PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ephraim Baraka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vic Thory (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baraka's entrance music is Loyal - Chris Brown Ft Lil Wayne & Tyga. A fine choice. Thory has chosen It's a fight as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Baraka
vs
Thory

183 cm
29
195 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

188 cm
33
193 lbs
30 - 13 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Sin City Allstars

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ephraim Baraka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 13 - 1, fighting out of New York, Vic Thory!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baraka closes the distance and clinches up with Thory, looking for a takedown. Baraka pushes Thory against the cage but Thory circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Thory let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Baraka throws a poor cross that misses
letting Thory counter with a right hand.

It looks like Ephraim Baraka has been cut.
Baraka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thory counters with a low kick, right behind Baraka 's knee.
Thory connects with a jab.
Baraka seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Baraka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thory.
Thory swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Baraka half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Baraka throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thory.
Thory cracks Baraka with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Baraka scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Baraka jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Baraka shoots for a takedown but Thory saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ephraim Baraka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Baraka takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice takedown defense from Thory. No joy for Baraka on that attempt.
Baraka takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thory displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Baraka throws out the jab.
Thory throws out a loose jab but Baraka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Baraka takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thory uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Baraka has time to react.
Baraka darts in looking for a takedown but Thory gets double underhooks and turns Baraka into the cage.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Thory.
Thory misses with a wild combination.
Good shot there by Thory.
Baraka takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Baraka closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Thory's guard.
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!
Thory looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Baraka puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Baraka is just content to waste time from the top position. Thory takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baraka trying to control the position from guard on top but Thory is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thory keeping full guard, as Baraka tries to pass.
Baraka wants to control from the top but Thory keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Baraka has gone for a leg lock! Thory slips out almost immediately though and dives into Baraka's guard.

Thory is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thory passes Baraka's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thory is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Thory with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Baraka trying to control here.
Thory throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Baraka tries to get to full guard but Thory has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thory thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thory prevents Baraka from improving his position.
Thory sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Baraka wants to improve his position but Thory is controlling well.

Thory is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Baraka blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thory.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vic Thory dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ephraim Baraka's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thory avoids a punch combination nicely.
Baraka wants to clinch
and Thory counters with a leg kick.
Baraka shoots for a double leg takedown but Thory sprawls well. He's pushed Baraka's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thory looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Baraka shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Baraka was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Baraka is trying to get an arm triangle but Thory is defending well.
Thory manages to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thory is staying active underneath Baraka, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thory controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Thory makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Thory.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baraka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Baraka looking to sit in guard and control but Thory gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Baraka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thory throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thory slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baraka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thory's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Thory looking to pass the guard.
Baraka keeping moving, preventing Thory from controlling successfully.
Thory passes into half guard.
Thory controlling the action here.
Baraka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thory.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thory seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Baraka trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baraka shoots for a takedown but Thory saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thory feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Baraka's calf.
A combination from Baraka does no damage.
Thory throws out a loose jab but Baraka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Baraka with a poor takedown
and Thory counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ephraim Baraka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thory lands a leg kick that knocks Baraka off balance momentarily.
A telegraphed right hand from Thory misses the target.
Baraka appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Vic Thory is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Baraka with a lazy takedown attempt
and Thory counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thory catches Baraka with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Thory lands the left hand.
Thory looks for the body kick but Baraka saw that one coming.
Thory looks to score with a jab to the body but Baraka is just out of range.
Baraka swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Thory has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Baraka throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Thory to counter with a crisp jab.
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!
Nice body kick there by Thory.
Thory throws a body shot but no joy.
Baraka attempts a counter takedown but Thory avoids it well and moves away.
Thory displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Baraka.
Thory swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Baraka.
Ephraim Baraka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baraka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thory was well out of range. Poor timing from Baraka.
Baraka slips under a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vic Thory showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ephraim Baraka's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Baraka misses with a straight right.
Baraka misses with a double jab.

Baraka looking to score a takedown here. Thory is defending well but Baraka drives through and ends up in Thory's guard.
Thory wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Thory is continuing to stall.
Baraka slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Thory is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baraka throwing strikes from guard but Thory blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baraka wants to control from the top but Thory keeps moving.
Baraka looking to pass the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Thory misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baraka.
Thory staying out of range there.
Ephraim Baraka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Baraka decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Baraka is pressing down on Thory's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thory is holding on for now.
Thory is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baraka trying to control from half guard but Thory is working away.
Baraka is looking to stall here but Thory recovers full guard.
Thory pulls Baraka in close to his closed guard and prevents Baraka from doing any damage or advancing position.
Thory utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Baraka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baraka looking to sit in guard and control but Thory gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Thory trying to control the position from guard on top but Baraka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Baraka looking for a guillotine here but Thory defends easily.
Ephraim Baraka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thory working some strikes from top position.
Thory chips away with some ground and pound.
Thory wants to control from the top but Baraka keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thory trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thory throwing strikes from guard but Baraka blocks nicely.
Thory trying to control but Baraka is working from the bottom.
Baraka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vic Thory is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Thory trying to control but Baraka is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Baraka fails with the takedown
and Thory counters with a nice low kick that buckles Baraka's knee momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A decent looking cross lands there for Baraka.
Thory steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Baraka.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ephraim Baraka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thory has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vic Thory!
Vic Thory seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.