PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josh Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Garry Thorenborn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garry Thorenborn is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Smith
vs
Thorenborn

223 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
23
255 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Josh Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Garry Thorenborn!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smith looks to clinch

and Thorenborn counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thorenborn.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thorenborn throwing strikes but missing.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thorenborn wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Thorenborn really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Thorenborn is proving a slippery customer.

Smith looking for a guillotine here but Thorenborn defends easily.
Thorenborn trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thorenborn is stalling in the full guard.
Smith is controlling Thorenborn's posture.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Garry Thorenborn hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Thorenborn keeps the fight on the outside.
Nice jab there from Smith.
Smith tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thorenborn swivels and escapes.
Thorenborn tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thorenborn tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Thorenborn.
Thorenborn throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Smith finds it's way through Thorenborn's defenses.
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch

and Thorenborn counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith is trying to stand.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.

Thorenborn seems to be working for a kimura but Smith defends the submission attempt.
Smith wants to control but Thorenborn is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorenborn winds up and cracks Smith with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Thorenborn lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Thorenborn not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Thorenborn sits in half guard.
Smith trying to control but Thorenborn postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith is staying active underneath Thorenborn, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thorenborn shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Thorenborn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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!
Thorenborn postures up in Smith's guard and throws a big left but Smith blocks it.
Thorenborn works over Smith with some ground and pound from guard.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thorenborn preventing the sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thorenborn stands and throws Smith's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garry Thorenborn dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thorenborn ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thorenborn stuffs the takedown attempt from Smith. Smith gets slowly back to his feet.
Smith looks for a takedown but Thorenborn sprawls well.
Thorenborn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Smith throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thorenborn's waist but Thorenborn gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smith off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thorenborn throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.
Thorenborn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thorenborn throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Smith.
Smith dives in for a single leg takedown but Thorenborn sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Thorenborn is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Thorenborn has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Smith tries for a takedown but Thorenborn sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Thorenborn fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Smith to the ground. Thorenborn is now in Smith's guard.
Thorenborn trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith looking to control.
Thorenborn looking to pass the guard.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Josh Smith just wasn't active enough.
Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thorenborn sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thorenborn misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Smith.
Smith closes the distance but Thorenborn moves to the side

and Thorenborn counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thorenborn wants to take a breather but Smith is having none of it.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Thorenborn. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Smith is looking to improve his position.
Thorenborn seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Thorenborn throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thorenborn trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Garry Thorenborn wasn't active enough on the ground.
Thorenborn on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Thorenborn closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smith to the mat! Smith manages to get full guard.
Thorenborn is in close to Smith's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Smith manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Thorenborn is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Thorenborn squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Thorenborn is desperately trying to improve his position but Smith has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorenborn wants to hold on but Smith pushes him away.
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Smith misses with a head shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thorenborn is trying to escape the mount.
Smith trying to control but Thorenborn is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garry Thorenborn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Thorenborn digs a good hook to Smith's body.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Thorenborn throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Smith was covering up waiting for the punch and Thorenborn finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Smith controls Thorenborn momentarily but Thorenborn frees himself.
Thorenborn is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Thorenborn landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Thorenborn from controlling successfully.
Thorenborn must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Smith pushes Thorenborn off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Smith lands with a good body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thorenborn feints and then cracks Smith's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Smith down.
Garry Thorenborn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith shoots in but no luck this time.
Thorenborn throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith moves out of range as Thorenborn strikes.

Thorenborn darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Garry Thorenborn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thorenborn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Thorenborn sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thorenborn with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Thorenborn seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smith is refusing to be controlled, as Thorenborn sits in half guard.
Thorenborn is controlling the pace.

Garry Thorenborn has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Smith takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Thorenborn sprawls well.
Nice straight punches there by Thorenborn. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thorenborn.
Thorenborn tries a head kick but it misses.
Thorenborn looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Thorenborn just misses with a punch to the body.
Thorenborn misses with a looping right.
Smith tries to clinch there but Thorenborn circles away.
Smith tried to score with a low kick but Thorenborn checks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thorenborn misses with a looping left.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Josh Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Garry Thorenborn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head kick by Smith misses

and Thorenborn counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Garry Thorenborn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thorenborn 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Garry Thorenborn!
A victorious Garry Thorenborn thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.