postures up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Aurelio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aurelio postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thornton connects with a crisp jab.
Thornton misses the shot to the body.
Thornton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Aurelio fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thornton tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Aurelio defends well and Thornton ends up having to push Aurelio into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Aurelio lands a nice leg kick that just misses Thornton's sensitive parts.
Thornton lands a slapping body shot.

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

Aurelio is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thornton pulls his head out easily.
Aurelio is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelio manages to get to full guard.
Aurelio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Aurelio is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thornton is aware though and is defending well.
Thornton trying to control but Aurelio is working from the bottom.
Aurelio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thornton stopping the sweep attempt from Aurelio.
Thornton lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Thornton makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thornton postures up in Aurelio's guard and throws a big left but Aurelio blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aurelio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thornton throws a strike but Aurelio rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Aurelio wants to control from the top but Thornton keeps moving.
Aurelio showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Aurelio trying to control but Thornton is working from the bottom.
Aurelio throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Aurelio postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Thornton is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Aurelio, into his guard.
Aurelio can't keep his opponent in guard - Thornton advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Terrence Thornton dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Aurelio gets caught napping as Thornton dives in and scores a takedown. Aurelio manages to retain guard.
Thornton lands a couple of digs.
Terrence Thornton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thornton with a nice head shot there.

Aurelio is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thornton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thornton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aurelio can do to turn this around?

Aurelio looking for a guillotine here but Thornton defends easily.
Aurelio keeping moving, preventing Thornton from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thornton scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aurelio is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thornton is aware though and is defending well.
Thornton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Aurelio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thornton stands up over Aurelio, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Aurelio looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Aurelio looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thornton looking to pass the guard.
Thornton is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Aurelio is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thornton landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thornton wants to control from the top but Aurelio keeps moving.
Thornton won't allow Aurelio to sweep him here.
Thornton postures up and lands a big shot to Aurelio's brow.
Thornton keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Aurelio's head.
Aurelio controlling the position.
Aurelio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aurelio trying to control the position here.
Thornton lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Thornton trying to control the position from guard on top but Aurelio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aurelio looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Aurelio is on top in guard.

Thornton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Thornton holds on and takes a little breather.
Thornton is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Aurelio is controlling him.
Thornton wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Aurelio is looking to work some ground and pound but Thornton has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aurelio postures up in Thornton's guard and throws a big left but Thornton blocks it.
Aurelio postures up.

Thornton has his foot on Aurelio's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Aurelio works his way back into a safe position though.
Aurelio working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aurelio tries to free his leg and advance position but Thornton is retaining full guard.
Aurelio wants to control from the top but Thornton keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Thornton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aurelio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aurelio with the counter takedown but Thornton avoids it easily.
Thornton tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aurelio was well out of range. Poor timing from Thornton.

Thornton changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Aurelio looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Aurelio takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Aurelio is not content to let Thornton control the position.

Thornton is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Aurelio has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Terrence Thornton dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Thornton tries to sprawl but Aurelio drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Thornton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aurelio.
Aurelio working Thornton over with strikes.

Aurelio seems to be working for a kimura but Thornton defends the submission attempt.

Aurelio wants to work for an arm triangle but Thornton is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Thornton is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aurelio is thwarting Thornton's attempts to control the position.
Aurelio is looking to stall here but Thornton recovers full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton is trying to control the position but Aurelio postures up.
Aurelio wants to control from the top but Thornton keeps moving.

Aurelio working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thornton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thornton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thornton stands up over Aurelio, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Marcelo Aurelio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Thornton with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Aurelio trying to keep a closed guard but Thornton is proving a slippery customer.

Aurelio working for a triangle but Thornton defends it easily.
Thornton slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Aurelio taking a bit of punishment here - Thornton scoring with strikes.
Thornton is looking to take a break and control but Aurelio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelio manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Aurelio blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thornton.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Thornton in particular looking to stall.
Thornton has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Thornton thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aurelio's head.
Thornton takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Thornton seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Aurelio does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Aurelio regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Thornton.
Thornton throws a big elbow that misses.
Thornton slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Thornton looking to sit in guard and control but Aurelio gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Aurelio landing some decent shots from guard.
Aurelio looking to sit in guard and control but Thornton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Aurelio throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Terrence Thornton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Aurelio keeping full guard, as Thornton tries to pass.

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 Terrence Thornton.
Well Thornton has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Terrence Thornton!
An out of breath Terrence Thornton thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.