PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Patrick Plo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rolf Thorkildsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Plo's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, ISIS - Grinning Mouths. Thorkildsen has chosen AC/DC - Hell's Bells as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Plo
vs
Thorkildsen

173 cm
19
150 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

176 cm
21
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Hell's Balls Nutrition

Combat Pro Design
Valhalla War Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Patrick Plo!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rolf Thorkildsen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thorkildsen throws a looping overhand right but Plo ducks down to avoid it.
Plo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thorkildsen tries to avoid it but Plo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thorkildsen to the ground. Thorkildsen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Thorkildsen. No joy for Plo on that attempt.
Thorkildsen cracks Plo with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Plo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thorkildsen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Plo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A combination from Thorkildsen does no damage.
Plo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thorkildsen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Plo but Plo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thorkildsen works over Plo's head and body with a nice combination.
A slow jab from Thorkildsen misses its intended target.
Plo throws a right hand that Thorkildsen ducks under and follows up with a left that Thorkildsen also avoids with ease.

Plo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Plo showed some decent athleticism there.
Plo prevents Thorkildsen from improving his position.
Plo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plo prevents Thorkildsen from improving his position.
Plo is trying to control the action in half guard but Thorkildsen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Thorkildsen is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Plo pulls his head out easily.
Thorkildsen is looking to improve his position.
Plo tries to pass to full mount but Thorkildsen defends it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thorkildsen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Plo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Plo closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Thorkildsen misses the shot to the body.
Nice jab there from Plo.
Plo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Plo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Plo lands with a slapping head kick.
Thorkildsen checks a low kick from Plo.
Plo throws a lazy right hand but Thorkildsen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Plo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thorkildsen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Thorkildsen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Thorkildsen looking for submissions off his back.
Thorkildsen looks gassed!
Plo seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Thorkildsen looking for submissions off his back.
Thorkildsen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plo is trying to control. Thorkildsen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Plo takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Thorkildsen wants to get back to full guard.
Thorkildsen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Plo. Thorkildsen shrugs it off though.

Plo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Thorkildsen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Thorkildsen looking for a guillotine here but Plo defends easily.
Thorkildsen keeping moving, preventing Plo from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen wants to improve his position but instead Plo has moved into half guard.
Nice strikes from Plo there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thorkildsen tries to roll over but Plo keeps him under control.
Plo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thorkildsen keeps working.
Plo throwing shots but Thorkildsen is blocking nicely.
Plo is looking to take a break and control but Thorkildsen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Plo stalling away here and it's allowed Thorkildsen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Plo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Plo takes one to the side of the head.
Plo lands with a nice combination. Thorkildsen backs away looking to recover.

Plo scores with a takedown into Thorkildsen's guard.
Plo trying to control but Thorkildsen is working from the bottom.
Plo looking to pass the guard.

Thorkildsen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Plo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
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.

Thorkildsen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Plo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Plo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thorkildsen is keeping the position for now.

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

Thorkildsen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Plo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Plo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Thorkildsen is breathing heavily.
Thorkildsen 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.
Thorkildsen being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Patrick Plo just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Plo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Plo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Plo shoots in but Thorkildsen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thorkildsen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Plo backs up against the cage.
Plo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Plo shoots in but Thorkildsen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No joy there for Plo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thorkildsen throws a combination that misses

and Plo counters with a single leg into guard. Thorkildsen didn't expect that.
Plo stands up over Thorkildsen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Thorkildsen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Plo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plo trying to control the position from guard on top but Thorkildsen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Plo pushes down on Thorkildsen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Plo is looking to advance position but Thorkildsen won't allow it.
Plo trying to control the action but Thorkildsen is working from the bottom.
Thorkildsen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Plo uses his free foot to push down on Thorkildsen's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Thorkildsen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Plo dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Plo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thorkildsen.
Thorkildsen misses with a body kick.
Plo wants to clinch up but Thorkildsen keeps it at a distance.
Thorkildsen misses with a two punch combination.
Thorkildsen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Plo circles away.
Plo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Plo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Plo tries for a takedown but Thorkildsen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Plo lands with a nice combination. Thorkildsen backs away looking to recover.
A swing and a miss from Thorkildsen.

Plo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Thorkildsen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Plo controlling from mount.
Plo working Thorkildsen over with strikes here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorkildsen working to try and regain half guard.
Thorkildsen is in a horrible position here. Plo smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Plo with shots to the head and body - Thorkildsen looks very uncomfortable down there.
Plo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Thorkildsen taking shots to the head.
Plo unloading with bombs!
Plo landing punches.
Thorkildsen is looking to get to half guard.
Plo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen is trying to escape the mount.
Thorkildsen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Thorkildsen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Plo looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Plo lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Plo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Thorkildsen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Plo looking to control but Thorkildsen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Plo landing punches.
Plo cracks Thorkildsen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Plo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Plo landing strikes from the mount.
Thorkildsen is desperately trying to improve his position but Plo has a good base and remains in mount.
Thorkildsen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Thorkildsen is staying active underneath Plo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Plo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Plo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Thorkildsen can't escape the position.

Plo has control of Thorkildsen's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Thorkildsen regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Thorkildsen is trying to escape the mount.
Plo is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Plo clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

No luck for Plo with that takedown attempt.
Plo scores with a shot to the body.
Plo takes a swing at Thorkildsen's ribcage but misses.
Plo throws a head kick but Thorkildsen moves out of range.

Plo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Thorkildsen tries to roll over but Plo keeps him under control.
Plo is looking to take a break and control but Thorkildsen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Plo frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Thorkildsen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Thorkildsen wants to get back to full guard but Plo has mounted him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plo with good strikes from the mount here!
Plo controlling from the full mount.
Thorkildsen can't escape the position.
Plo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Thorkildsen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Plo lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Plo working the ground and pound effectively.
Plo controlling his opponent.
Thorkildsen is wriggling around trying to escape.
The referee warns Thorkildsen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Thorkildsen slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Thorkildsen has a hand on Plo's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Plo takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Plo content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen is trying desperately to improve position.
Plo lands a big elbow.
Plo lands a big shot there that rocks Thorkildsen but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Thorkildsen is working to get back to half guard.
Thorkildsen is bucking up trying to escape but Plo cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Thorkildsen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four 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.
BOOM! Plo connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Thorkildsen is trying to escape the mount.
Plo landing strikes, looking to finish!
Thorkildsen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Plo raining down shots from the mount!
Plo controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Plo had his way with Rolf Thorkildsen in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Plo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Thorkildsen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Plo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Plo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Plo wants to control but Thorkildsen is keeping him busy.
Plo working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Plo working the ground and pound.
Thorkildsen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Thorkildsen is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Plo pulls his head out easily.
Plo is keen to just control but Thorkildsen is a slippery customer.
Plo is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Thorkildsen!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Thorkildsen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorkildsen is trying to escape the mount.
Plo dominating with strikes here.
Thorkildsen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Plo landing shots from mount.
Patrick Plo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thorkildsen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Thorkildsen is squirming around, avoiding Plo's attempts to control the action.
Plo landing strikes from the mount.
Thorkildsen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Plo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

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.
Thorkildsen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Plo tries to control but Thorkildsen wriggling away.
Thorkildsen working to try and regain half guard.
Plo controlling his opponent.
Thorkildsen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Plo prevents Thorkildsen from getting the reversal.
Plo breaks from Thorkildsen's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Thorkildsen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Plo lands a big elbow.
Plo controlling from mount.
Thorkildsen working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Plo lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thorkildsen hang on?

Plo is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Thorkildsen can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Thorkildsen is looking to improve his position but Plo isn't that keen on the idea.
Patrick Plo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rolf Thorkildsen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A nice elbow there by Plo.
Plo landing punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Patrick Plo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Plo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 50:45
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 50:45
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Patrick Plo!
Patrick Plo is the new featherweight champion!