PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Long Lang (ranked 24887 p4p, 19436 weight class) and Jax Thomas (ranked 732 p4p, 760 weight class). Jax Thomas 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!

Lang
vs
Thomas

183 cm
19
225
4 - 8 - 0

175 cm
38
225
37 - 25 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Long Lang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jax Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas gets a takedown into half guard.

Thomas stands up from half guard.

Thomas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Thomas stands up out of the half guard.

Thomas drives through with a takedown into Lang's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Lang is working an open guard so Thomas takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lang shoots in looking for a takedown. Thomas tries to sprawl out of it but Lang keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thomas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lang misses with a takedown attempt - Thomas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lang definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Thomas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Thomas decides to stand and escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lang!

Thomas decides to stand back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lang is defended easily by Thomas.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Long Lang. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thomas shoots in and gets a takedown into Lang's guard.

Thomas decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Lang tries to score a power double leg takedown but Thomas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lang somewhat.
Lang is breathing heavily.

Thomas shoots in and gets a takedown into Lang's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lang is working an open guard so Thomas takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Thomas shoots in and bounces Lang off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Thomas stands up and waves to Lang to follow him.

Thomas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Thomas stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Lang to get to his feet.

Thomas gets the takedown into side control.

Thomas decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Thomas throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lang tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Thomas is in Lang's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Thomas 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.
Thomas looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Thomas stands up from Lang's guard - Thomas perhaps looking for a knockout.

Lang tries to sprawl but Thomas drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Thomas escapes and gets back to his feet.

Thomas shoots in and gets a takedown into Lang's guard.
Lang looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Thomas stands up from Lang's guard - Thomas perhaps looking for a knockout.

Thomas shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lang's guard.

Thomas stands up and waves to Lang to follow him.

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 gets the takedown into side control.

Thomas decides to stand up, so the ref orders Lang to his feet.
Jax Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thomas throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lang was covering up waiting for the punch and Thomas finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Lang is working an open guard so Thomas takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Lang enables Thomas to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Lang manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Lang is working an open guard so Thomas takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Lang gets caught flat footed, as Thomas shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Thomas gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Thomas looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Thomas decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jax Thomas dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thomas shoots in and bounces Lang off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Thomas stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Thomas is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lang's half guard.

Thomas decides to return to a standing position.

Thomas drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Thomas decides to stand up, so the ref orders Lang to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thomas.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Thomas has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Thomas throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lang tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Thomas is in Lang's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Thomas looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lang!

Thomas stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Thomas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Lang to the mat! Lang manages to get full guard.

Thomas gets to his feet - Lang follows without any prompting.

Thomas dives in and scores a takedown into Lang's guard.

Thomas stands up and waves to Lang to follow him.

Thomas closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lang did well to prevent Thomas getting side control.

Thomas decides to stand and escape the position.
Lang dives in and grabs Thomas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thomas pushes down on Lang's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lang manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Thomas gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Thomas gets the takedown into side control.

Thomas stands up.

Thomas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Thomas stands up and beckons Lang to his feet.

Thomas fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Lang to the ground. Thomas is now in Lang's guard.

Thomas stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Lang is looking to clinch but Thomas is avoiding it.

Thomas shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lang's guard.

Thomas stands up from Lang's guard - Thomas perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lang looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Thomas gets to his feet - Lang follows without any prompting.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Thomas stands up out of the half guard.

Lang tries to sprawl but Thomas drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Thomas stands up and beckons Lang to join him on the feet.

Thomas shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Lang manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Lang is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Thomas gets to his feet - Lang follows without any prompting.

Thomas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lang sprawls well initially but Thomas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Lang has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thomas is working away from the top position though.

Thomas decides to stand up.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Thomas was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Thomas decides to stand up, so the ref orders Lang to his feet.

Thomas scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jax Thomas 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Thomas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lang pushes Thomas away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Thomas gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Thomas decides to stand back up.

Thomas scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lang can't do much from the bottom here.

Thomas decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Thomas gets a 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!

Thomas decides to stand up.

Thomas closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lang quickly recovers to half guard.

Thomas gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lang's half guard.
Lang is looking for a sweep. Thomas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Thomas stands up from half guard.

Thomas 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.
Lang is trying to control the position but Thomas postures up.

Thomas stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lang trying to control the position.

Thomas stands and steps away. Lang gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Thomas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lang sprawls well initially but Thomas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Thomas decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Lang wriggles free and stands up.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thomas drives through with a takedown into guard.

Thomas stands up and waves to Lang to follow him.

Thomas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Lang sneaks out the side door and pushes Thomas away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Thomas gets a takedown into half guard.

Thomas stands up and beckons Lang to join him on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Thomas stands up and beckons Lang to his feet.

Thomas scores with a takedown into Lang's guard.

Thomas stands up from Lang's guard - Thomas perhaps looking for a knockout.

Thomas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lang sprawls well initially but Thomas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Thomas escapes and gets back to his feet.

Thomas closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lang quickly recovers to half guard.

Thomas gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Thomas throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Lang tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Thomas is in Lang's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lang is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Thomas gets to his feet - Lang follows without any prompting.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Thomas decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Thomas looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Lang is working an open guard so Thomas takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Thomas gets a takedown into half guard.
Lang is trying to control but can't.
Craig Long Lang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Thomas decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jax Thomas.
Well Thomas 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jax Thomas!
During a confident post fight interview, Jax Thomas thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.