PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nautica Thorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frank Morris told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Thorn
vs
Morris

190 cm
19
270 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

195 cm
21
240 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nautica Thorn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frank Morris!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morris fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thorn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Thorn gets a clinch.
Thorn with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Thorn with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short body shot lands from Thorn as the two fighters clinch.
Thorn has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nice elbow from Morris.

It looks like Nautica Thorn has been cut.

Thorn manages to break the clinch.
Morris displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thorn.
Thorn wants to clinch but Morris slips to the side
letting Morris counter with a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice takedown defense from Morris. No joy for Thorn on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nautica Thorn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thorn shoots in and drives through. Morris sprawls well.
Morris moves in looking to clinch but Thorn pushes him off.
Thorn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Thorn rushes Morris and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Morris works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris is stalling in the full guard.
Thorn keeping moving, preventing Morris from controlling successfully.
Thorn tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Thorn is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Morris defends well.
Morris working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thorn is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Thorn looking for a guillotine here but Morris defends easily.
Morris trying to control but Thorn is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thorn has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Morris off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Thorn stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thorn wants it to stay on the feet.
Thorn tries to bum rush Morris with a series of wild strikes but Morris uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Morris circles away from the clinch attempt
and Morris counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Morris digs a good hook to Thorn's body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thorn looks to throw a body kick
and Morris counters with a right hand to the body.
Morris tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morris closes the distance and clinches up with Thorn, looking for a takedown. Morris pushes Thorn against the cage but Thorn circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Thorn tries to clinch up but Morris circles away and keeps his distance.
Morris avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Morris circles away from the clinch attempt
and Morris counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thorn shoots in for a takedown but Morris shows good takedown defense.
Thorn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thorn doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Morris counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Morris has Thorn up against the cage in a clinch.
Thorn tries to circle away but Morris has him pinned against the cage.
Come on Thorn - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Thorn tries a knee to the head but Morris blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Morris jumps into guard, dragging Thorn to the mat.
Thorn trying to control but Morris is working from the bottom.
Morris keeping full guard, as Thorn tries to pass.
Thorn prevents Morris from getting back to his feet.
Thorn works over Morris with some ground and pound from guard.
Thorn could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Thorn looking to pass the guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Thorn gets to his feet - Morris follows without any prompting.
Thorn is looking to clinch but Morris is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nautica Thorn will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nautica Thorn's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thorn looks to clinch
and Thorn takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thorn throws a wild body kick that Morris sees coming a mile off.
Thorn throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Morris counters by moving into the clinch.
Morris prevents Thorn from breaking the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Morris's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Thorn tries to circle away but Morris has him pinned against the cage.
Morris blocks the elbow strike.
Morris has Thorn pressed against the cage, preventing Thorn from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Morris jumps guard but Thorn stands there with Morris around his waist. Morris gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Morris tries to break free but Thorn pushes him back against the cage.
Morris fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thorn tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Thorn gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thorn is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Thorn wants to work for an arm triangle but Morris is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Thorn prevents Morris from improving his position.
Nautica Thorn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Thorn wants to work for an arm triangle but Morris is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Thorn not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Thorn is looking for a kimura here.
Morris is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorn seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Morris does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Thorn is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Morris is just riding it out for now. Thorn eventually gives up the hold.
Thorn wants to take a breather but Morris is having none of it.

Thorn is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Thorn looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Thorn is looking for a kimura but Morris is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thorn to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorn looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Thorn is keen to just control but Morris is a slippery customer.

Thorn is looking for a kimura here.
Morris wants to control but Thorn is keeping busy.

Thorn is working for a submission of some sort.
Morris trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thorn seems to be looking for submissions.
Morris tries to kick Thorn off but Thorn keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Thorn is trying to control. Morris wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Morris is looking to control Thorn's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Morris avoid being mounted?
Thorn seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thorn not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nautica Thorn dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nautica Thorn's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Thorn takes the fight into the clinch.
Morris scores with a hook to the body.
Thorn tries a knee to the head but Morris blocks it.

Thorn breaks from the clinch.
Thorn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Morris swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thorn looks to land a right hand but Morris moved out of range.
Thorn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Morris sprawls well. Morris wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thorn gets slowly back to his feet.
Thorn moves out of range of the body kick.
Morris turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Thorn is looking to clinch.
Thorn looks to clinch
and Morris finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morris shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thorn as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorn throws a leg kick that misses.
Thorn wants to clinch but Morris slips to the side
and Morris counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thorn doesn't manage to clinch there - Morris circles away.
Morris fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thorn is looking to clinch.
Thorn shoots in looking for a takedown. Morris tries to sprawl out of it but Thorn keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Morris manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Morris fails to land with a series of punches.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Thorn.
Horrible takedown by Morris or perhaps it was just good defense by Thorn which made him look bad.
Thorn wants to clinch
and Morris connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Frank Morris seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nautica Thorn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Morris. No joy for Thorn on that attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Morris can't get the takedown.
Thorn looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Thorn changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Morris fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Morris shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thorn defends it nicely.
Morris tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thorn swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorn shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Morris but Morris pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Morris stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Morris wants it to stay on the feet.
Thorn shoots in for a double leg but Morris sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Morris closes the distance and pushes Thorn back into the cage.
Thorn changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Morris fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Morris throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Morris tries to clinch but Thorn moves out of range.

Morris closes the distance and pushes Thorn back into the cage.
Morris drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thorn pulls his leg out and moves away.
Thorn shoots for a takedown but Morris saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorn misses with a few strikes there.

Thorn gets caught napping as Morris dives in and scores a takedown. Thorn manages to retain guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morris trying to control but Thorn is working from the bottom.
Morris throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thorn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thorn wants to sweep but no luck.
Thorn working a defensive guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morris trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Frank Morris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nautica Thorn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Morris is sitting in close to Thorn's body. Thorn has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Morris is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Morris is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Thorn.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Nautica Thorn!
During a confident post fight interview, Nautica Thorn thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.