PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Willibrord Koekelberg (ranked 6148 p4p, 0 weight class) and Allistar Thorn (ranked 5985 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Koekelberg
vs
Thorn

173 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Willibrord Koekelberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Allistar Thorn!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Columbo Gatti and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koekelberg throws a head kick that misses.
Koekelberg pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thorn wants to clinch up but Koekelberg keeps it at a distance.
Koekelberg fails with a takedown attempt.

Thorn pushes Koekelberg up against the cage in a clinch.
Thorn can't find room to land a body shot as Koekelberg controls the action.
Thorn lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Willibrord Koekelberg has been cut.
Thorn is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Thorn is stalling here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koekelberg can't break the clinch.
Koekelberg wants to take the fight to the mat but Thorn manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Koekelberg just misses with a elbow thrown towards Thorn's brow.
Thorn taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thorn scores with a shot to the side of Koekelberg's head.
Koekelberg scores with a nice hook to the head.
Thorn lands an elbow inside that Koekelberg shrugs off.
Thorn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Koekelberg can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Willibrord Koekelberg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thorn lands an elbow inside.
Koekelberg pressing his opponent against the cage.
Thorn lands a right hand.
Thorn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Thorn fails to land.
Thorn is trying to maintain a safe position but Koekelberg gets an underhook and turns Thorn into the cage.
A short body shot lands from Koekelberg as the two fighters clinch.
Koekelberg is looking to break free of the clinch but Thorn has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorn tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Koekelberg tries to pull guard but Thorn holds him up against the cage and eventually Koekelberg drops back down to his feet.
Thorn is trying to maintain a safe position but Koekelberg gets an underhook and turns Thorn into the cage.
Koekelberg drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Koekelberg tries to score a body lock takedown but Thorn shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Koekelberg wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A head punch on the inside from Thorn fails to land.
A hook to the body from Koekelberg.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koekelberg fails to pull guard.
Koekelberg trying to land knees to the body.
Koekelberg tries to pull guard but Thorn forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Koekelberg tries to pull guard but Thorn won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorn keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Koekelberg's efforts to push away.
Thorn avoiding damage as Koekelberg throws knees to the body.
Thorn lands an elbow just above Koekelberg 's eye.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Koekelberg turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Koekelberg manages to end up in side control.

Thorn explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Koekelberg is breathing heavily.

Koekelberg forces Thorn back against the cage and clinches.
Thorn misses with a hook to the ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thorn tries to work over Koekelberg's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Koekelberg has had enough of the clinch but Thorn keeps him there for the moment.
Thorn stalls.
Thorn tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorn works on Koekelberg's body with a couple of short punches.
Koekelberg is working for takedown but Thorn is calmly controlling the position for now.
Koekelberg blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Koekelberg takes an elbow to the forehead.
Koekelberg is looking to break free of the clinch but Thorn has double underhooks.
Thorn tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thorn dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Thorn.
Thorn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Koekelberg tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thorn just stands there and leans against the cage.
Thorn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thorn misses with a body punch.
A bit of stalling here from Thorn.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Allistar Thorn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Willibrord Koekelberg's cut.
That's time! Koekelberg's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Koekelberg misses with an uppercut.

Thorn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Koekelberg throws an elbow but misses.
Thorn wants to stall.
Koekelberg lands an uppercut.
Koekelberg is trying to push Thorn away but Thorn has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Thorn throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thorn unloads a knee to the mid-section. Koekelberg lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Thorn is trying to maintain a safe position but Koekelberg gets an underhook and turns Thorn into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thorn letting Koekelberg take a breather here.
Thorn using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Koekelberg is trying to force a seperation but Thorn has the dominant position.

Koekelberg turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Thorn explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koekelberg avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thorn tries to clinch there but Koekelberg circles away.

Thorn moves into range and clinches up with Koekelberg.
Thorn is trying to stall.

Koekelberg gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Thorn manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thorn working aggressively here.
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!
Thorn lands a nice elbow.

Koekelberg pulls guard successfully.
Thorn is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thorn trying to control the position from guard on top but Koekelberg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorn 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.

Thorn decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Thorn tries to clinch up but Koekelberg circles away and keeps his distance.
Koekelberg is looking to counter the offense by Thorn and move into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thorn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Horrible takedown attempt by Koekelberg or perhaps it was just good defense by Thorn, which made it look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koekelberg shoots for a takedown but Thorn saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Allistar Thorn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Koekelberg lands with a shot to the body.

Thorn gets a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thorn creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Thorn tries to throw a body punch but Koekelberg avoids it by throwing Thorn back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Thorn scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Koekelberg blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thorn is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Koekelberg is keeping busy.
Thorn swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koekelberg blocks a body shot from Thorn.
Koekelberg is trying to break the clinch but Thorn has him pressed against the cage.

Koekelberg jumps into guard, dragging Thorn to the mat.
Koekelberg manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thorn manages to get himself to full guard.

Thorn wants to sweep but no luck.

Thorn scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thorn tries to clinch up.
Thorn is looking to clinch but Koekelberg is avoiding it.
Koekelberg changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Thorn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koekelberg swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thorn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thorn displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Koekelberg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Allistar Thorn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Willibrord Koekelberg's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thorn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Thorn looking to stall.
Koekelberg has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Thorn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Koekelberg has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Thorn after a bit of a struggle.
Thorn scores with a knee to the head.
Thorn stalling in the clinch but Koekelberg improves position.
Thorn landing knees to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koekelberg manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Thorn misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Thorn.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Thorn.
Koekelberg prevents a body shot from Thorn.
Koekelberg is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thorn is defending well for now.
Thorn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thorn lands with a left to the head.
Koekelberg has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A nice left hand lands by Thorn.
Koekelberg tries to break free but Thorn pushes him back against the cage.
Koekelberg jumps guard but Thorn turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Thorn gets through Koekelberg's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Koekelberg blocks a body shot from Thorn.
Thorn misses with a punch on the inside.
Thorn lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Come on Koekelberg - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Koekelberg gets control of Thorn's arms and successfully pulls guard. Koekelberg will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Koekelberg wants to control but Thorn passes easily into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thorn with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Thorn wants to control but Koekelberg is keeping him busy.
Koekelberg tries to roll over but Thorn keeps him under control.
Thorn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thorn is taking a breather. Koekelberg says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorn is keen to just control but Koekelberg is a slippery customer.

Koekelberg is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thorn pulls his head out easily.
Koekelberg trying to hold on to Thorn's head to control him but Thorn postures up.

Thorn stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thorn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Koekelberg swats away the attempt to clinch by Thorn.

Koekelberg closes the distance and clinches.
Thorn misses with some punches.
Thorn tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Koekelberg wants to break free but Thorn has control.
Koekelberg stalls.
Thorn looking to throw knees to the head but Koekelberg is blocking nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Thorn tries to throw a body punch but Koekelberg avoids it by throwing Thorn back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Allistar Thorn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thorn 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight for Allistar Thorn!
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight for Allistar Thorn!
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight for Allistar Thorn!

Allistar Thorn wins by unanimous decision!