PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Landon Cox (ranked 24780 p4p, 3703 weight class) and Gard Thorkildsen (ranked 557 p4p, 421 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Cox
vs
Thorkildsen

187 cm
20
188
4 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
194
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Landon Cox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gard Thorkildsen!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cox drives through and clinches with Thorkildsen against the ropes.
Thorkildsen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Thorkildsen can't get the takedown.
Cox is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cox tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Cox manages to break the clinch.
Thorkildsen misses with a takedown attempt

and Cox counters by clinching up.
Thorkildsen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cox pulls his leg out and moves away.
Landon Cox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gard Thorkildsen.

Thorkildsen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cox tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Thorkildsen is in Cox's guard.
Thorkildsen trying to control but Cox is working from the bottom.
Cox knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thorkildsen on the ground.

Cox isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Thorkildsen stacks Cox on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Thorkildsen!
Thorkildsen trying to control the action but Cox is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorkildsen throwing strikes but Cox manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Cox wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thorkildsen keeps working.
Cox controlling the position from side mount.
Cox wants to control but Thorkildsen is keeping him busy.
Thorkildsen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Cox's best efforts.
Thorkildsen tries to roll over but Cox keeps him under control.

Thorkildsen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cox pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cox lands with a punch from half guard.

Thorkildsen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cox not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Thorkildsen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thorkildsen manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Thorkildsen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cox can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cox scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Thorkildsen looking for a guillotine here but Cox defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox trying to control but Thorkildsen is working from the bottom.
Cox postures up and lands a big shot to Thorkildsen's brow.

Cox drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Cox jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Cox tries to free his leg and advance position but Thorkildsen is retaining full guard.
Thorkildsen working a defensive guard here.
Cox has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Thorkildsen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cox wants to control from the top but Thorkildsen keeps moving.
Thorkildsen controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorkildsen keeping moving, preventing Cox from controlling successfully.

Cox has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Thorkildsen to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Cox is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Thorkildsen pulls down on the head and he's put Cox to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Gard Thorkildsen!
During a confident post fight interview, Gard Thorkildsen thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.