PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and tiago richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Thomas
vs
richards

170 cm
23
172 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

185 cm
21
165 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

EFC Clothing

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Urijah Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, tiago richards!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from richards. No joy for Thomas on that attempt.
Thomas fails to land the takedown.
Thomas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but richards swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas tries for a takedown but richards sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
richards defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thomas.
Nice takedown defense from richards. No joy for Thomas on that attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thomas is defended easily by richards.
richards leaves Thomas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
richards throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
richards defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thomas.
Thomas tries for a takedown but richards sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.

richards pushes Thomas up against the cage in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by richards as Thomas tries to tie him up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas has had enough of the clinch but richards keeps him there for the moment.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but richards blocks it.
Thomas with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thomas is breathing heavily.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
richards throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
richards tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - richards looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thomas looks for a takedown but richards sprawls well.
richards tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thomas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No luck for Thomas with that takedown attempt.
Thomas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has richards pinned against the cage. richards gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

richards shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
richards wanted to stand there but Thomas had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thomas has a closed guard, preventing richards from standing up.
Thomas working a defensive guard here.
richards is stalling in the full guard.
richards wanted to stand there but Thomas had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt
and richards counters with a series of strikes. Thomas will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nice jab there from richards.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt
and richards counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
richards misses with a head kick.
richards will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thomas with a poor takedown
and richards counters with a stiff right hand.
Thomas shoots and misses
and richards counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
richards is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
richards throws a combination. Thomas tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
richards throws a series of punches but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas has his takedown stuffed
letting richards counter with a right hand.
Thomas with a poor takedown
and richards counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
richards fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
richards throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
richards is looking to chop away at Thomas's legs.
Thomas tries for a takedown but richards circles away easily

and richards counters with a shoot takedown. Thomas fights it but they end up in 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!
Thomas is pulling down on richards's head. It's preventing any offense from richards, at least for the moment.
richards postures up.
Thomas has richards pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

tiago richards dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thomas misses with a takedown
and richards counters with a stiff right hand.
richards cracks Thomas with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Thomas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Thomas wants to control but richards is keeping him busy.
richards is looking to regain half guard here but Thomas keeps moving and retains side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas just content to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Urijah Thomas just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Thomas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and richards counters with a lovely straight right hand!
richards looks to land a combination but Thomas avoids it well.
Thomas tries for a takedown but richards circles away easily
enabling richards to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
richards swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thomas tries for a takedown but richards circles away easily
and richards counters with a one-two to the body.
Thomas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and richards moves into the clinch.
richards wants to break free but Thomas has control.
Thomas looking to stall.
Thomas can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. richards just stands there and leans against the cage.

richards has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Thomas uses from the top position.
Thomas looking to sit in guard and control but richards gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
richards slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
richards stopping the sweep attempt from Thomas.
Thomas working a defensive guard here.
richards trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to sweep here but richards controlling him for the moment.
richards trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Thomas holds on and takes a little breather.
Thomas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Well, if Thomas is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Thomas passes to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas controlling from the full mount.
richards is working to get back to half guard.
Thomas controlling his opponent.
Thomas has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
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 Urijah Thomas will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Thomas tries to move into range but richards moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

richards closes the distance and clinches.
Nice body punch from Thomas - that landed with a thud.
richards tries to break free but Thomas pushes him back against the cage.

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

Thomas shoots in and bounces richards off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Thomas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. richards is keeping the position for now.
Thomas works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thomas sitting and controlling from the half guard.
richards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Urijah Thomas just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Thomas shoots and misses

and richards counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Thomas!
Thomas tries to reverse the position but richards maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Thomas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
richards keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
richards keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but richards is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
richards trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
richards keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

richards gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thomas to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Thomas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Thomas won't allow richards to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looking to pass the guard.
Thomas wants to control from the top but richards keeps moving.
richards keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.
richards looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thomas is one step ahead there.
Thomas pushing down on richards's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Still in half guard, Thomas seems content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Urijah Thomas showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thomas has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Urijah Thomas!