PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Li Thai (ranked 3892 p4p, 4274 weight class) and Leon Porter (ranked 382 p4p, 406 weight class). Leon Porter is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Thai
vs
Porter

173 cm
25
148
1 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
162
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Li Thai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Leon Porter!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thai has closed the distance and engaged Porter in a clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Thai throws an elbow but misses.
Thai with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thai lands an elbow inside.
Thai lands an elbow just above Porter 's eye.

Thai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thai is looking to clinch.
Porter appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Thai moves into the clinch.

Thai manages to break the clinch.

Thai clinches up against the cage.

Porter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Porter throws a hook but Thai avoids it easily.
Thai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Porter throws out the jab.

Thai gets a clinch.
Thai prevents a body shot from Porter.
Thai has Porter pressed against the cage, preventing Porter from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thai with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Porter wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thai has him pressed against the cage.
Thai misses with a punch to the body.

Porter pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thai rushes Porter and presses him up against the cage.
Porter is looking to break free of the clinch but Thai has double underhooks.
The referee calls for Thai to work.
Thai tries to stall but Porter uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Porter has had enough of the clinch but Thai keeps him there for the moment.
Thai tries to stall but Porter uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Thai definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Porter on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Porter tries to stall but Thai uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Thai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Porter's elbow.
Thai tries to throw a body punch but Porter avoids it by throwing Thai back against the cage.
Thai tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Porter avoids it.
Porter working hard to break the clinch.
Nice elbow from Thai.
Thai prevents Porter from breaking the clinch.
Porter wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thai has him pressed against the cage.
Thai lands a nice elbow.

Porter breaks the clinch.
Porter throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai is looking to clinch but Porter is avoiding it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Porter manages to break the clinch.
Porter clobbers Thai with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Porter throws a body punch but Thai moves out of range.
Thai tries to clinch up but Porter circles away and keeps his distance.
Thai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Porter tries to bum rush Thai with a series of wild strikes but Thai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thai fails in his attempt to clinch.
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!
Thai is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Thai pushes Porter up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Porter breaks the clinch.
Porter jabs at Thai's body.
Porter lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thai backs up against the cage.
Porter throws a shot from downtown. Thai moves away and avoids it.
Porter throws a push kick but Thai slaps the foot to one side.
Thai wants to clinch up but Porter keeps it at a distance.
Porter lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Thai blocks a leg kick.
Thai tries to clinch up but Porter circles away and keeps his distance.
Thai wants to clinch up but Porter keeps it at a distance.

Porter tries to keep at a distance but Thai has taken the fight into the clinch.
Porter working hard to break the clinch.
Porter is looking to break free of the clinch but Thai has double underhooks.
Porter looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Porter wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Porter tries to break free but Thai pushes him back against the cage.
Porter lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Thai just misses with a elbow thrown towards Porter's brow.
Porter tries to circle away but Thai has him pinned against the cage.
Porter avoids a wild elbow strike from Thai.
Thai is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Porter is keeping busy.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Thai just misses with a elbow thrown towards Porter's brow.
Porter is trying to push Thai away but Thai has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Thai lands an elbow just above Porter 's eye.
Thai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
With the fighters up against the cage, Thai throws an elbow but misses.
Porter tries to circle away but Thai has him pinned against the cage.
Porter wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Porter is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Thai throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Porter misses with a punch on the inside.
Porter stalling in the clinch but Thai improves position.
Thai misses with an elbow strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Li Thai will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Porter throws a jab but it's blocked by Thai.
Porter swats away the attempt to clinch by Thai.
Thai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thai attempts a counter takedown but Porter avoids it well and moves away.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Porter swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Porter paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thai is looking to clinch.
Thai moves in looking to clinch but Porter pushes him off.
Porter swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Porter.
Porter misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thai moves in looking to clinch but Porter pushes him off.
Porter misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thai forces Porter back against the cage and clinches.
Li Thai has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Porter is trying to force a seperation but Thai has the dominant position.
Porter avoiding damage as Thai throws knees to the body.
Thai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Porter's elbow.

Thai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Porter swings for the body but Thai moves out of range.
Thai doesn't manage to clinch there - Porter circles away.
Porter flicks out a counter leg kick but Thai steps away.
Thai tries to clinch but Porter moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Porter lands an impressive looking overhand right. Thai doesn't seem phased though.

Thai has taken the fight to the clinch.
Porter avoids a wild elbow strike from Thai.
Thai keeps control of Porter as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Porter is trying to push Thai away but Thai has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Thai lands a damaging elbow.
Thai jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Porter walks away with a smile on his face. Thai gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Porter avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Porter.
Li Thai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Porter waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thai.
Thai is looking to clinch but Porter is avoiding it.
Porter replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Thai blocks it well.
Leon Porter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Porter is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thai.
Leon Porter seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A punch combination from Porter misses.
Thai doesn't manage to clinch there - Porter circles away.
Thai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Porter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Porter throws a right hand that Thai ducks under and follows up with a left that Thai also avoids with ease.
Thai looks to clinch
and Porter cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thai moves in looking to clinch but Porter pushes him off.
Thai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Porter unleashes a big counter combination but Thai bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Porter misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai wants to clinch.
Porter swats away the attempt to clinch by Thai.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch but Porter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Thai moves into the clinch successfully.
Porter takes an elbow to the forehead.

Thai breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Porter looks to land a right hand but Thai moved out of range.
Porter lands a nice hook to Thai's body. Thai takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Thai tries to clinch up but Porter circles away and keeps his distance.
A punch combination from Porter misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Porter keeps the fight on the outside.
Li Thai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Porter swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A combination from Porter does no damage.
Porter throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch but Porter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Porter avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thai wants to clinch.
Thai shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Porter pinned against the cage. Porter gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Porter swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Porter throws a series of punches but Thai avoids them all with ease.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Porter showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Thai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thai takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Porter throws a hook but Thai avoids it easily.
Jab, jab by Porter - just one landing.
Thai wants to clinch.
Porter does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Porter works the jab nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch but Porter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Porter with a hook.
Thai fails with an attempt to clinch.

Thai rushes Porter and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thai pushes off an throws an elbow but Porter leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Porter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Porter breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Porter connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Thai's hands.
A head kick misses from Porter.
Thai is looking to clinch but Porter is avoiding it.

Thai takes the fight into the clinch.
Thai effectively controlling the action here.
Thai throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Thai jumps guard but Porter stands there with Thai around his waist. Thai gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Porter misses with a body punch.
Thai misses with a body punch.
Porter is trying to break the clinch but Thai is controlling him.
Thai displaying some good clinch control by pressing Porter up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai prevents Porter from breaking the clinch.
Thai throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Thai pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Thai pulls Porter into guard.

Porter decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Porter misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Porter misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Porter paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Porter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Porter avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thai fails with an attempt to clinch.
Porter is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Thai with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Porter looks to land a combination but Thai avoids it well.
Porter throws a series of punches but Thai moves out of range.
Thai tries to counter with a takedown but Porter is quick to defend against it.

Thai gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Porter misses with the head strike.
Porter wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thai has him pressed against the cage.
Thai tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Thai has Porter pressed against the cage, preventing Porter from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thai lands a damaging elbow.
Thai jumps guard but Porter turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Li Thai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice elbow from Thai.
Porter prevents a body shot from Thai.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Porter's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Thai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thai wants to clinch
and Porter connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Porter tries to keep at a distance but Thai has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thai misses with a punch to the body.
Porter is trying to force a seperation but Thai has the dominant position.
Porter is looking to break free of the clinch but Thai has double underhooks.
Porter dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Porter tries to break free but Thai pushes him back against the cage.
Porter wants to break the clinch but can't.
Porter wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thai has him pressed against the cage.
Thai tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Porter avoids it.
Porter takes an elbow to the temple.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Porter tries to throw a body punch but Thai avoids it by throwing Porter back against the cage.
Porter working hard to break the clinch.
Porter working hard to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Porter's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Thai lands a damaging elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Leon Porter.
I think Porter 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leon Porter!
Leon Porter seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.