PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bert Ernie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bert Ernie had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Ernie
vs
Thomas

179 cm
23
138 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

175 cm
25
135 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Golden supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Bert Ernie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Atkins and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas has managed to clinch.
Thomas wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thomas tries to pull guard but Ernie won't allow it.
Ernie drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Thomas has clasped his hands together around Ernie's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Ernie is trying to get back to half guard.
Thomas cracks Ernie with a big right hand but Ernie just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Ernie is looking to regain half guard here but Thomas keeps moving and retains side control.
Thomas trying to control the action but Ernie is working from the bottom.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas decides to stand back up.
Ernie fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt

and Ernie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Thomas is looking to stand up but Ernie isn't so interested in that idea.

Ernie has gone for a leg lock! Thomas slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ernie's guard.
Ernie is breathing heavily.
Thomas keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ernie's head.

Ernie working for a triangle but Thomas defends it easily.
Thomas passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Ernie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thomas pulls his head out easily.
Thomas takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ernie wants to improve his position but Thomas is controlling well.

Thomas stands up from half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Thomas forces Ernie back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas pulls guard effortlessly.

Ernie 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 Ernie has Thomas in his guard.

Thomas gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ernie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bert Ernie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Thomas.

Thomas has one foot on Ernie's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Ernie with a poor takedown

and Thomas counters by clinching up.
Thomas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ernie has Thomas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Thomas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas leaning against his opponent.
Ernie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thomas smiles and moves away.

Thomas instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas goes for a takedown attempt but Ernie pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ernie has his takedown stuffed

and Thomas counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ernie's guard now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Ernie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas stands up over Ernie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Thomas landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Thomas 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 tries for a takedown but Thomas circles away easily

and Thomas counters with a shoot takedown. Ernie fights it but they end up in guard.
Ernie has a closed guard, preventing Thomas from standing up.
Thomas content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Thomas trying to control but Ernie is working from the bottom.
Ernie on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ernie tries to get out of the position.
Thomas lands a couple of elbows.

Ernie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thomas slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ernie wants to control but Thomas postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ernie is not content to let Thomas control the position.
Ernie manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Thomas drops an elbow to the side of Ernie's head.
Paul Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Thomas lands a nice short elbow.

Ernie looking for subs from the bottom but Thomas mounts him!
Thomas lands a big shot there that rocks Ernie but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Thomas landing strikes from the mount.
Thomas wants to control the pace but Ernie is squirming around nicely.
Thomas content just to control the position here.
Thomas punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ernie is desperately trying to improve his position but Thomas has a good base and remains in mount.
Thomas trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thomas landing strikes from the mount and Ernie is in trouble!
Ernie can't escape the position.
Thomas lands a nice shot to the head.
Thomas with shots to the head and body - Ernie looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernie takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Thomas prevents Ernie from getting the reversal.
Thomas in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Ernie working to try and regain half guard.
Thomas is landing with some decent strikes but Ernie is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Thomas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thomas can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ernie is looking to escape.
Ernie is in all sorts of trouble here.

Thomas is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ernie has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ernie!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ernie wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ernie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Ernie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Thomas dives on top into guard.
Ernie has momentary wrist control but Thomas slips an elbow through the middle.
Thomas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ernie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thomas content to stall in guard here.
Ernie has a closed guard, preventing Thomas from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Ernie's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ernie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

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

Ernie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thomas passes into side control.

Thomas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ernie has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ernie gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Ernie 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 jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ernie is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ernie and Thomas has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ernie tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ernie is trying to strike from the bottom but Thomas has passed into full mount.
Ernie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Thomas sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Thomas landing punches.
Ernie wants to hold on but Thomas pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ernie is bucking up trying to escape but Thomas cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Ernie is trying to escape the mount.
Ernie bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Thomas wants to sweep but no luck.
Thomas throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Thomas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ernie 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 Ernie has Thomas in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.

Thomas is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Ernie can't fight it off and eventually Thomas manages to take the fight to the floor. Ernie looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Ernie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Thomas stands up over Ernie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Thomas chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas pushing down on Ernie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Thomas keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Ernie is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thomas pulls his head out easily.
Ernie throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Thomas content to control rather than advance.

Ernie looking for submissions off his back.
Thomas keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Thomas really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thomas fails with the takedown

so Ernie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but Ernie is proving a slippery customer.

Ernie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Thomas dives on top into guard.

Thomas avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Thomas gets to his feet. Ernie looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A head kick misses from Thomas.
Paul Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Thomas closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ernie did well to prevent Thomas getting side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas wants to stand up but Ernie is controlling the position.
Ernie works his way to full guard. Good work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ernie is on top in guard.

Ernie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Thomas looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Thomas looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Thomas!
Ernie tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Thomas has hold of Ernie's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Ernie seems comfortable defending it but Thomas has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Ernie is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Ernie is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Thomas couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Paul Thomas!