PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Keith Thornton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannes Vihannes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Vihannes's choice of entrance music: For Those About To Rock. Hannes Vihannes will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Thornton
vs
Vihannes

185 cm
24
200 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

173 cm
30
192 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Keith Thornton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hannes Vihannes!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vihannes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thornton.
Thornton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vihannes slips under a jab.
Thornton jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Vihannes has Thornton up against the cage in a clinch.
Vihannes looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Thornton is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vihannes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Vihannes trying to land knees to the body.
Thornton throws an elbow but it misses.

Vihannes manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thornton tries to score a body lock takedown but Vihannes shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Vihannes wants to take the fight to the mat but Thornton manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Thornton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vihannes missing with knees to the body.
Vihannes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thornton.
Thornton blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Vihannes stalling the fight.
Thornton gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Vihannes.
Thornton dodges an elbow strike from Vihannes.
Vihannes's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Vihannes manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Thornton trying to control the position from guard on top but Vihannes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vihannes is looking to stand up but Thornton isn't so interested in that idea.
Thornton throwing strikes from guard but Vihannes blocks nicely.
Thornton trying to control the position from guard on top but Vihannes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thornton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thornton trying to control but Vihannes is working from the bottom.
Vihannes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thornton.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hannes Vihannes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vihannes was well out of range. Poor timing from Thornton.
Thornton slips a jab and a cross from Vihannes.
Thornton scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Vihannes tries a head kick but it misses.
Thornton changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Thornton blocks a head kick by Vihannes.

Vihannes rushes Thornton and presses him up against the cage.
Vihannes throws an elbow but it misses.

Vihannes wants the takedown. Thornton is fighting it off but Vihannes persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Thornton's guard against the cage.
Vihannes wanted to stand there but Thornton had control of the position.
Thornton seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Vihannes controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thornton looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vihannes 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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thornton is trying to control the position but Vihannes postures up.
Vihannes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thornton wants to sweep here but Vihannes controlling him for the moment.
Thornton keeping moving, preventing Vihannes from controlling successfully.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Thornton holds on and takes a little breather.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vihannes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thornton is keeping the position for now.
Thornton wants to sweep here but Vihannes controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannes Vihannes dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thornton looks to land a left hand but Vihannes moved out of range nicely.
Vihannes darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

It looks like Keith Thornton has been cut.
Thornton throws a hook to the side of Vihannes's head but Vihannes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Vihannes looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Thornton!
Thornton tries to buck Vihannes off but Vihannes is having none of it.

Vihannes decides to stand up, so the ref orders Thornton to his feet.
Vihannes feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Thorntons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Vihannes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thornton is fending him off so far but Vihannes persists. Nope, Thornton circles away and we're back to standing.
Thornton appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Vihannes throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Vihannes.
Thornton bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Vihannes's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vihannes's jab looks to have found its range, popping Thornton under the eye.
Vihannes shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vihannes moves out of range as Thornton strikes.
Vihannes shoots and misses

so Thornton counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Keith Thornton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hannes Vihannes.
Thornton controlling from the top position.
Vihannes keeping moving, preventing Thornton from controlling successfully.
Vihannes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thornton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vihannes is keeping the position for now.
Vihannes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thornton's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thornton is controlling Vihannes's posture.
Vihannes wants to pass the guard but Thornton is keeping the position.
Thornton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vihannes wants to stand but Thornton is controlling his posture from full guard.
Thornton trying to control the position.
Vihannes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thornton trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton looking for a sweep. Not yet Thornton, not yet.
Vihannes throws a strike but Thornton rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Vihannes keeping full guard, as Thornton tries to pass.
Vihannes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thornton is controlling him.
Vihannes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vihannes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Vihannes is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Thornton dives into side control.
Hannes Vihannes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thornton scores with punches from side control.

Thornton is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vihannes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Vihannes is not content to let Thornton control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thornton is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vihannes is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hannes Vihannes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Keith Thornton's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Vihannes tries to clinch but Thornton moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vihannes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vihannes looks to throw a body kick

and Thornton decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vihannes's guard.
Thornton stopping the sweep attempt from Vihannes.
Thornton scoring with some ground and pound.
Vihannes doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thornton wants to control from the top but Vihannes keeps moving.
Thornton looking to sit in guard and control but Vihannes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vihannes throwing strikes but missing.
Vihannes seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Thornton keeping moving, preventing Vihannes from controlling successfully.
Thornton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vihannes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Vihannes chips away with some ground and pound.
Keith Thornton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vihannes advances position into side control!
Thornton is looking to regain half guard here but Vihannes keeps moving and retains side control.

Vihannes decides to stand up, so the ref orders Thornton to his feet.
Vihannes throws a shot to the body.
Vihannes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thornton circles away.
Vihannes feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Thorntons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Thornton is looking to chop away at Vihannes's legs.
Vihannes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thornton feinted with a counter takedown.
Thornton throws a shot from downtown. Vihannes moves away and avoids it.
Hannes Vihannes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thornton tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vihannes swivels and escapes.
Hannes Vihannes seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thornton moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Vihannes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vihannes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thornton swivels and escapes.
Vihannes swinging wildly here.
Vihannes throws a head kick that misses.
Thornton tries to work over Vihannes's front leg with a kick but Vihannes checks it.
Vihannes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thornton feinted with a counter takedown.

Vihannes closes the distance and clinches.
Vihannes is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Thornton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hannes Vihannes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Thornton tries to keep at a distance but Vihannes has taken the fight into the clinch.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Vihannes!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vihannes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thornton pinned against the cage. Thornton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Keith Thornton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hannes Vihannes.
Vihannes throws a right and a left that Thornton avoids nicely.
Thornton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thornton is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

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

Vihannes looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Thornton trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

And that's the end of the fight!
Hannes Vihannes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vihannes 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hannes Vihannes!
After winning the bout, Hannes Vihannes thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.