PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vincent Bonis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicky Thorp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bonis
vs
Thorp

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Vincent Bonis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nicky Thorp!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Paul Tew and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thorp closes the distance and pushes Bonis back into the cage.

Thorp gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Bonis regains guard.
Thorp looking to pass the guard.
Thorp is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thorp has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bonis is proving hard to escape from.
Thorp really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bonis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Thorp looking to pass the guard.
Bonis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thorp controlling from the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bonis.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorp shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bonis pinned against the cage. Bonis gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Thorp shoots in for a double leg but Bonis sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bonis misses with a lunging right hand

and Thorp counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thorp.

Thorp breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thorp connects with an inside leg kick.
Bonis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thorp tries to avoid it but Bonis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thorp to the ground. Thorp escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bonis shoots in for a takedown but Thorp shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vincent Bonis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bonis tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Thorp counters with a low kick, right behind Bonis 's knee.
Bonis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Thorp manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Thorp closes the distance and pushes Bonis back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonis looking to slow down the pace here.
Bonis is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Thorp is defending well.
Thorp is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bonis tries to pull guard but Thorp won't allow it.
Bonis is looking to control Thorp's arms but Thorp gets an underhook and turns him. Now Bonis has his back to the cage.
Thorp drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bonis gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Thorp drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bonis pulls his leg out and moves away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A left and a right from Thorp both land. Nice combination.
Vincent Bonis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thorp swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Thorp moves into the clinch successfully.
Thorp is stalling here.
Thorp lands a nice knee to the body.

Thorp manages to break the clinch.
Bonis stuffs the takedown.
Thorp misses with a takedown attempt - Bonis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thorp looks winded!
Bonis blocks a head kick by Thorp.
Thorp keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bonis keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bonis is defended easily by Thorp.
Thorp stuffs the takedown attempt from Bonis. Bonis gets slowly back to his feet.

Thorp clinches with his opponent.

Thorp successfully pulls guard.
Thorp controls Bonis momentarily but Bonis frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bonis slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicky Thorp dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thorp fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thorp shoots in and drives through. Bonis sprawls well.
Bonis shoots in but Thorp avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thorp fails with a takedown attempt.
Thorp leaves Bonis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Thorp gets a takedown into half guard.
Bonis is looking for a sweep. Thorp is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorp trying to control from half guard but Bonis is working away.
Thorp controlling the action here.
Bonis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thorp's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thorp's back!

Bonis has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Thorp has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Bonis looking for the RNC.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorp looking to control the position.

Thorp fending off the submission attempt from Bonis.
Thorp rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Thorp moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonis wanted to stand there but Thorp had control of the position.
Thorp has Bonis pulled in close to control his posture.
Thorp looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bonis is one step ahead there.
Thorp has his hands on Bonis's head, controlling the position.
Thorp tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nicky Thorp wasn't active enough on the ground.
Bonis doesn't manage to clinch there - Thorp circles away.
Thorp closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bonis circles away.
Vincent Bonis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nicky Thorp.
Bonis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thorp pinned against the cage. Thorp gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Thorp drives through and clinches with Bonis against the cage.
Thorp is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Thorp breaks the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bonis is defended easily by Thorp.

Thorp rushes Bonis and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicky Thorp showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Thorp takes the fight into the clinch.

Thorp escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thorp shoots in for a takedown but Bonis shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thorp stuffs the takedown.
Nicky Thorp seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bonis misses with a takedown attempt - Thorp sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bonis shoots in for a takedown but Thorp shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vincent Bonis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thorp looks for a takedown but Bonis sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Bonis tries to keep at a distance but Thorp has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bonis can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorp stalling against the cage.
Thorp landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A bit of stalling here from Thorp.
Thorp is working for takedown but Bonis is calmly controlling the position for now.

Thorp manages to break the clinch.
Thorp throws a series of strikes that have Bonis backpedaling.
Nice takedown defense from Bonis. No joy for Thorp on that attempt.
Thorp scores with a jab to the jaw.
Thorp will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thorp circles away from the clinch attempt.

Thorp rushes Bonis and presses him up against the cage.
Bonis goes for a takedown in the clinch but Thorp prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorp wants a takedown but no success here.
Thorp is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bonis to keep the fight standing.

Thorp breaks from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bonis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bonis shoots and misses
and Thorp counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Thorp takes the fight into the clinch.
Bonis has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Thorp avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bonis can't break the clinch.
Thorp goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bonis prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Thorp.
Bonis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Thorp stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Thorp landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Thorp works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Bonis has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Thorp working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vincent Bonis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thorp stands and steps away. Bonis gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Bonis closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Thorp did well to prevent Bonis getting side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bonis throwing shots but Thorp is blocking nicely.
Bonis is pressing down on Thorp's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thorp is holding on for now.
Thorp is concentrating on defense, preventing Bonis from advancing position.
Thorp is trying to control but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thorp is looking to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicky Thorp comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thorp has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicky Thorp!