PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jax Thomas (ranked 18436 p4p, 23352 weight class) and William Tate (ranked 583 p4p, 590 weight class). Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. William Tate will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Thomas
vs
Tate

175 cm
47
211
56 - 35 - 0

180 cm
28
210
10 - 29 - 2

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 56 - 35 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jax Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 29 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, William Tate!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tate displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Jax Thomas has been cut.

Thomas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Tate is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Tate tries to bench press Thomas off him but Thomas keeps the position.
Tate looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Thomas decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Tate wants to clinch but Thomas slips to the side

and Thomas counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
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!
Tate wants to control but Thomas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thomas slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tate is trying to get back to full guard.
Thomas slows the pace down in half guard.
Thomas is nestled in close to Tate, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Thomas controlling the pace.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Tate wants to get back to full guard.
Thomas is thwarting Tate's attempts to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Tate lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thomas backs up against the cage.

Thomas closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Tate quickly recovers to half guard.
Tate pushes Thomas off looking to stand but Thomas dives back in and keeps control.
Tate trying to control from the bottom.
Tate won't allow Thomas to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thomas is working away from the top position though.
Thomas tries to pass to full mount but Tate defends it.
Thomas is taking a breather. Tate says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Tate avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thomas.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Some wild striking there from Tate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tate tries to close the distance and clinch but Thomas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
William Tate is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tate throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Thomas could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Tate shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Thomas eats them both and turns towards Tate to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Tate tries to clinch but Thomas is having none of it.
Tate tries to clinch up but Thomas circles away and keeps his distance.
Tate is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thomas looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Tate scores with a hook to the body. Thomas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thomas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Tate misses with a series of wild punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

William Tate dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jax Thomas's cut.
That's time! Thomas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tate uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Thomas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tate moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thomas takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Tate lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thomas backs up against the cage.
The crowd cheers as Tate lands an impressive looking overhand right. Thomas doesn't seem phased though.

Tate tries to keep at a distance but Thomas has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tate tries to pull guard but Thomas holds him up against the cage and eventually Tate drops back down to his feet.
Tate tries to pull guard but Thomas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Tate has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tate is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Thomas to keep the fight standing.
Jax Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Tate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate can't get the takedown.
Tate wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Tate is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Thomas gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Thomas has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tate uses from the top position.
Thomas has his hands on Tate's head, controlling the position.
Tate stops Thomas from standing up.
Tate must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thomas wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tate trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tate wants to get up but he can't break Thomas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Tate from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Thomas drops his hands momentarily and Tate takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Tate tries to clinch

and Thomas decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tate's guard.
Tate really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thomas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Thomas is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tate is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tate looking for a sweep. Not yet Tate, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Thomas slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Thomas won't allow Tate to sweep him here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Tate is retaining full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tate scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tate tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As Tate tries to get set, Thomas tries to push him back and clinch up but Tate manages to avoid the attempt.
Tate tries to close the distance and clinch but Thomas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tate scores with a sloppy right hand. Thomas should have avoided that one.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

William Tate showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jax Thomas's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tate digs a good hook to Thomas's body.
Tate fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jax Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Tate, as that shot connected.

Thomas looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Tate!
Thomas wants to control but Tate is keeping him busy.
Tate is trying to control Thomas's posture but Thomas avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tate keeps working.
Thomas sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Tate is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Tate is trying to control Thomas's posture but Thomas avoids it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Thomas decides to stand back up.
Tate ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tate with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate tries to clinch but Thomas is having none of it.
Tate moves in looking to clinch but Thomas pushes him off.
It looked like Thomas wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tate is looking to clinch.
Tate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tate misses with a two punch combination.
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomas appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Donk. Tate catches Thomas right on the button with a cross.
Thomas is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tate sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tate lands with a straight right. Thomas didn't see that one coming.
Thomas has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tate works over Thomas's head and body with a nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Tate catches Thomas right on the button with a cross.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Thomas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Thomas advances to half guard.
Thomas stalling.
Tate tries to roll over but Thomas keeps him under control.
Thomas works his way into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tate is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Tate is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Tate tries to bench press Thomas off him but Thomas keeps the position.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tate keeps working.
Jax Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
William Tate is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tate wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

And that's the end of the fight!
William Tate comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tate 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

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