PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mason Thomas (ranked 2771 p4p, 317 weight class) and Maki Tantor (ranked 2263 p4p, 265 weight class). Maki Tantor acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Thomas
vs
Tantor

185 cm
22
187 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

182 cm
22
180 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mason Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Maki Tantor!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tantor tries to land a leg kick but Thomas saw it coming and moves away.
Tantor throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thomas.
Tantor moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tantor misses with a shot to the body
and Thomas counters with a right hand to the body.
Thomas swinging wildly here.
Tantor feints a counter leg kick.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tantor.
Thomas takes a swing at Tantor's ribcage but misses.
Sloppy strikes from Thomas. Those never looked like landing.
Tantor lands a right hook to the body.
Thomas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tantor cracks Thomas with a right hand to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Thomas on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Thomas takes a swing at Tantor's ribcage but misses.
Tantor fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Thomas looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
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!
Thomas takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thomas digs a good hook to Tantor's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thomas takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Tantor looks to throw the jab but Thomas is out of range.
Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tantor.
Thomas walks into a jab.
Tantor scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tantor connects with a solid leg kick.
Thomas has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tantor finds it's way round the side to connect with Thomas's head.
Tantor digs a good body shot into Thomas's ribs.
Danga de danga de dang - Tantor scores with a four punch combination!
A slow jab from Thomas misses its intended target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas throws a body punch but Tantor moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tantor.
Thomas lands a glancing blow to the side of Tantor's head.
Tantor throws a body shot but no joy.
A jab from Tantor does it's job there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tantor throws out a loose jab but Thomas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tantor misses with a body shot.
Thomas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maki Tantor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tantor is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Thomas is looking to wear down Tantor with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Tantor lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Tantor misses with a wild body shot.
Tantor looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Thomas checks a leg kick.
We've been hearing reports that Thomas has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Tantor swings widly with a right hand
and Tantor takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thomas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tantor.
Tantor lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tantor dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thomas. That did some damage!
Tantor scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Thomas takes a swing at Tantor's ribcage but misses.
Tantor slips a straight right by Thomas.
Tantor listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Tantor closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thomas prevents a body shot from Tantor.
Tantor presses Thomas against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Tantor pushes Thomas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Tantor throws a punch but it's blocked by Thomas.
Tantor lands a body shot.
Thomas misses with an elbow over the top.
Thomas prevents a body shot from Tantor.
Tantor lands with a right to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tantor misses with some punches.
Tantor tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thomas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Tantor as the two fighters clinch.
Thomas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tantor misses with the head strike.
Thomas throws an elbow that misses.
Tantor misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tantor misses with a punch on the inside.
Thomas is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tantor scores with a nice hook to the head.
Tantor throws a head punch that misses.
Thomas takes a shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thomas blocks an uppercut.
Tantor pushes Thomas back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thomas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Thomas throws an elbow but misses.
Tantor softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tantor struggles to land a body shot inside as Thomas controls his hands.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tantor creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Tantor tries to throw a body punch but Thomas avoids it by throwing Tantor back against the cage.

Thomas pulls guard successfully.
Tantor trying to stand up but can't free himself from Thomas's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tantor stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Tantor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tantor throws a nice outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maki Tantor dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tantor misses with a low kick as Thomas jumps back.
As Tantor looks to move away, Thomas throws a big counter combo but Tantor just gets out of the way.
Thomas moves out of range of the strikes.
Thomas appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Tantor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tantor tries to clinch but Thomas is having none of it.
Tantor scores with a nice right hand.
Tantor connects with a body shot.
Tantor moves away from the strike by Thomas.
Tantor tried to score with a low kick but Thomas checks it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tantor.
Thomas is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tantor attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tantor.
Tantor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tantor throws a shot from downtown. Thomas moves away and avoids it.

Tantor pushes Thomas up against the cage in a clinch.
Thomas fails to pull guard.
Tantor working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tantor cracks Thomas with a nice body shot.
Tantor softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thomas using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tantor has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A bit of stalling here from Thomas.
Maki Tantor seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thomas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Thomas working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Tantor.
Tantor blocks an elbow strike.
Tantor working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tantor tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tantor lands with a short shot to the head.
Tantor fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thomas has a couple of punches blocked by Tantor.
Tantor managing to block the knees to the body from Thomas.
Thomas jumps guard but Tantor turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tantor has a couple of punches blocked by Thomas.
Thomas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tantor walks away with a smile on his face. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mason Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tantor throws a head kick that misses.
Tantor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thomas drops down looking for a counter takedown but Tantor sprawls and moves away.
Thomas takes a swing at Tantor's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas moves out of range of the leg kick from Tantor.
Thomas fires out a quick counter leg kick but Tantor just manages to avoid it.
Thomas drops his hands momentarily and Tantor takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tantor misses with a straight left.
As Tantor backs away, Thomas returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Tantor scores with a crisp jab that stopped Thomas in his tracks.
Thomas takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thomas lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Maki Tantor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tantor misses with a series of wild punches.
Tantor lands a jab.
Tantor lands with a hook. Thomas tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tantor. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thomas slips under a jab from Tantor.
Thomas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Tantor connects with a single shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tantor finds it's way round the side to connect with Thomas's head.
Tantor misses with a low kick.
Tantor missing with a left hand there. Thomas was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tantor throws a hook but Thomas blocks it.
Tantor moves out of range of the leg kick from Thomas.
Thomas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thomas fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Thomas works the jab nicely.
Tantor connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Thomas momentarily.
Tantor scores with a punch to the head.
Some bone on bone action there as Tantor checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tantor looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Tantor tries a head kick but it misses.
Tantor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tantor cracks Thomas with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tantor lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tantor misses with a looping right.
Tantor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Tantor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Tantor connects with a crisp jab.
Tantor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Maki Tantor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thomas throws a hook to the side of Tantor's head but Tantor sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tantor tries a head kick but it misses.
Tantor lands with an overhand left.
A telegraphed right hand from Thomas misses the target.
Thomas sets himself, and Tantor steps forward looking for the clinch! Thomas avoids it this time.
Tantor throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
Tantor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Thomas throws a jab when Tantor was well out of range.
Tantor fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Thomas on the side of the head.
Tantor closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Thomas misses with a wild body shot.
Tantor feints the counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maki Tantor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Thomas misses with a leg kick.
Thomas takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Thomas looks to land a left hand but Tantor moved out of range nicely.
Tantor stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Thomas lands with an overhand left.
Tantor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.
Thomas just misses with a punch to the body.
Tantor scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Tantor stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The crowd cheers as Thomas lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tantor doesn't seem phased though.
Tantor lands a nice shot to the body.
Tantor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas.
Tantor scores with a jab. Thomas acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Thomas looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
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!
Tantor fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tantor misses with a double jab

and Thomas counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tantor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thomas works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thomas throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Tantor to regain full guard.
Thomas has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Tantor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas looking to sit in guard and control but Tantor gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to sweep but no luck.
Thomas looking to control.
Tantor has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Thomas is proving hard to escape from.
Thomas lands a decent shot there.
Tantor trying to stand up but can't free himself from Thomas's guard.

Tantor decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Tantor missing with a left hand there. Thomas was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tantor is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas moves out of range of the leg kick from Tantor.
It looked like Thomas wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tantor slips under a jab.
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tantor.
As Tantor backs away, Thomas returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Thomas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thomas swinging wildly here.
A jab from Tantor misses.
Tantor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Thomas at a distance.
Tantor misses with a shot to the body

and Thomas decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tantor's guard.
Tantor keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Thomas is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tantor is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Thomas stays in close to Tantor's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is looking to advance position but Tantor has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Tantor looking to control but Thomas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thomas manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tantor escapes and gets back to his feet.
Mason Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tantor lands with a good body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Maki Tantor.
I've got Tantor winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maki Tantor!