PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Foti Vasa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Mark Thomas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thomas
vs
Vasa

185 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
18
199 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Foti Vasa!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A right-left combo lands from Vasa.

It looks like Mark Thomas has been cut.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Vasa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Vasa circles away and keeps his distance.
Foti Vasa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vasa misses with a head kick.
Vasa tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vasa walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Thomas checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Thomas moves out of range of the body kick.
Vasa misses with an attempted mid kick.

Vasa pushes Thomas up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thomas smiles and moves away.
Vasa throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Vasa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vasa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thomas circles away.
Thomas tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Vasa counters with a straight right hand.

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.
Vasa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Vasa.
Vasa misses with a kick to the body.

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

Vasa is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Thomas has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Thomas!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thomas!
Vasa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Vasa connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Vasa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas really wants to buck Vasa off and get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vasa controlling from the full mount.
Vasa with a couple of short strikes.
Vasa sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Vasa lands with some strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thomas takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Thomas tries to clinch

and Vasa counters by clinching up.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Vasa. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Vasa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thomas tries to clinch but Vasa moves away

and Vasa counters by clinching up.
Vasa is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Vasa lands a takedown into guard.
Vasa content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vasa slips nicely into half guard.

Vasa stands up out of the half guard.

That's two 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.
A combination from Vasa does no damage.
Thomas blocks the body kick.
Thomas ducks right into an uppercut from Vasa.
Vasa closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Vasa dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thomas. That did some damage!
Vasa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thomas circles away quickly and effectively.
Vasa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Vasa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Vasa lands a takedown into guard.

Vasa stands up and waves to Thomas to follow him.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Vasa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas clinches but Vasa breaks the clinch

and Vasa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Thomas gets underhooks to prevent Vasa's takedown attempt.

Vasa breaks from the clinch.
Vasa misses with a kick to the body.
Thomas tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Vasa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Foti Vasa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mark Thomas's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Thomas darts in trying to clinch

and Vasa counters by clinching up.
Vasa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Vasa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Vasa drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vasa's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas landing knees to the head.

Vasa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vasa.
Vasa throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Vasa tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thomas wants to clinch but Vasa slips to the side

and Vasa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Vasa.

That's two 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 managing to block the knees to the body from Vasa.
Vasa just leaning against Thomas, taking a breather.
Thomas putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Vasa in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Vasa manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Vasa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vasa is looking to stand up but Thomas isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasa has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Thomas has passed into side control.

Thomas working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Vasa wants to control but Thomas postures up.

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.
Vasa is trying to buck Thomas off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thomas takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Vasa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nice cross by Vasa.

And that's the end of the fight!
Foti Vasa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vasa 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Foti Vasa!