PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Karl Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack O Lantern (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). O Lantern comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Love the Way You Lie kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thomas
vs
O Lantern

184 cm
22
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Karl Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack O Lantern!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
O Lantern fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomas slips a jab and a cross from O Lantern.
Thomas lands a nice leg kick that just misses O Lantern's sensitive parts.
A head kick misses from Thomas.
A head kick misses from Thomas.
Thomas lands a nice looking kick to the body. O Lantern takes a step back to recover.
O Lantern looks gassed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thomas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
O Lantern on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Thomas throws a nice inside leg kick.
Thomas throws a head kick but O Lantern moves out of range.
O Lantern stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thomas.
Thomas throws a leg kick which misses O Lantern's front leg but catches the back leg as O Lantern tries to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Thomas.
O Lantern tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Thomas scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas lands with a thumping leg kick.

Thomas lands a big head kick that sends O Lantern tumbling to the mat! Thomas takes a step backwards and waves O Lantern back to his feet - he wants the finish!

O Lantern is rocked!

It looks like Jack O Lantern has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas is looking to slow O Lantern down with leg kicks.
O Lantern is still on wobbly legs! Can Thomas finish him?
Thomas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
O Lantern seems to have recovered his senses.
Thomas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thomas goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Nice takedown defense from Thomas. No joy for O Lantern on that attempt.
Thomas throws a head kick that O Lantern semi-blocks.
Thomas throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
O Lantern tries to clinch there but Thomas circles away.
O Lantern misses with a leg kick
and Thomas counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. O Lantern is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from O Lantern.
Karl Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack O Lantern.
Thomas misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

O Lantern shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
O Lantern throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thomas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thomas on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Thomas tries to get out of the position.
O Lantern trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas pulls O Lantern in close to prevent any damage.
O Lantern trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Lantern throws a strike but Thomas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

O Lantern is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thomas is aware though and is defending well.

Thomas stands up from O Lantern's guard - Thomas perhaps looking for a knockout.
Thomas turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Thomas throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Thomas lands a big head kick that sends O Lantern tumbling to the mat! Thomas takes a step backwards and waves O Lantern back to his feet - he wants the finish!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas stuns O Lantern with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
O Lantern fails with the takedown
and Thomas counters with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Thomas lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Thomas goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
O Lantern avoids the head kick by Thomas.
O Lantern misses with a takedown attempt
and Thomas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Thomas buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
O Lantern throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
O Lantern fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
O Lantern chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Thomas can pounce on him.
Thomas throws a leg kick which misses O Lantern's front leg but catches the back leg as O Lantern tries to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Thomas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jack O Lantern's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thomas throws a sloppy head kick and O Lantern moves out of range easily.
Thomas lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
O Lantern has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Thomas.
Thomas lands a head kick!
Thomas lands a nice shot to the body.
Thomas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that O Lantern can do to turn this around?
A nice combination there by Thomas.
Thomas lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Thomas cracks the inside of O Lantern's front leg.
Thomas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to O Lantern's calf.
Karl Thomas is winning the standup battle so far.
Thomas misses with a head kick.
O Lantern dives in and grabs Thomas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thomas pushes down on O Lantern's head and hops out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas throws a nice outside leg kick.
Thomas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jack O Lantern seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas scores with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Lantern tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thomas counters with a solid body kick.

O Lantern decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Thomas regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from O Lantern.
O Lantern tries to stand but Thomas is controlling from the bottom.
Thomas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in O Lantern's guard.

Thomas gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a leg kick which misses O Lantern's front leg but catches the back leg as O Lantern tries to avoid it.
Thomas throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
O Lantern's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
O Lantern clinches but Thomas breaks the clinch
and Thomas counters with an outside leg kick.
Thomas throws a leg kick but O Lantern moved away.
Thomas misses with a head kick.
A low kick from O Lantern is predictable there
and Thomas counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
O Lantern shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thomas jabs at O Lantern's body.
Thomas moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
O Lantern blocks the body kick.
Thomas misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Lantern shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Karl Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack O Lantern.
Thomas misses with a wild body shot.
O Lantern shoots in but no luck this time.
Jack O Lantern is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas thuds his shin into the meat of O Lantern's side.
O Lantern tries to clinch but Thomas moves away
and Thomas counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
O Lantern blocks a head kick by Thomas.

O Lantern has managed to clinch.
O Lantern tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
O Lantern takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A head kick by O Lantern misses
and Thomas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
O Lantern misses with a double jab
and Thomas counters with a nice body kick.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Thomas - that will leave a mark!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
O Lantern tries for a takedown but Thomas circles away easily
and Thomas counters with a head kick.
Thomas throws a quick inside leg kick.
Karl Thomas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas fakes a jab and throws a low kick but O Lantern checks it well.
Thomas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but O Lantern manages to avoid it.
O Lantern misses with a takedown attempt - Thomas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
O Lantern takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - O Lantern looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thomas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from O Lantern.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Thomas, right into the meat.
Thomas turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Thomas dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jack O Lantern's cut.
That's time! Thomas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Thomas throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Thomas lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Thomas lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thomas will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Thomas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but O Lantern was well out of range. Poor timing from Thomas.
Thomas throws a leg kick

and O Lantern counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by O Lantern.
Thomas content to slow the pace in the clinch.
O Lantern drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thomas pulls his leg out and moves away.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.
Thomas connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas scoring well with a low kick there.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! O Lantern crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Thomas - the referee stops the clock and O Lantern gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Thomas. O Lantern manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
O Lantern takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Lantern shoots in but no luck this time.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.
A solid body kick from Thomas.
Thomas chopping away at his opponent's legs.
O Lantern blocks a head kick by Thomas.
O Lantern shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Karl Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack O Lantern.
Good leg kick by Thomas there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Thomas lands a front kick.
Thomas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to O Lantern's calf.

O Lantern drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
O Lantern wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Thomas seems keen to control O Lantern's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Lantern thows a big elbow that misses.

Thomas scrambles and gets back to his feet.
O Lantern throws a leg kick
and Thomas counters with a good low kick that O Lantern was not able to check.
Thomas digs a good body shot into O Lantern's ribs.
Good leg kick by Thomas there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Thomas explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Thomas is looking to wear down O Lantern with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Thomas throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
O Lantern shoots in for a double leg but Thomas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thomas scoring well with a low kick there.
O Lantern takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Lantern has a takedown stuffed.
Thomas listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
O Lantern throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Thomas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
O Lantern just misses with a punch to the body.
Thomas lands a nice looking body kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Thomas.
O Lantern shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thomas as he jumps to the side.
O Lantern tries to score a power double leg takedown but Thomas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten O Lantern somewhat.
Karl Thomas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
O Lantern shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Lantern avoids the head kick by Thomas.
Thomas looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Thomas throws a head kick that half lands.
O Lantern chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Thomas can pounce on him.
O Lantern avoids the head kick by Thomas.
Thomas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thomas lands with a slapping head kick.
O Lantern looks for a takedown but Thomas sprawls well.
Thomas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to O Lantern's calf.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas thows a body kick. O Lantern tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
Jack O Lantern has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A good leg kick by Thomas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karl Thomas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thomas, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:26

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