PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Russel Bell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joshua Thomas will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bell
vs
Thomas

190 cm
21
165 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

175 cm
19
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Russel Bell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joshua Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, John Mangel and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bell shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bell was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bell tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Bell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bell prevents Thomas from getting the reversal.
Bell takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Thomas gets back to half guard.
Well, if Bell 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.
Bell tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thomas knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Thomas trying to hold on to Bell's head to control him but Bell postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is doing well to control the position and prevent Bell from advancing to side control.
Bell looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Thomas is trying to control but can't.
Bell controlling the pace.
Thomas manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Bell controlling him for the moment.
Thomas wants to stand up but Bell is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bell stopping the sweep attempt from Thomas.
Bell is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bell trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas seems keen to control Bell's posture.
Bell wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bell shoots in and drives through. Thomas sprawls well.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is trying to stand.
Bell sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bell is breathing heavily.
Bell punishing his opponent with strikes.
Bell content just to control the position here.
Thomas sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Bell is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bell tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Bell is looking to stall here but Thomas recovers full guard.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thomas wants to stand but Bell is controlling the position.
Thomas trying to control the position.
Thomas is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Thomas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bell is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russel Bell dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bell tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thomas swivels and escapes.
Bell has a takedown stuffed.
Thomas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bell moves away.
Bell uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thomas.
Some wild striking there from Thomas.
Bell takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Thomas lands a hook that stumbles Bell back into the cage. Thomas follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping Bell to the canvas! Thomas pounces and lands several unanswered shots - Bell has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Joshua Thomas!