PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Thoma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Russel Feingold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thoma
vs
Feingold

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rocky Thoma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Russel Feingold!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Skip Squint and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Feingold avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thoma tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thoma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rocky Thoma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thoma tries to close the distance and clinch but Feingold swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Feingold blocks a head kick by Thoma.
Thoma could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Thoma fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thoma is looking to clinch.

Feingold moves into the clinch.

Feingold jumps guard.
Thoma preventing the sweep.
Feingold keeping moving, preventing Thoma from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Feingold trying to keep a closed guard but Thoma is proving a slippery customer.
Thoma trying to control the position from guard on top but Feingold is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thoma has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Feingold is proving hard to escape from.
Thoma has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Feingold looking for a sweep. Not yet Feingold, not yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thoma looks to clinch
and Feingold counters with a left and a right that stings Thoma.

Feingold looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Feingold wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thoma keeps working.

Feingold seems to be working for a kimura but Thoma defends the submission attempt.
Feingold with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Feingold is trying to control. Thoma wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thoma trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Feingold is trying to work for a kimura but Thoma is defending well.
Feingold trying to control the action but Thoma is working from the bottom.
Feingold looks gassed!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thoma misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Feingold fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Thoma, pushing him back against the cage.
Feingold is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Thoma gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Thoma pulls Feingold into guard.
Feingold lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Feingold passes into half guard.
Thoma controlling the position well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Feingold thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Feingold wants to work for an arm triangle but Thoma is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Thoma regains full guard. Nicely done.
Feingold throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thoma is controlling Feingold's posture.
Feingold tries to free his leg and advance position but Thoma is retaining full guard.
Thoma trying to control the position here.
Thoma manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thoma closes the distance looking to clinch
and Feingold counters with a left and a right that stings Thoma.
Feingold fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Thoma pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Feingold uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Thoma has time to react.
Feingold looks to land a combination. Thoma sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Thoma throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thoma tries to clinch up but Feingold circles away and keeps his distance.
Thoma tries a head kick but it misses.
Feingold fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thoma is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Feingold shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thoma defends it nicely.
Thoma shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Feingold sprawls well. Feingold wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thoma gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Feingold slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Feingold instigates a clinch.
Feingold looking for a takedown.
Rocky Thoma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Russel Feingold.
Thoma stalling.
Feingold tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thoma just stands there and leans against the cage.
Thoma tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Thoma drags the fight down to the ground.
Thoma not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thoma is pulling down on Feingold's head. It's preventing any offense from Feingold, at least for the moment.

Feingold has gone for a leg lock! Thoma slips out almost immediately though and dives into Feingold's guard.
Feingold keeping moving, preventing Thoma from controlling successfully.
Thoma slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thoma working the body and head with strikes.
Thoma trying to control the position but Feingold is working away.
Thoma is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Feingold will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Feingold is looking to regain half guard here but Thoma keeps moving and retains side control.
Thoma trying to control the action but Feingold is working from the bottom.
Thoma is really struggling to control Feingold but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Rocky Thoma just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Thoma tries to clinch but Feingold moves away

and Feingold decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thoma's guard.
Thoma is trying to control the position but Feingold postures up.
Thoma utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thoma is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Feingold passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Feingold trying to control the position but Thoma is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Russel Feingold showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Thoma wants to clinch

and Feingold counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Feingold.
Thoma is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Feingold gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Feingold lands a right hand.
Feingold wants a takedown but no success here.
Feingold is trying to drag Thoma to the mat but Thoma just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Feingold tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thoma just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rocky Thoma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Russel Feingold.
Feingold takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Feingold can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Feingold goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Feingold is trying to stall.

Feingold is trying to trip Thoma. He has hold of a leg but Thoma is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Feingold persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Thoma trying to keep a closed guard but Feingold is proving a slippery customer.
Thoma being controlled here, momentarily.
Thoma controls Feingold momentarily but Feingold frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Feingold throws a strike but Thoma rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Feingold is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

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.
Thoma misses with a body kick.
Thoma shoots in for a takedown but Feingold shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thoma tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Feingold counters with a left to the body.
Thoma throws a head kick that misses.
Thoma shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Feingold counters with a two punch combo.
Feingold stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Feingold wants it to stay on the feet.
Thoma darts in trying to clinch

and Feingold counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Feingold.
Feingold stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thoma swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Feingold wants to control from the top but Thoma keeps moving.
Rocky Thoma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Russel Feingold is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russel Feingold comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Feingold has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russel Feingold!