PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brutus Brannagan (ranked 1466 p4p, 180 weight class) and Terrence Thornton (ranked 2351 p4p, 270 weight class). Thornton is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Pusha T - Exodus 23:1. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Brannagan
vs
Thornton

178 cm
27
175 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

187 cm
40
178 lbs
24 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brutus Brannagan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Terrence Thornton!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brannagan staying out of range there.
Thornton ducks under a wild hook from Brannagan.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Thornton has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Thornton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thornton lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Brannagan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Brannagan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Brannagan showed some decent athleticism there.
Brannagan winds up and cracks Thornton with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Thornton is looking to improve his position.
Brannagan slows the pace down in half guard.
Thornton is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brannagan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Brannagan is keen to just control but Thornton is a slippery customer.
Thornton is looking for a sweep. Brannagan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Thornton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thornton wants to get back to full guard.
Brannagan is looking to stall here but Thornton recovers full guard.
Thornton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two 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.
Thornton is trying to keep Brannagan in close.

Thornton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Thornton wants to sweep here but Brannagan controlling him for the moment.
Brannagan content to stall in guard here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Brannagan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Brannagan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thornton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thornton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thornton wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton lands with a right hand.
Thornton shoots and misses
and Brannagan counters with an inside leg kick.
Thornton looks to land a left hand but Brannagan moved out of range nicely.
Good shot there by Thornton.
A big right from Brannagan misses.
Thornton connects with a jab.
Brannagan throws a jab when Thornton was well out of range.

Thornton looking to score a takedown here. Brannagan is defending well but Thornton drives through and ends up in Brannagan's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thornton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thornton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thornton trying to control but Brannagan is working from the bottom.

Brannagan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thornton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Thornton distracts Brannagan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brannagan is trying to control the position but Thornton postures up.
Brannagan is adopting a defensive guard.
Brannagan working a defensive guard here.
Thornton's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Brannagan wants to sweep here but Thornton controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thornton trying to control the position from guard on top but Brannagan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Brannagan seems keen to control Thornton's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Terrence Thornton dominated that 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.

Thornton misses with a wild body shot.
Thornton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Brannagan avoids the body shot from Thornton.

Thornton closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Brannagan quickly recovers to half guard.
Thornton prevents Brannagan from improving his position.
Thornton thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Brannagan's head.
Thornton lands with a punch from half guard.
Brannagan tries to roll over but Thornton keeps him under control.
Brannagan trying to control but Thornton postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thornton is looking for a kimura here.
Brannagan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thornton's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thornton's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brannagan biding his time, looking for the opening.
Brannagan is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Brannagan's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Brannagan biding his time, controlling Thornton.
Brannagan has the hooks in. Thornton is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Thornton tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Brannagan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brannagan lands a big elbow.
Thornton tries to reverse the position but Brannagan maintains control.
Brannagan controlling his opponent.
Thornton wants to hold on but Brannagan pushes him away.
Brannagan trying to control but Thornton is having none of it.
Thornton tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Brannagan with good strikes from the mount here!
Brannagan landing strikes from the mount.
Brutus Brannagan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Brannagan landing strikes, looking to finish!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Brannagan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brannagan looking to finish Thornton with some ground and pound. This is bad for Thornton!
Thornton is looking to improve his position but Brannagan isn't that keen on the idea.
Brannagan postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Thornton looks a forlorn figure.
Brannagan wants to control the pace but Thornton is squirming around nicely.
BOOM! Brannagan connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Thornton is wriggling around trying to escape.
Brannagan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thornton is looking to escape.
Brannagan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brannagan lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thornton hang on?
Brannagan trying to control but Thornton is having none of it.
Brannagan lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thornton hang on?
Thornton is trying to escape the mount.
Brannagan dominating with strikes here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Brannagan landing punches.
Thornton is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Brannagan controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brutus Brannagan dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Thornton misses with a wild body shot.
Thornton misses with a looping left.
Brannagan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Thornton to score with a decent uppercut.
Brannagan takes a jab right on the kisser.
Thornton bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Brannagan throws a big shot that misses.
Thornton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Brannagan.
Thornton throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Brannagan looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Brannagan clobbers Thornton with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Thornton throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Brannagan on the side of the head.
Terrence Thornton seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thornton moves out of range of the body kick from Brannagan.
Brannagan is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Thornton's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Thornton throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Brannagan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thornton avoids the body shot from Brannagan.
Brannagan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brannagan bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Thornton's head.
Thornton uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Brannagan shoots in and drives through. Thornton sprawls well.
Thornton keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Brannagan takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thornton walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Brannagan throws a solid leg kick but Thornton takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Brannagan.
Thornton throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Brannagan's head.
Brannagan misses with a looping left.
Brannagan misses with a straight right.
Brannagan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brutus Brannagan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brannagan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A little jabbing left from Thornton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Brannagan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brannagan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thornton misses with a low kick.
Thornton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thornton moves away from the strike by Brannagan.
A good leg kick by Brannagan.
Brannagan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Brannagan dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thornton. That did some damage!
Thornton moves into range and connects with a jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Brannagan.
Thornton now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

Brannagan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Thornton did well to prevent Brannagan getting side control.
Thornton tries to roll over but Brannagan keeps him under control.
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 three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Thornton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Brannagan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Thornton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Brannagan trying to control but Thornton is working from the bottom.
Brannagan postures up.

Thornton working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Brannagan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Brannagan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Brannagan wants to control from the top but Thornton keeps moving.

That's four 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.
Brannagan landing with the ground and pound.

Thornton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Brannagan is stalling in the full guard.
Brannagan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Terrence Thornton.
I think Thornton has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Terrence Thornton!
Terrence Thornton bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.