PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Terrence Thornton (ranked 780 p4p, 104 weight class) and Blind Shaman (ranked 1127 p4p, 139 weight class). Thornton comes to the cage accompanied by Pusha T - Exodus 23:1. Shaman is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Shaman's Dream. Blind Shaman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thornton
vs
Shaman

187 cm
41
178 lbs
26 - 11 - 1

182 cm
35
175 lbs
28 - 16 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 26 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Terrence Thornton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blind Shaman!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thornton shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Shaman napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Shaman is trying to get back to half guard.
Shaman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Shaman manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thornton's best efforts.
Shaman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thornton sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shaman defending well though.
Shaman is looking for a sweep. Thornton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Shaman manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Shaman looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thornton passes into half guard.
Thornton wants to control but Shaman is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Thornton takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Shaman has hold of Thornton's hands but Thornton slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Shaman has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Thornton escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Thornton!
Shaman taking punishment in the form of punches.
Shaman is looking for a sweep.

Thornton wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shaman, who protects the arm well.
Shaman is trying to control Thornton's posture but Thornton avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thornton scores with punches from side control.
Shaman struggling a bit here.
Shaman manages to get back to half guard.
Shaman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thornton.
Shaman controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Shaman is looking to control Thornton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shaman avoid being mounted?
Ground and pound from Thornton.
Shaman has hold of Thornton's hands but Thornton slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaman on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Thornton is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Thornton trying to control from half guard but Shaman is working away.
Thornton slips a nice elbow through Shaman's hands, connecting with Shaman's forehead.
Shaman trying to hold on to Thornton's head to control him but Thornton postures up.
Thornton thows a huge punch but Shaman dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thornton landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Thornton seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Thornton is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Shaman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Shaman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaman controls Thornton momentarily but Thornton frees himself.

Thornton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Thornton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thornton lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Shaman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thornton connects with a couple of short punches.
Thornton landing some decent shots from guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Thornton with a nice head shot there.
Shaman has Thornton pulled in close to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Terrence Thornton dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shaman with a hook.
Thornton walks into a stiff left hand from Shaman.
Thornton looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Shaman lands with a straight right. Thornton didn't see that one coming.
Thornton lands with a right hand.
A nice inside leg kick there by Shaman. That's going to slow Thornton down.
Thornton throws a hook but Shaman blocks it.
Shaman misses with a head kick.
Thornton throws a shot from downtown. Shaman moves away and avoids it.
Shaman looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Shaman throws a shot to the body.
Thornton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shaman.
Shaman throws a looping overhand right but Thornton ducks down to avoid it.
Thornton ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thornton throws a right hand that misses
and Thornton takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thornton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Shaman can do to turn this around?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shaman getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton tries a head kick but it misses.
Shaman keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Shaman scores with a nice right hand.
Shaman throws a hook but Thornton blocks it.
Shaman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Shaman thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thornton lands a really nice looking cross but Shaman seems unphased.
Thornton lands a leg kick that knocks Shaman off balance momentarily.
Shaman misses with an uppercut
and Thornton counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice jab there from Shaman.
Thornton's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Shaman connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Thornton scrambles back to his feet.
Shaman keeps Thornton at a distance using the push kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shaman feints and then cracks Thornton's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thornton down.
Shaman lands a body shot.
Shaman feints and then cracks Thornton's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thornton down.
Shaman lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Shaman finds it's target.
Thornton uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Shaman.
Thornton throws the left hand but Shaman avoids the punch easily.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Thornton crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Shaman - the referee stops the clock and Thornton gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Shaman. Thornton manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Shaman fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Shaman lands a nice looking body shot.

Shaman gets caught flat footed, as Thornton shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Shaman trying to control the position.
We've been hearing that Thornton has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Terrence Thornton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thornton chips away with some ground and pound.
Shaman working a defensive guard here.

Shaman had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thornton defends it easily.
Thornton wants to pass the guard but Shaman is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thornton wants to control from the top but Shaman keeps moving.
Thornton is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Thornton working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shaman's head.
Thornton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Thornton throws a big elbow that misses.
Thornton with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thornton postures up.

Shaman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Blind Shaman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shaman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thornton defends well.
Thornton landing some decent shots from guard.
Thornton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shaman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shaman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thornton.
Shaman trying to keep a closed guard but Thornton is proving a slippery customer.
Thornton lands a couple of elbows.
Thornton is in close to Shaman's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Shaman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blind Shaman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Thornton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shaman slips under a jab from Thornton.
Thornton lands a really nice looking cross but Shaman seems unphased.
Thornton with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Thornton takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Thornton takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Thornton misses with a body shot.
Shaman let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Thornton works Shaman's body with a nice hook.
Shaman just misses with a punch to the body.
Shaman connects with a single shot there.
Shaman stuffs the takedown attempt from Thornton. Thornton gets slowly back to his feet.
Thornton slips a straight right by Shaman.
Blind Shaman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thornton moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Shaman throws out the jab.
Thornton tries to counter with a takedown but Shaman is quick to defend against it.
Shaman throws a big shot that misses.
Thornton just misses with a punch to the body.
Thornton slips a straight right by Shaman.
Thornton swings for the body but Shaman moves out of range.
Thornton takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Thornton tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shaman was well out of range. Poor timing from Thornton.
Shaman throws a big shot that misses.
Thornton throws a predictable looking body shot
and Shaman counters with a straight right hand.
Nice body kick there by Shaman.
Shaman fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Shaman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thornton.
Thornton checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Thornton rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Shaman counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A jab from Shaman misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shaman lands with a nice body kick.
Shaman paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shaman ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Shaman fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Thornton has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Thornton looks to land a combination. Shaman sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Shaman with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Thornton checks a leg kick.
A little feinted left hand from Thornton on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A jab lands there for Shaman.
Thornton blocks a jab.
Shaman misses with a low kick as Thornton jumps back.
Thornton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shaman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thornton misses the jab.
Thornton lands a nice hook to Shaman's body. Shaman takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Thornton swings for the body but Shaman moves out of range.
Shaman feints a counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A quick step to the side and Thornton tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thornton cracks Shaman with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Shaman blocks a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thornton. Shaman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shaman throws a shot from downtown. Thornton moves away and avoids it.
Thornton throws a hook but Shaman avoids it easily.
Shaman slips a straight right by Thornton.
Thornton takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Shaman swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Thornton counters with a stiff right hand.
Thornton loads up on a big right hand but Shaman slips the punch.
Thornton lands with a right hand.
Jab from Thornton.
Thornton steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Shaman. That one must have hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shaman looks to land a right hand but Thornton moved out of range.
A punch combination from Thornton misses.
Thornton punishes Shaman's body with a nice straight punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shaman swings for the body but Thornton moves out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shaman.
Shaman scores with a body shot.
Thornton digs a good hook to Shaman's body.
Donk. Thornton catches Shaman right on the button with a cross.
Shaman throws a looping overhand right but Thornton ducks down to avoid it.
Thornton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shaman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shaman misses with an uppercut.
Shaman throws the left hand but Thornton avoids the punch easily.
Thornton doesn't manage to clinch there - Shaman circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blind Shaman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shaman 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blind Shaman!
A victorious Blind Shaman thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.