PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paul Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bert Ernie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Thomas
vs
Ernie

175 cm
24
135 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

179 cm
22
135 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Golden supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Thomas!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Bert Ernie!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ernie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Paul Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ernie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thomas sprawls well. Thomas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ernie gets slowly back to his feet.
Thomas really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.

Thomas ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Thomas no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Ernie pushing down on Thomas's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ernie looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.
Thomas is trying to stand back up but Ernie is controlling him
Ernie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thomas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Thomas wants to control but Ernie is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thomas is trying to stand up here but Ernie is controlling him well.
Thomas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Ernie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ernie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Thomas, who protects the arm well.
Ernie working away.

Ernie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ernie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Thomas knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Thomas tries to improve position but can't.

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.
Ernie is looking to take a break and control but Thomas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thomas wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Thomas sneaks back into half guard.

Thomas looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Ernie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Ernie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thomas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ernie.

Ernie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Thomas defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thomas scores with a body shot.
Ernie misses with a takedown attempt - Thomas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Paul Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bert Ernie.
Thomas with a poor takedown

and Ernie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Ernie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ernie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ernie looks gassed!
Ernie throwing strikes but missing.
Ernie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas striking from the bottom.
Thomas looking to control.
Ernie wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Thomas throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Thomas has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ernie off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

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

Ernie wants to work for an arm triangle but Thomas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Ernie is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thomas has managed to free his arm - good work.

Ernie is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bert Ernie dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ernie takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Thomas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ernie takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Thomas cracks Ernie with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Ernie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ernie taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BOOM! Thomas connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ernie tries to hold on but Thomas postures up.
Ernie gets back to half guard.
Ernie is breathing heavily.

Ernie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Ernie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thomas is keen to just control but Ernie is a slippery customer.
Ground and pound from Thomas.

Ernie actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ernie taking some punishment here, with Thomas in his half guard.

Ernie actively working from the bottom here.

Ernie actively working from the bottom here.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ernie keeps working.
Ernie on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Thomas lands strikes from half guard.
Thomas seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Ernie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ernie trying to hold on to Thomas's head to control him but Thomas postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Thomas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ernie is fending him off so far but Thomas persists. Nope, Ernie circles away and we're back to standing.

Ernie shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ernie showed some decent athleticism there.

Ernie is working for a kimura but Thomas is defending it quite comfortably.
Thomas is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ernie's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ernie's back!

Thomas is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ernie trying to control the action but Thomas just sinks the hooks in.
Thomas is looking to control Ernie but Ernie is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Thomas is not going to allow Ernie to sit and survive in this position.
Thomas lands shots from the back.
Ernie rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Ernie wants to improve his position but Thomas is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Thomas dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ernie tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Thomas counters with a single leg into guard. Ernie didn't expect that.

Ernie is looking for a triangle here but Thomas uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Ernie tries to improve position but can't.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ernie can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ernie throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Bert Ernie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thomas trying to control the action but Ernie is working from the bottom.
Thomas advances to full mount.
Ernie working to try and regain half guard.
Ernie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas wants to control the pace but Ernie is squirming around nicely.
Ernie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Thomas lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ernie hang on?
Ernie working to try and regain half guard.
Ernie swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Ernie is trying to escape the mount.
Thomas raining down shots from the mount!
Ernie is trying to escape the mount.

That's two 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.
Ernie is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ernie tries to lock up and control but Thomas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Thomas tries to control but Ernie wriggling away.
Ernie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Thomas landing strikes from the mount.
Thomas trying to control but Ernie is having none of it.
Thomas cracks Ernie with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernie flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Thomas lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Ernie keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Thomas wants to control the pace but Ernie is squirming around nicely.
Ernie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ernie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Thomas postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ernie looks a forlorn figure.
Ernie working to try and regain half guard.
Thomas lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Thomas landing punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ernie is working to get back to half guard.
Thomas trying to control but Ernie is having none of it.
Ernie is trying desperately to improve position.
Thomas tries to control but Ernie wriggling away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Thomas cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Thomas looking to control but Ernie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thomas is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Thomas clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ernie circles away from the clinch attempt.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ernie punching from the bottom.
Thomas is trying to control the action in half guard but Ernie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ernie wants to control but Thomas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ernie flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Ernie actively working from the bottom here.
Thomas wants to take a breather but Ernie is having none of it.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thomas tries to bum rush Ernie with a series of wild strikes but Ernie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ernie fails with the takedown

and Thomas counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thomas.
Ernie has Thomas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Thomas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Come on Thomas - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ernie prevents the takedown attempt.
Thomas gets underhooks to prevent Ernie's takedown attempt.
Paul Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bert Ernie.
Ernie misses with a body punch.

Thomas jumps into guard, dragging Ernie to the mat.
Ernie postures up in Thomas's guard and throws a big left but Thomas blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ernie pushing down on Thomas's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Thomas is refusing to be controlled, as Ernie sits in half guard.
Thomas tries to kick Ernie off but Ernie keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ernie is trying to control. Thomas wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Ernie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ernie wants to take a breather but Thomas is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ernie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thomas counters with a stiff right hand.

Thomas scores a takedown into full mount!
Thomas can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ernie is looking to escape.
Thomas landing strikes from the mount and Ernie is in trouble!
Thomas lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Thomas prevents Ernie from getting the reversal.
Ernie sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Ernie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to control but Ernie is keeping him busy.

Ernie looking for submissions off his back.
Thomas trying to control from half guard but Ernie is working away.

Ernie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ernie is looking to get back to full guard here but Thomas has managed to pass to side control instead.
A nice elbow there by Thomas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Thomas had his way with Bert Ernie in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

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

Ernie actively working from the bottom here.
Thomas is thwarting Ernie's attempts to control the position.
Ernie wants to sweep but Thomas has passed to side control!
Ernie is working to avoid the ground and pound but Thomas connects with a decent elbow.
Ernie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thomas wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Ernie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Thomas lands with a punch from half guard.
Ernie is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Ernie is not content to let Thomas control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ernie trying to hold on to Thomas's head to control him but Thomas postures up.
Ernie wants to improve his position but Thomas is controlling well.

Ernie actively working from the bottom here.
Thomas has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

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

Ernie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thomas defends well.
Thomas passes Ernie's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ernie with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ernie works his way to full guard. Good work.

Thomas stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Ernie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thomas to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Ernie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Ernie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ernie looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Thomas puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Ernie actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas moves nicely into side control.
Ernie throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Thomas working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Ernie throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Thomas working away.
Thomas trying to control the action but Ernie is working from the bottom.

Thomas decides to stand back up.
Ernie closes the distance and clinches up with Thomas, looking for a takedown. Ernie pushes Thomas against the cage but Thomas circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Ernie circles away easily

and Ernie counters with a shoot takedown. Thomas fights it but they end up in guard.
Ernie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thomas is pulling down on Ernie's head. It's preventing any offense from Ernie, at least for the moment.
Thomas looking to control.
Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Thomas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ernie trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Thomas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thomas has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 49:46
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 49:46
Judge William Gold scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Thomas!
Paul Thomas is the new bantamweight champion!