PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Thornton (ranked 4902 p4p, 4828 weight class) and Jovani Bianchi (ranked 533 p4p, 528 weight class). Jovani Bianchi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thornton
vs
Bianchi

186 cm
18
176
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
180
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Bondi MMA

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Craig Thornton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jovani Bianchi!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Franklyn Lucas and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thornton lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Jovani Bianchi has been cut.
Thornton lands a glancing blow to the side of Bianchi's head.
Thornton throws a shot from downtown. Bianchi moves away and avoids it.
Bianchi avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bianchi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Bianchi misses with a straight left.

Bianchi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Thornton tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bianchi is in Thornton's guard.
Thornton wants to stand and escape but Bianchi is having none of it.
Bianchi connects with a couple of short punches.
Thornton is looking to stand up but Bianchi isn't so interested in that idea.
Bianchi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bianchi postures up and lands a big shot to Thornton's brow.
Bianchi is working Thornton over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bianchi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bianchi working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thornton knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bianchi on the ground.
Bianchi is looking to work some ground and pound but Thornton has wrist control.
Thornton is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bianchi is controlling him.
Bianchi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bianchi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thornton's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bianchi with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thornton wants to get back to his feet but Bianchi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thornton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bianchi.
Bianchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Thornton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thornton is looking to stand up but Bianchi isn't so interested in that idea.
Bianchi with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bianchi misses with an uppercut. Thornton saw that one coming.
Good exchange - Thornton coming out on top.

Bianchi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bianchi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bianchi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Thornton manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Bianchi keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Thornton gets underhooks to prevent Bianchi's takedown attempt.
Bianchi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thornton pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bianchi is looking for a takedown.
Craig Thornton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jovani Bianchi.
A head punch on the inside from Bianchi fails to land.
Bianchi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Thornton fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Jab by Thornton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Oooooh!!! Thornton has knocked Bianchi down with a huge combo! Thornton steps away and waves a wobbly Bianchi back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Bianchi is rocked!
Craig Thornton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thornton tries a head kick but it misses.
Bianchi swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bianchi is still on wobbly legs! Can Thornton finish him?
Bianchi avoids the body shot from Thornton.
A punch combination from Thornton misses.
Bianchi seems to have recovered his senses.
Thornton misses with a looping right.

Bianchi feints and as Thornton raises his hands in defense, Bianchi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Thornton wriggles free and stands up.
Thornton misses with a few strikes there.
Bianchi misses with a hook. Thornton ducked under it nicely.
Thornton throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thornton throws out a loose jab but Bianchi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bianchi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bianchi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Thornton misses the shot to the body.
Bianchi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bianchi throws a body punch but Thornton moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton moves away from the strike by Bianchi.
Thornton changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thornton connects with a jab.

That has opened up Jovani Bianchi's cut even more.
Thornton looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Thornton stuns Bianchi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bianchi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Thornton pushes Bianchi off and gets back to his feet.
Bianchi takes one to the chin there.
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!
Bianchi avoids the body shot from Thornton.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bianchi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Thornton did well to prevent Bianchi getting side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thornton tries to kick Bianchi off but Bianchi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Thornton is staying active underneath Bianchi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bianchi prevents Thornton from standing back up.
Bianchi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Thornton wants to get back to his feet.
Bianchi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bianchi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Thornton avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bianchi.
Bianchi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Thornton is looking to escape.
Bianchi winds up and cracks Thornton with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Bianchi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thornton defending well though.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thornton is trying to stand up here but Bianchi is controlling him well.
Bianchi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Thornton is trying to stand back up but Bianchi is controlling him
Bianchi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bianchi slips a nice elbow through Thornton's hands, connecting with Thornton's forehead.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Thornton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jovani Bianchi's cut.
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 listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A head kick misses from Thornton.
Thornton misses with a head kick.
Thornton slips a jab from Bianchi.
Bianchi throws a hook but Thornton avoids it easily.

Oooooh!!! Thornton has knocked Bianchi down with a huge combo! Thornton steps away and waves a wobbly Bianchi back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Bianchi dives in for a single leg takedown but Thornton sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Thornton! Bianchi is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Craig Thornton!
Craig Thornton really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Bondi MMA logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.