PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Thomas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smith
vs
Thomas

225 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thomas misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Smith manages to get underhooks.

Smith manages to pull guard.
Smith wants to stand and escape but Thomas is having none of it.
Smith trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Smith looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thomas passes into side control.
Smith is trying to control Thomas's posture but Thomas avoids it.
Smith is trying to buck Thomas off.

Thomas stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Smith there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Thomas was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Thomas looking to control but Smith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Smith wants to hold on but Thomas pushes him away.
Thomas breaks from Smith's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Smith is in all sorts of trouble here.
Thomas lands a big shot there that rocks Smith but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Thomas lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Smith hang on?
Smith is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Smith tries to hold on but Thomas pushes him away.
Thomas wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.
Thomas lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

It looks like Sam Smith has been cut.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Thomas lands a nice shot to the head.

Thomas is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thomas avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sam Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet.
Thomas shoots in for a double leg but Smith sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Smith fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Thomas checks it well.
Thomas wants to land a leg kick but Smith is out of range.
Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Smith counters with a nice body kick.

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.
Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.

Thomas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Smith is trying to break free.

Thomas pulls guard effortlessly.
Smith slips nicely into half guard.
Smith trying to control the pace.
Thomas trying to control here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Thomas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sam Smith's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Thomas tries to clinch up.
Sam Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Smith but Smith pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Thomas trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thomas's guard.
Thomas is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Thomas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Thomas can do anything to dispel that myth.
Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Thomas controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
Smith trying to move into half guard but instead Thomas has managed to sweep!

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

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith trying to control the position.
Smith is looking to sweep but instead, Thomas has passed into half guard.
Smith moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith controls Thomas momentarily but Thomas frees himself.
Smith has control of Thomas's left arm, preventing Thomas from doing any damage.
Smith wants to stand up but Thomas is controlling him.

That's four 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.

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

Thomas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smith to the mat! Smith manages to get full guard.
Thomas has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Smith is proving hard to escape from.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thomas content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Thomas stands up and waves to Smith to follow him.
Smith throws a leg kick that is checked

and Thomas counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sam Smith's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Thomas tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Smith stands and throws Thomas's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Thomas is looking for a sweep.
Smith wants to control but Thomas is keeping him busy.

Thomas throws Smith to one side and escapes!
Smith doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Thomas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Smith gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Smith controls Thomas momentarily but Thomas frees himself.
Smith has his hands on Thomas's head, controlling the position.
Smith 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.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.

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.
Thomas stops Smith from standing up.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thomas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Thomas!
Thomas wants to control but Smith is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to control but Thomas wriggling away.
Thomas is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smith sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Smith looking to control but Thomas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smith looking to finish with strikes here!

That's four 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.
Thomas is desperately trying to improve his position but Smith has a good base and remains in mount.
Thomas is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Smith tries to control but Thomas wriggling away.
Thomas is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Thomas sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thomas 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Thomas!