PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Josey Wales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Wales
vs
Thomas

170 cm
26
146 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

175 cm
25
135 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Josey Wales!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Donald Grub and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wales throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Josey Wales seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Wales dives in and grabs Thomas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thomas pushes down on Wales's head and hops out.
Thomas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Thomas takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Thomas gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Wales to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Wales from controlling successfully.
Thomas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wales manages to get himself to full guard.
Thomas wants to stand but Wales is controlling his posture from full guard.
Thomas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Thomas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Wales keeps moving.
Thomas won't allow Wales to get back to his feet.
Thomas throwing strikes from guard but Wales blocks nicely.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Wales keeps moving.
Wales pulls Thomas in to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Wales throws a push kick but Thomas slaps the foot to one side.
Thomas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thomas misses with a double jab.

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.
Thomas tries to clinch but Wales is having none of it.
Thomas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thomas takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Wales moves in looking to clinch but Thomas pushes him off.
Thomas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thomas with a poor takedown

and Wales moves into the clinch.
Wales controlling the action here for a moment.
Wales gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Thomas is trying to stall.

Wales breaks the clinch.
Wales throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Wales shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Thomas is trying to defend but Wales finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Thomas is looking to get back to is feet but Wales passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thomas wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Wales is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Thomas knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wales is breathing heavily.
Thomas is looking for a sweep.
Wales tries to move into full mount but can't pass Thomas's legs.
Thomas is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Wales is pressing down on Thomas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thomas is holding on for now.
Thomas has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Wales is working away from the top position though.

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.
Thomas taking some punishment here, with Wales in his half guard.
Wales is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Thomas!
Thomas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wales with a couple of short strikes.
Wales dominating with strikes here.
Thomas is trying to escape the mount.
Wales cracks Thomas with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Wales trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas is working to get back to half guard.
Wales fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josey Wales dominated that round.
That's time! Wales's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Wales takes a swing at Thomas's ribcage but misses.
Thomas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A slow jab from Wales misses its intended target.
Thomas closes the distance looking to clinch

and Wales counters with a shoot takedown. Thomas fights it but they end up in guard.
Wales tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
Wales 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.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Wales controlling him for the moment.
Wales wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Wales stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Wales from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas wants to improve his position but instead Wales has moved into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas tries to roll over but Wales keeps him under control.
Thomas trying to control from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thomas fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thomas misses with a takedown

and Wales counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wales trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Wales showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Thomas is trying to control the position but Wales postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Wales from controlling successfully.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wales postures up.
Wales missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thomas looking for a sweep. Not yet Thomas, not yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Wales throws a left and a right that both miss

and Thomas counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thomas.
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 passes Wales's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Wales is trying to get back to full guard.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Wales is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a head shot. Wales uses the momentum to regain guard.
Thomas wants to stand but Wales is controlling his posture from full guard.
Thomas lands a couple of digs.
Wales keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.

That's four 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thomas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thomas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Wales circles away from the clinch attempt
and Wales counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Wales swings for the body but Thomas moves out of range.
Wales fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Thomas gets a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Wales has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Thomas is trying to keep an underhook but Wales manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Wales is thwarting Thomas's attempts to control the position.
Thomas is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josey Wales dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thomas displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wales throws out the jab.
Wales moves out of range of the body kick.
Thomas digs a good body shot into Wales's ribs.

Wales rushes Thomas and presses him up against the cage.
Wales gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Thomas.
Thomas is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Wales gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Thomas has Wales pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Wales manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Josey Wales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Thomas.
Wales lands a shot to the body.

Wales pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Wales clinches with his opponent.

Wales has hold of one of Thomas's legs. Thomas is fighting the takedown attempt but Wales gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Wales is pushing down on Thomas's leg trying to pass to half guard. Thomas is fighting to maintain full guard but Wales has managed to sneak the leg through.
Wales trying to control the action but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas is looking to control Wales's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thomas avoid being mounted?
Wales tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thomas knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas tries to get to full guard but Wales has control of the leg.

Thomas is defending against the submission attempts here by Wales.
Thomas is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Thomas looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Wales!
Thomas looking to control but Wales is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas working Wales over with strikes here.
Wales is squirming around, avoiding Thomas's attempts to control the action.
Wales is trying to escape the mount.
Thomas trying to control but Wales is having none of it.
Thomas thowing shots but they're missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wales is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Thomas looking to control but Wales is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Wales tries to hold on but Thomas postures up.
Wales is working to get back to half guard.
Thomas can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wales is looking to escape.

Thomas with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Wales wants to control but Thomas is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josey Wales clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt

and Wales counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wales passes Thomas's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Thomas wants to control but Wales is keeping busy.
Wales is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Thomas is trying to maintain the position but Wales is very close to passing his half guard.
Thomas striking from half guard on the bottom.
Josey Wales overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thomas is staying active underneath Wales, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thomas trying to control but Wales postures up.
Wales wants to free his trapped foot but Thomas is holding on for dear life with his legs.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Thomas scores with a one two! Wales had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Thomas is trying hard to land a takedown here. Wales sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thomas misses with a takedown

and Wales counters with a single leg into guard. Thomas didn't expect that.
Josey Wales has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Thomas.
Wales looking to pass the guard.
Thomas 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.
Wales trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Wales throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wales wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Thomas lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Wales!
Wales tries to hold on but Thomas pushes him away.
Thomas tries to push Wales's head away but Wales is holding on tight.
Thomas putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wales can't escape the position.
A nice elbow there by Thomas.
Wales tries to lock up and control but Thomas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Thomas thowing shots but they're missing.
Wales blocking the ground and pound.
Thomas tries to control but Wales wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Wales tries to hold on but Thomas pushes him away.
Thomas lands a big shot there that rocks Wales but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Thomas unloads with some shots from mount but Wales bucks and avoids them well.
Thomas prevents Wales from getting the reversal.
Thomas trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Thomas looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josey Wales had his way with Paul Thomas in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Wales shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Thomas napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wales prevents Thomas from escaping the position.
Thomas seems a little lost for a moment, as Wales dominates the positioning.
Thomas can't do much from the bottom here.
Wales cracks Thomas with a big elbow.
Wales advances to mount.
Wales tries to push Thomas's head away but Thomas is holding on tight.
Wales looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wales trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet.
Thomas is trying to escape the mount.
Wales lands a big shot there that rocks Thomas but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Wales working Thomas over with strikes here.
Thomas is trying to escape the mount.
Wales working the ground and pound effectively.
Wales with a couple of short strikes.

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.
Wales lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Wales lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thomas hang on?
Wales dominating with strikes here.
Thomas wants to control but Wales is having none of it.
Thomas is in all sorts of trouble here.
Thomas wants to hold on but Wales pushes him away.
Thomas manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Thomas is trying to get back to full guard.
Wales is looking to advance position but Thomas won't allow it.
Wales scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wales throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.
Wales is keen to just control but Thomas is a slippery customer.
Thomas gets back to full guard.
Wales is stalling in the full guard.
Wales wants to pass the guard but Thomas is keeping the position.
Thomas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thomas is looking to stand up but Wales isn't so interested in that idea.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Wales controlling him for the moment.
Wales postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wales is looking to work some ground and pound but Thomas has wrist control.
Josey Wales is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wales slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Wales throwing strikes but missing.

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

and Wales counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thomas won't be happy with that.
Paul Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Wales looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josey Wales showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Wales 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 50:45
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 50:45
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 50:45

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