PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Damien Thorne (ranked 6549 p4p, 552 weight class) and Ronald Wagenknecht (ranked 6719 p4p, 555 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thorne
vs
Wagenknecht

180 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Evil Empire Nutrition - 151Q $100

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damien Thorne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ronald Wagenknecht!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Skip Squint and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thorne tries to clinch but Wagenknecht moves out of range.

Thorne closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Wagenknecht's guard.
Thorne wants to control from the top but Wagenknecht keeps moving.
Wagenknecht not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wagenknecht pulls Thorne in close to prevent any damage.
Thorne working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thorne is looking to work some ground and pound but Wagenknecht has wrist control.
Wagenknecht is pulling down on Thorne's head. It's preventing any offense from Thorne, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thorne landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorne is looking to work some ground and pound but Wagenknecht has wrist control.
Thorne has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thorne looking to pass the guard.

Wagenknecht is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wagenknecht is trying to control the position but Thorne postures up.
Wagenknecht keeping full guard, as Thorne tries to pass.
Wagenknecht is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wagenknecht looking for a sweep. Not yet Wagenknecht, not yet.
Thorne with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thorne in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

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.
Thorne throwing strikes from guard but Wagenknecht blocks nicely.

Thorne drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thorne jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Wagenknecht looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Wagenknecht looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wagenknecht bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thorne's guard.

Wagenknecht wants to control from the top but Thorne keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wagenknecht advances position into side control!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Wagenknecht wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thorne keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thorne stops Wagenknecht from passing to mount.
Wagenknecht wants to control but Thorne is keeping him busy.
Thorne is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Wagenknecht asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Wagenknecht is looking to take a break and control but Thorne is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.

Wagenknecht looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Wagenknecht tries to move into full mount but can't pass Thorne's legs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thorne is not content to let Wagenknecht control the position.

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

That was a close round but I would say that Damien Thorne will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thorne doesn't manage to clinch there - Wagenknecht circles away.
Thorne lands a jab to Wagenknecht's midsection.
A jab from Thorne misses.
Nice takedown defense from Thorne. No joy for Wagenknecht on that attempt.
Thorne throws a lazy head kick

and Wagenknecht counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Wagenknecht.
Wagenknecht goes for a takedown attempt but Thorne pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Thorne connects with a body shot.
Damien Thorne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thorne closes the distance and pushes Wagenknecht back into the cage.

Wagenknecht gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Thorne works his way to full guard. Good work.
Wagenknecht trying to control but Thorne is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorne 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.
Wagenknecht working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wagenknecht pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thorne is keeping the position for now.
Wagenknecht stands and throws Thorne's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Wagenknecht is looking to take a break and control but Thorne is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Wagenknecht tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Thorne prevents Wagenknecht from moving into mount.
Wagenknecht is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thorne wants to control but Wagenknecht postures up.
Thorne tries to improve position but can't.

Wagenknecht goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Thorne rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Wagenknecht's guard! Nice work there by Thorne!
Thorne content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wagenknecht is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Thorne blocking the ground and pound attempt from Wagenknecht.
Thorne looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Wagenknecht wants to advance to full mount but Thorne doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Wagenknecht postures up.
Wagenknecht slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Wagenknecht cracks Thorne with a big right hand but Thorne just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Wagenknecht is working to tighten his grip on Thorne's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Thorne has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Wagenknecht is really squeezing tight and eventually Thorne passes out! Wagenknecht breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Ronald Wagenknecht!