PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lee Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Terrence Tate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thomas
vs
Tate

187 cm
20
220 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
225 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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, Lee Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Terrence Tate!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tate to the mat! Tate manages to get full guard.
Thomas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tate is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thomas looking to pass the guard.
Tate is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thomas throws a big right hand that misses.
Thomas thows a big elbow that misses.
Thomas won't allow Tate to sweep him here.
Thomas passes into half guard.
Tate is not content to let Thomas control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tate but Tate pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thomas is looking to clinch but Tate is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tate tries to keep at a distance but Thomas has taken the fight into the clinch.

Tate ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tate no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Tate tries to strike from the bottom.
Thomas trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tate's guard.
Thomas won't allow Tate to sweep him here.
Tate is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thomas is controlling him.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Tate is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas prevents Tate from getting back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tate gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Tate pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thomas's waist but Thomas gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tate off to one side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thomas.
Tate throws a one two combo.
Thomas fails with the takedown

and Tate counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lee Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
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 trying to control but Tate postures up.
Tate seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Tate tries to pass to full mount but Thomas defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looks like he's trying to stand up.
Tate works his way into full mount!
Thomas is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Tate lands a big elbow.
Tate wants to control the pace but Thomas is squirming around nicely.
Tate avoids the attempt from Thomas to control.
Thomas manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tate is looking to stall here but Thomas recovers full guard.
Thomas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thomas is on top in guard.
Tate wants to stand up but Thomas is controlling him.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Tate is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Terrence Tate will probably get the nod.
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.

Tate with a lazy takedown attempt

and Thomas counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thomas.
Tate can't keep his opponent in guard - Thomas advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Tate is staying active underneath Thomas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thomas working over Tate with some ground and pound. Tate looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tate slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Thomas gets to his feet. Tate looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Thomas shoots and misses

and Tate counters with a takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tate wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thomas keeps working.

Tate is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Thomas is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

Tate thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Thomas is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Thomas is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Thomas wants to control but Tate postures up.

That's two 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.
Thomas is looking for a sweep.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thomas is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Thomas gets a takedown into half guard.
Thomas wants to control but Tate is keeping him busy.
Tate is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thomas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thomas's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas manages to reverse the position and now he's in Tate's guard. Nice work there by Thomas.

Tate throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Tate keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looking to sit in guard and control but Tate gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tate with a nice head shot there.

Thomas has his foot on Tate's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tate works his way back into a safe position though.
Thomas with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Tate can't handle though.
Tate preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tate trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tate wanted to stand there but Thomas had control of the position.
Thomas is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tate wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Tate slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Thomas manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tate wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lee Thomas will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Thomas moves into the clinch.
Thomas can't break the clinch.
Tate tries to pull guard but Thomas won't allow it.
Thomas landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tate gets underhooks to prevent Thomas's takedown attempt.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Thomas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Thomas tries to clinch up

and Tate counters with a shoot takedown. Thomas fights it but they end up in guard.
Tate trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Thomas manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thomas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Thomas sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Thomas won't allow Tate to sweep him here.

Tate working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thomas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thomas manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thomas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tate lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thomas!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Thomas defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Tate.
Tate unloads with some shots from mount but Thomas bucks and avoids them well.
Thomas squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Tate lands a big shot there that rocks Thomas but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Thomas regains half guard.
Thomas has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tate is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas has a hand on Tate's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Tate takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

Tate wants to finish this one by submission but Thomas is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Tate.
Thomas tries to hold on but Tate postures up.
Tate can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thomas is looking to escape.
Tate lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thomas is desperately trying to improve his position but Tate has a good base and remains in mount.
Thomas is working hard here to advance position.

Tate working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Thomas keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Terrence Tate.
I think Tate has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Terrence Tate!