PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Shiek Yerbooty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yerbooty comes to the cage accompanied by ABK - Kill Me. Thomas has chosen Devil went down to Georgia as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Yerbooty
vs
Thomas

185 cm
23
191 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

188 cm
23
194 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
Rivers Edge Nutrition

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shiek Yerbooty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Thomas!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Anthony Taglia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yerbooty showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thomas.
Yerbooty throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thomas counters with a two punch combo.
Thomas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Yerbooty tries to avoid it but Thomas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Yerbooty to the ground. Yerbooty escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Yerbooty moves out of range as Thomas strikes.
Yerbooty misses the jab.
Thomas looks to throw the jab but Yerbooty is out of range.
Thomas listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Yerbooty walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Thomas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big right from Yerbooty misses.
Thomas staying out of range there.
Yerbooty throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yerbooty misses with a combination
and Thomas counters with a straight right hand.
Thomas moves away from the strike by Yerbooty.
Yerbooty needs to keep his hands up - Thomas had a free shot at his head there.
Thomas throws a shot from downtown. Yerbooty moves away and avoids it.
Yerbooty stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yerbooty wants it to stay on the feet.
Thomas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Yerbooty missing with a left hand there. Thomas was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Yerbooty throws a body punch but Thomas moves out of range.
John Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slow jab from Thomas misses its intended target.

That's two 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.
Yerbooty throws an overhand right that lands on Thomas's shoulder, as Thomas tries to avoid the shot.
Thomas lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Good standup being displayed there by Yerbooty as he connects with a hook.

It looks like John Thomas has been cut.
Thomas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Shiek Yerbooty is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas loads up on a big right hand but Yerbooty slips the punch.
Yerbooty just misses with a punch to the body.
Yerbooty misses the body punch
and Thomas counters with a body kick that stops Yerbooty in his tracks momentarily.
Yerbooty misses with a hook to the body
and Thomas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Yerbooty takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Yerbooty misses with an uppercut. Thomas saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yerbooty as he avoids it easily.
Shiek Yerbooty has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Thomas.
Yerbooty jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Yerbooty misses with a looping right.
Yerbooty lunges at Thomas with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Thomas's hand.
Nice takedown defense from Yerbooty. No joy for Thomas on that attempt.
Yerbooty throws a lazy right hand but Thomas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thomas just misses with a punch to the body.
Thomas uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Yerbooty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thomas.
Thomas blocks a jab.
The fighters circling - Yerbooty throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thomas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yerbooty manages to avoid it.
Yerbooty misses with an uppercut.
Thomas looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Yerbooty takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Thomas jabs at Yerbooty's body.
Thomas lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Thomas will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Thomas's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thomas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Yerbooty.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from Yerbooty.
Thomas throws a hook to the side of Yerbooty's head but Yerbooty sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thomas misses with a series of wild punches.
Jab by Yerbooty.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Thomas!
Yerbooty misses the jab.
Yerbooty misses with a body shot
and Thomas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thomas connects with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yerbooty. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thomas throws a series of punches but Yerbooty moves out of range.
Yerbooty throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Yerbooty avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A swing and a miss from Yerbooty.
Yerbooty misses with a double jab
and Thomas counters with a two punch combo.
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Yerbooty.
A swing and a miss from Yerbooty.
Yerbooty ducks under a wild hook from Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thomas takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thomas throws a hook to the side of Yerbooty's head but Yerbooty sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thomas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thomas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Thomas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thomas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Yerbooty circles away quickly and effectively.
A looping hook to the body misses from Yerbooty. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yerbooty throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Thomas clinches with his opponent.
A short left from Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands a shoulder strike.
Yerbooty tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thomas swings wildly with an uppercut but Yerbooty uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thomas throws a knee to the head but misses.
Yerbooty swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thomas drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Yerbooty gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Yerbooty lands a body shot in the clinch.
Yerbooty is looking to break free of the clinch but Thomas has double underhooks.
Yerbooty stalling the fight.
Yerbooty lands a right hand.
Thomas has a couple of punches blocked by Yerbooty.
Yerbooty blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Yerbooty is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Yerbooty lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Yerbooty lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Thomas.
Yerbooty lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Thomas tries a body shot but Yerbooty blocks it.
Thomas scores with a shot to the side of Yerbooty's head.
Thomas creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Yerbooty's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A swing and a miss from Thomas.
Thomas scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands a really nice looking cross but Yerbooty seems unphased.
Yerbooty misses the jab.
Yerbooty takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Thomas tests Yerbooty's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Yerbooty lands a nice looking body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas connects with a crisp jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thomas.
A decent looking cross lands there for Thomas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shiek Yerbooty dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Thomas's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Thomas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Yerbooty sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from Yerbooty.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Yerbooty.
Thomas staying out of range there.
Yerbooty misses with a combination
and Thomas counters with a stiff right hand.
Yerbooty tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Yerbooty uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thomas.
Thomas moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Thomas throws the left hand but Yerbooty avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Yerbooty misses with a looping right.
Shiek Yerbooty is winning the standup battle so far.
Yerbooty tries to move into range but Thomas moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Yerbooty throws a hook to the side of Thomas's head but Thomas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thomas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice defenses there by Yerbooty.
Yerbooty throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thomas counters with a stiff right hand.
Yerbooty thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thomas cracks Yerbooty with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Yerbooty uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomas.
Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Yerbooty.
Yerbooty checks a low kick from Thomas.

Thomas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Yerbooty to the mat! Yerbooty manages to get full guard.
Yerbooty wants to sweep but no luck.
Thomas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yerbooty works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yerbooty pulls Thomas in close to prevent any damage.
Thomas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Yerbooty works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yerbooty is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thomas stopping the sweep attempt from Yerbooty.
Yerbooty is pulling down on Thomas's head. It's preventing any offense from Thomas, at least for the moment.
Thomas cracks Yerbooty with a solid left hand.

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.
Yerbooty not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Yerbooty is on top in guard.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Yerbooty from controlling successfully.
Yerbooty is looking to stand up but Thomas won't let him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yerbooty trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas is trying to keep Yerbooty in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Thomas.
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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... John Thomas!