PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Connely (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Judas Priest - Painkiller. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Connely
vs
Thomas

181 cm
22
194 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

183 cm
26
195 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Malicious Intent Fight Gear - Everything 15$
Malicious Intent Fight Gear - Everything 15$

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Connely!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Connely thuds a left hand into Thomas's body.
Thomas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Connely.
Thomas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Connely throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thomas stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Thomas throws a nice looking combination but Connely bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thomas throws a right hand that Connely ducks under and follows up with a left that Connely also avoids with ease.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thomas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Connely.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Connely.
Connely scores with a jab.
Thomas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Connely bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Thomas misses the body punch

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

Connely drops back looking for a leg! Thomas is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Thomas manages to kick Connely off! Connely jumps back into Thomas's guard.
Thomas wants to stand up but Connely is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connely trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but Connely is proving a slippery customer.
Connely stays in close to Thomas's body and controls the position.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Connely from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Connely wants to pass the guard but Thomas is keeping the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Connely fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thomas's corner calls for a 1-2. Thomas obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Thomas closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Chris Connely has been cut.
Connely ducks under a wild hook from Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thomas looks to land a left hand but Connely moved out of range nicely.
Connely moves away from the strike by Thomas.
A slow jab from Connely misses its intended target.
Jab, jab by Connely - just one landing.
A decent looking cross lands there for Connely.
Thomas lands a slapping body shot.
Connely moves away from the strike by Thomas.
Thomas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Connely sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Connely has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Connely there as he acknowledges the shot.
Connely ducks under a wild hook from Thomas.
Connely scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Thomas jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a left and a right that both miss

and Connely counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Connely lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Connely is working for a submission of some sort.

Connely seems to be working for a kimura but Thomas defends the submission attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas wants to improve his position but Connely is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Chris Connely will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Chris Connely's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Connely keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice jab there from Thomas.
Thomas misses with a body shot

and Connely counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Connely.
Connely trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thomas is pulling down on Connely's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Connely controlling him for the moment.
Thomas is looking to stand back up but Connely counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Thomas.
Connely throwing shots but Thomas is blocking nicely.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Connely misses with a takedown attempt - Thomas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Connely slips a jab from Thomas.
Nice takedown defense from Thomas. No joy for Connely on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thomas throws a lazy right hand but Connely sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thomas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Connely counter with a right hand.
Craig Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Connely.
Nice shot lands for Connely.
A slow jab from Connely misses its intended target.
Connely fails in his attempt to clinch.
Connely missing with a left hand there. Thomas was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Connely throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thomas fails to land with a series of punches.
Thomas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Connely uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Thomas misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a jab but it's blocked by Connely.
Thomas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thomas misses with a looping right.
Connely feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thomas's calf.
Thomas swinging wildly here.
Connely looks to land a left hand but Thomas moved out of range nicely.
Thomas walks into a left hand.
Thomas leaves Connely with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Connely. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Connely throws a looping overhand right but Thomas ducks down to avoid it.
Thomas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Connely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Connely shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Thomas is in a horrible position here. Connely smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Thomas slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Thomas wants to control but Connely is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas is staying active underneath Connely, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Connely tries to pass to full mount but Thomas defends it.
Thomas is trying to stand back up but Connely is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Connely dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chris Connely's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Thomas takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Thomas looks to throw the jab but Connely is out of range.
Connely tries to clinch up but Thomas circles away and keeps his distance.
Connely tries to clinch there but Thomas circles away.
A punch combination from Thomas misses.
Connely throws a hook to the side of Thomas's head but Thomas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thomas scores with a nice right hand.
Nice jab there from Thomas.
Thomas looks to land a combination. Connely sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Connely tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thomas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Connely ducks under a wild hook from Thomas.
Connely ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Thomas might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Connely moves into the clinch successfully.
Connely's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Craig Thomas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Connely misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thomas missing with a left hand there. Connely was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thomas misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Thomas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fighters circling - Thomas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Connely scores with a jab to the jaw.
Thomas throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thomas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Connely slips a jab and a cross from Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connely tries to clinch there but Thomas circles away.
Thomas scores with a shot to the body.
Thomas throws a right and a left that Connely avoids nicely.
The fighters circle momentarily. Connely darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Thomas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Connely counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas is looking to stand up but Connely isn't so interested in that idea.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Connely accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thomas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Connely is controlling him.
Connely loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Connely from controlling successfully.
Chris Connely is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Connely is really struggling to control Thomas but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Thomas 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.
Connely not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thomas misses with a hook to the body
and Connely counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Craig Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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.
Connely has a takedown stuffed.
Connely slips under a jab.
The fighters circling - Thomas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thomas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Connely counters with a stiff right hand.
Connely throws a nice inside leg kick.
Craig Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Connely lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Thomas throws a hook but Connely avoids it easily.
A big left from Thomas misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Connely moves into the clinch successfully.

Connely breaks from the clinch.
Good leg kick by Connely there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Connely showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Connely, 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Connely!