PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Emanuel Thornton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Ansome (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ansome is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Voodoo Child. Dan Ansome has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thornton
vs
Ansome

201 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Venom Combat Sports
RAGS of a RONIN

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 Los Angeles, Emanuel Thornton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dan Ansome!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thornton feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ansome tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thornton throws a big right hand that misses.
Thornton preventing the sweep.
Ansome is adopting a defensive guard.
Ansome utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ansome trying to keep a closed guard but Thornton is proving a slippery customer.
Thornton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thornton throws a big elbow that misses.
Thornton postures up.
Thornton preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thornton is fighting to break Ansome's control of his arms but Ansome is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Thornton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Thornton 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.
Ansome doesn't manage to clinch there - Thornton circles away.
Ansome misses with a double jab.

Ansome rushes Thornton and presses him up against the cage.
Thornton looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Thornton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Thornton.
Thornton sets himself, and Ansome steps forward looking for the clinch! Thornton avoids it this time.
Ansome throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thornton.
Thornton trying to control the position but Ansome is working away.
Ansome tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thornton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Thornton throws a strike aimed at the side of Ansome's head but Ansome avoids it well.
Ansome tries to buck Thornton off but Thornton is having none of it.
Thornton working the ground and pound but Ansome is defending the strikes.
Thornton knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ansome on the ground.
Thornton is looking to take a break and control but Ansome is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ansome is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton is looking to take a break and control but Ansome is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The strikes coming from Thornton are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Thornton lands a nice forearm strike.
Thornton landing a few strikes.
Ansome manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thornton's best efforts.
Ansome moves into full guard.
Ansome is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ansome trying to mount his opponent but Thornton defends it.
Ansome looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thornton is trying to get back to full guard.
Ansome thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thornton's head.
Thornton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ansome.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ansome in particular looking to stall.
Ansome wants to control but Thornton is keeping him busy.
Ansome prevents Thornton from improving his position.
Thornton wants to control but Ansome is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ansome prevents Thornton from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ansome is working for a submission of some sort.
Ansome is keen to just control but Thornton is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emanuel Thornton dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ansome gets caught flat footed, as Thornton shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ansome is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ansome passes the guard and advances to mount!

Thornton defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Ansome.
Thornton is in all sorts of trouble here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ansome lands a big shot there that rocks Thornton but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ansome unloads with some shots from mount but Thornton bucks and avoids them well.
Thornton tries to hold on but Ansome pushes him away.

Ansome wants to finish this one by submission but Thornton is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Ansome.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ansome is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Thornton to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Thornton shrugs it off.
Ansome is breathing heavily.
Ansome avoids the attempt from Thornton to control.
Thornton is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Ansome tries to control but Thornton wriggling away.
Thornton can't escape the position.

Ansome looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Ansome lands a big shot there that rocks Thornton but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Ansome has hold of Thornton's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Thornton manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Ansome trying to control but Thornton is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ansome lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Thornton is squirming around, avoiding Ansome's attempts to control the action.
Ansome avoids the attempt from Thornton to control.
Ansome fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thornton tries to hold on but Ansome postures up.
Ansome has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ansome fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Ansome lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Ansome is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Thornton has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Thornton!
Ansome lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thornton keeping moving, preventing Ansome from controlling successfully.
Thornton working a defensive guard here.
Thornton is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ansome is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Ansome is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Ansome drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ansome jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ansome pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thornton is keeping the position for now.
Thornton trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ansome is pushing down on Thornton's leg trying to pass to half guard. Thornton is fighting to maintain full guard but Ansome has managed to sneak the leg through.

Ansome is looking for a kimura here.
Thornton is controlling Ansome's trapped leg to prevent Ansome from advancing to side control.
Thornton tries to get to full guard but Ansome has control of the leg.
Ansome is thwarting Thornton's attempts to control the position.
Ansome wants to pass the guard but Thornton is defending well.
Thornton trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Ansome showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ansome shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Thornton manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ansome slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Thornton is trying to control Ansome's posture but Ansome avoids it.

Ansome is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Thornton has escaped the position, nice work there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thornton holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Thornton is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ansome fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Thornton wants to control but Ansome postures up.
Dan Ansome has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ansome wants to control but Thornton is keeping him busy.
Thornton takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Ansome working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ansome lands some shots froms side control.
Ansome lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Thornton can't do much from the bottom here.
Ansome advances nicely into full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thornton wants to control but Ansome is having none of it.

Thornton has left one of his arms exposed and Ansome doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Thornton screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Dan Ansome!
Dan Ansome very nearly forgot to thank RAGS of a RONIN amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.