PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lee Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Dwyer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Lee Thomas has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Lee Thomas seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Thomas
vs
Dwyer

187 cm
22
220 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

190 cm
22
212 lbs
3 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lee Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Dwyer!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Dwyer jumps into guard, dragging Thomas to the mat.
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.
Dwyer working a defensive guard here.
Dwyer striking off his back but it's not causing Thomas any problems.
Thomas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dwyer 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.
Dwyer has Thomas pulled in close to control his posture.
Thomas won't allow Dwyer to get back to his feet.
Thomas is fighting to break Dwyer's control of his arms but Dwyer is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dwyer controls Thomas momentarily but Thomas frees himself.
Dwyer looking for a sweep. Not yet Dwyer, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Thomas shoots for a double leg takedown but Dwyer sprawls well. He's pushed Thomas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thomas is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dwyer misses with a two punch combination.

Dwyer feints and as Thomas raises his hands in defense, Dwyer changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dwyer 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.
Dwyer landing some decent shots from guard.

Dwyer is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Dwyer wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Thomas thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Dwyer controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dwyer wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.

Dwyer stands up and waves to Thomas to follow him.

Thomas darts in and clinches Dwyer up against the cage.

Dwyer pulls guard.
Dwyer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dwyer is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas has his hands on Dwyer's head, controlling the position.
Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dwyer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Thomas looking to control.
Dwyer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.

Thomas looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Dwyer passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dwyer is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Thomas keeping full guard, as Dwyer tries to pass.

Dwyer drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Thomas manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dwyer has Thomas in his guard.
Dwyer controlling Thomas's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Dwyer dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Dwyer darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Dwyer is trying to work for a kimura but Thomas is defending well.

Dwyer stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Thomas tries to clinch up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dwyer displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dwyer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thomas but Thomas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thomas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Some wild striking there from Dwyer.
Dwyer looks for a takedown but Thomas sprawls well.
Lee Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Dwyer.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dwyer throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
Dwyer wants to clinch up but Thomas keeps it at a distance.

That's two 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.

Dwyer looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Thomas!
Dwyer lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thomas hang on?
Dwyer looking to control but Thomas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thomas is desperately trying to improve his position but Dwyer has a good base and remains in mount.
Thomas wants to hold on but Dwyer pushes him away.
Dwyer landing strikes from the mount and Thomas is in trouble!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dwyer tries to control but Thomas wriggling away.

Dwyer looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas regains half guard.
Dwyer tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Thomas taking some punishment here, with Dwyer in his half guard.
Thomas trying to control but Dwyer postures up.
Dwyer thows a huge punch but Thomas dodges it nicely.
Thomas won't allow Dwyer to pass to mount.
Dwyer controlling the action here.
Dwyer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thomas keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Dwyer escapes and gets back to his feet.
Dwyer shoots in looking for a takedown. Thomas tries to sprawl out of it but Dwyer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thomas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dwyer shoots in and drives through. Thomas sprawls well.
Dwyer fails with the takedown.
Dwyer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thomas pinned against the cage. Thomas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dwyer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomas defends it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Dwyer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Thomas misses with a takedown attempt

and Dwyer counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Dwyer decides to return to a standing position.

Dwyer scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nice strikes from Dwyer there.
Dwyer wants to stand up but Thomas is controlling the position.
Thomas tries to roll over but Dwyer keeps him under control.
Thomas trying to control here.
Thomas is not content to let Dwyer control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dwyer is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is trying to maintain the position but Dwyer is very close to passing his half guard.
Thomas is looking to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Dwyer with a poor takedown
and Thomas counters with a series of strikes. Dwyer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lee Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dwyer with a poor takedown

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dwyer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dwyer looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Thomas puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Dwyer looks like he's trying to stand up.

Thomas stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas slaps away a takedown attempt from Dwyer, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lee Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Dwyer.
Dwyer has his takedown stuffed

and Thomas counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Dwyer looking for a guillotine here but Thomas defends easily.

Thomas drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Dwyer dives on top into guard.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is looking to stand up but Dwyer isn't so interested in that idea.
Thomas trying to control the position.
Dwyer has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Thomas is proving hard to escape from.
Dwyer trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Dwyer looking to pass the guard.
Dwyer wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.

That's four 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dwyer tries for a takedown but Thomas circles away easily

and Thomas counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dwyer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Dwyer escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thomas gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dwyer manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thomas manages to get himself to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dwyer trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Lee Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Dwyer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Thomas is working an open guard so Dwyer takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lee Thomas showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dwyer has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Dwyer!