PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Thatcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julian Gomez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Thatcher
vs
Gomez

177 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
22
164 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Transformer Supplements

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Thatcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Julian Gomez!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thatcher tries a head kick but it misses.
Gomez throws a jab when Thatcher was well out of range.
Gomez tries for a takedown but Thatcher sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thatcher looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thatcher will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thatcher tries to bum rush Gomez with a series of wild strikes but Gomez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thatcher misses with a two punch combination.
Gomez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gomez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Thatcher doesn't seem bothered though.
Thatcher throws a series of punches but Gomez moves out of range.
Gomez misses the shot to the body.
Thatcher swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thatcher misses with a few strikes there.

Gomez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Thatcher trying to remain calm as Gomez controls from the top position.
Gomez scoring with punches from side control.
Gomez lands a nice forearm strike.
Gomez looking to control but instead Thatcher has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thatcher actively working from the bottom here.
Thatcher is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez uses his free foot to push down on Thatcher's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Thatcher.
Gomez lands a big elbow.
Gomez scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Thatcher?
Gomez unloading with bombs!
Gomez fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Gomez putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Gomez is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Thatcher can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gomez prevents Thatcher from getting the reversal.
Gomez unloading with bombs!
Gomez in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gomez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Thatcher in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Thatcher is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Thatcher keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gomez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gomez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gomez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Thatcher's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thatcher keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Thatcher is squirming around, avoiding Gomez's attempts to control the action.
Thatcher is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gomez working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Thatcher keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Gomez with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Gomez punishing his opponent with strikes.
Thatcher is bucking up trying to escape but Gomez cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Gomez putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thatcher can't escape the position.
Gomez is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Gomez trying to control but Thatcher is having none of it.
Gomez connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Gomez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Thatcher regains half guard.
Thatcher gets full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gomez trying to control the position from guard on top but Thatcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Thatcher working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gomez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gomez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gomez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thatcher is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gomez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gomez jumps guard but Thatcher stands there with Gomez around his waist. Gomez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gomez tries to score a body lock takedown but Thatcher shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Thatcher breaks from the clinch.
Gomez misses with a combination
and Thatcher counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thatcher fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Gomez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Gomez is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Thatcher!
Gomez tries to control but Thatcher wriggling away.
Gomez controlling the pace for now.
Thatcher is squirming around, avoiding Gomez's attempts to control the action.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thatcher is trying to escape the mount.
Gomez unloading with bombs!
Thatcher can't escape the position.
Gomez lands a big elbow.
Thatcher is working to get back to half guard.
Gomez controlling the pace for now.
Gomez landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gomez is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Thatcher can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Thatcher is trying desperately to improve position.
Gomez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thatcher hang on?
Gomez looking to finish Thatcher with some ground and pound. This is bad for Thatcher!
Gomez controlling the position easily from mount.
Thatcher tries to improve his position but instead Gomez has taken his back!
Thatcher is trapped and Gomez is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Gomez controlling well, preventing Thatcher from escaping the position.
Thatcher manages to reverse the position and now he's in Gomez's guard. Nice work there by Thatcher.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gomez is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thatcher had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gomez is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Thatcher Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gomez's back instead.
You can see the frustration on Gomez's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Thatcher looking for the RNC.

Gomez defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Thatcher is trying to stick to Gomez's back but Gomez is turning into Thatcher. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Thatcher's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Gomez.

Thatcher has his foot on Gomez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gomez works his way back into a safe position though.
Gomez passes Thatcher's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gomez wants to take a breather but Thatcher is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gomez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Thatcher wants to improve his position but Gomez is controlling well.
Gomez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Thatcher is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Gomez pulls his head out easily.
Thatcher wants to improve his position but Gomez is controlling well.

Thatcher looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gomez decides to stand and escape the position.
Thatcher throws a right and a left that Gomez avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Gomez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Thatcher misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gomez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Thatcher misses with a series of wild punches.
Gomez misses with an uppercut. Thatcher saw that one coming.
Thatcher keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gomez.
Gomez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Gomez moves into the clinch.
Thatcher lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gomez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thatcher smiles and moves away.
Thatcher throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Gomez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thatcher's guard now.

Gomez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Thatcher working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gomez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gomez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gomez passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Thatcher is pushing Gomez's head away, looking to escape. Gomez manages to hold on to the position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez wants to take a breather but Thatcher manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Gomez.

Thatcher looking for a guillotine here but Gomez defends easily.

Thatcher is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gomez advances to half guard.

Gomez wants to work for an arm triangle but Thatcher is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Thatcher slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Thatcher wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thatcher looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Gomez has picked Thatcher up and slammed him! Thatcher can't keep hold of the triangle and Gomez manages to pass to side control!
Gomez trying to control the position but Thatcher is working away.
Gomez is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Thatcher's shoulder. That is not cool.
Gomez wants to control but Thatcher is keeping him busy.
Gomez landing a few strikes.
Gomez is looking to take a break and control but Thatcher is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thatcher is trying to get back to half guard.
Gomez tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Thatcher is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Gomez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thatcher counters with a two punch combo.
Thatcher throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gomez lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Gomez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Thatcher counters with a combination of strikes to the head and body that crumple Gomez!

Gomez is rocked!
Julian Gomez has got the better of the ground game so far.

Thatcher stands up from half guard.
Gomez is still on wobbly legs! Can Thatcher finish him?
Thatcher throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thatcher falls off balance throwing a combination

and Gomez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thatcher's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gomez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Thatcher is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Thatcher has escaped and now he's on top!

Thatcher decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gomez, up you get!
Gomez throws an overhand right that lands on Thatcher's shoulder, as Thatcher tries to avoid the shot.
Gomez seems to have recovered his senses.

Gomez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gomez lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thatcher had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Gomez is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Thatcher Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Gomez's back instead.
Thatcher doesn't have the hooks in and Gomez manages to turn into his guard.
Thatcher wants to stand but Gomez is controlling the position.
Gomez wants to control from the top but Thatcher keeps moving.
Thatcher looking for a sweep. Not yet Thatcher, not yet.

Thatcher looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Anthony Thatcher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Thatcher throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Gomez escapes and throws Thatcher's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Thatcher tries to buck Gomez off but Gomez is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julian Gomez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Gomez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julian Gomez!