PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Elisha Reilly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Thornton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Reilly
vs
Thornton

206 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
21
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Elisha Reilly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jeff Thornton!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Albert Achterberg and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Reilly gets caught flat footed, as Thornton shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Reilly controls Thornton momentarily but Thornton frees himself.
Thornton trying to control the position from guard on top but Reilly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thornton might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Reilly haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Thornton sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thornton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton preventing the sweep.

Thornton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Thornton closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Reilly did well to prevent Thornton getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thornton is pressing down on Reilly's thigh, looking to free his foot. Reilly is holding on for now.

Thornton is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Reilly has managed to free his arm - good work.
Thornton tries to pass the half guard into mount. Reilly knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Thornton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Thornton is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Thornton seems to be looking for submissions.
Reilly is trying to get back to full guard.
Reilly trying to control here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Reilly.
Reilly shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Thornton tries to keep at a distance but Reilly has taken the fight into the clinch.
Reilly really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Thornton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thornton tries to clinch but Reilly is having none of it.
Reilly throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thornton's waist but Thornton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Reilly off to one side.
Reilly fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thornton avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elisha Reilly. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thornton tries a head kick but it misses.
Reilly changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Jeff Thornton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Reilly gets caught flat footed, as Thornton shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Thornton engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Reilly tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thornton wants to stand but Reilly is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Thornton dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Thornton closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Reilly's guard.
Thornton is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Thornton trying to control the position from guard on top but Reilly is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reilly is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Thornton wants to improve his position but Reilly is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thornton looking for submissions off his back.
Reilly tries to stand but can't do so whilst Thornton controls his leg.
Thornton is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thornton actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thornton wants to improve his position but Reilly is controlling well.
Reilly seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Thornton is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Thornton is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Reilly jumps into side control!
Reilly will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Thornton managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Reilly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reilly stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Nice takedown defense from Thornton. No joy for Reilly on that attempt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Reilly enables Thornton to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Reilly manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Reilly seems keen to control Thornton's posture.
Reilly avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thornton wants to control from the top but Reilly keeps moving.
Thornton sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Jeff Thornton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Reilly is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reilly keeping moving, preventing Thornton from controlling successfully.
Reilly trying to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Thornton bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Thornton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Reilly's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Thornton shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Reilly napping and manages to drive through into side control!
A lull in the action here.
Thornton throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
You can see the frustration on Reilly's face as Thornton controls the position.
Thornton tries to advance to mount but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reilly holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Thornton in side control, just content to control the action for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton working the strikes but Reilly uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Reilly is staying active underneath Thornton, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thornton content to control rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.
Thornton's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Thornton duly obliges.
Thornton throws a push kick but Reilly slaps the foot to one side.
Thornton shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Thornton drives through with a takedown into guard.
Reilly is trying to control the position but Thornton postures up.

Thornton drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Reilly dives on top into guard.

Thornton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Thornton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Reilly is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reilly working some strikes from top position.
Reilly distracts Thornton with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Reilly trying to control but Thornton is working from the bottom.
Thornton is trying to control the position but Reilly postures up.
Reilly wanted to stand there but Thornton had control of the position.

Reilly stands up from Thornton's guard - Reilly perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Thornton drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Thornton throwing strikes from guard but Reilly blocks nicely.
Reilly not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thornton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reilly is keeping the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thornton is looking to work some ground and pound but Reilly has wrist control.
Elisha Reilly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jeff Thornton is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Reilly trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff Thornton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thornton winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff Thornton!