PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ty Boni (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.

Thomas
vs
Boni

173 cm
25
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ty Boni!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Eliza Hachem and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Boni gets caught flat footed, as Thomas shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Thomas is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Boni trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas won't allow Boni to sweep him here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Thomas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Boni is trying to control the position but Thomas postures up.
Thomas is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Boni throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Boni is on top in guard.

Boni avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boni tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
Boni postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but Boni is proving a slippery customer.
Boni loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thomas wants to stand but Boni is controlling the position.
Boni postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boni content to stall in guard here.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Boni from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Boni enables Thomas to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Boni manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Boni has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Boni keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas won't allow Boni to get back to his feet.
Boni preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Boni is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Boni has his feet on Thomas's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Thomas drives through with a takedown into guard.
Boni looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thomas is one step ahead there.
Boni trying to control the position.
Thomas throwing strikes from guard but Boni blocks nicely.
Thomas stopping the sweep attempt from Boni.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Boni is retaining full guard.
Thomas preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Boni is on top in guard.
Boni content to stall in guard here.
Boni looks gassed!

Thomas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Boni is aware though and is defending well.
Boni slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boni trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Boni postures up in Thomas's guard and throws a big left but Thomas blocks it.
Boni content to stall in guard here.
Boni in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boni wants to pass the guard but Thomas is keeping the position.

Thomas working for a triangle but Boni defends it easily.
Thomas wants to stand up but Boni is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Thomas dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Boni tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thomas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Boni misses with a takedown attempt - Thomas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Boni gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Boni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boni keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.
Boni has momentary wrist control but Thomas slips an elbow through the middle.
Thomas postures up.

Boni 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.
Thomas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Boni working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thomas.
Thomas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boni throws his legs up looking for a submission but Thomas uses it to pass to side control.
Boni is breathing heavily.
Boni is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Thomas off and has taken his back!

Thomas preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Boni.
Thomas just trying to survive but Boni is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Thomas is trying to get back to his feet but Boni has full control of the position and if anything, Thomas has just worked his way into a worse spot.
What can Thomas do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Boni has Thomas flattened out and is raining down punches.
Boni wants to control but Thomas is keeping busy.
Boni keeps control of the position as Thomas tries to break free.

Boni looking for the choke from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.

Thomas shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Boni manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Boni tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boni trying to control the position.
Thomas keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Boni's head.
Thomas passes into half guard.
Boni is positioning himself well to prevent Thomas advancing to mount.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Thomas lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boni trying to control but Thomas postures up.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but Boni is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thomas to get the leverage.

Boni kicks Thomas off and gets back to his feet.

Boni has closed the distance and engaged Thomas in a clinch.
Boni has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Thomas avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Michael Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ty Boni.
A knee to the head by Boni.
Boni tries to score a body lock takedown but Thomas shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Boni working Thomas over with knees to the body.
Boni lands a nice elbow.
Boni goes for a takedown attempt but Thomas pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Thomas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Thomas showed some decent athleticism there.
Boni trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas working over Boni with some ground and pound. Boni looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Boni is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are battling for position here. Boni manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Thomas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Boni has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thomas has managed to get both his arms back between Boni's legs - danger averted.
Boni is trying to keep Thomas in close.
Boni bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thomas's guard.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Boni controlling him for the moment.
Boni slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Boni stops Thomas from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Thomas dominated that second round.
That's time! Thomas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Boni closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Boni with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Michael Thomas has been cut.
Boni wants a takedown.
Boni throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thomas blocks it with crossed arms.

Thomas lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Boni on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Boni looking for submissions off his back.
Thomas looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Thomas is looking to advance position but Boni won't allow it.
Boni controlling the position well.
Boni trying to control but Thomas postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ty Boni wasn't active enough on the ground.

Thomas closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Thomas wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Boni, who protects the arm well.
Thomas working the ground and pound but Boni is defending the strikes.
Thomas throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Boni is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Thomas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Boni's head.
Thomas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Boni's head.
Boni holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boni is in trouble now - Thomas has advanced to mount!
Boni wants to control but Thomas is having none of it.
Boni is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Boni wants to hold on but Thomas pushes him away.
The referee warns Boni that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Thomas goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Boni is on top in guard.
Boni slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Boni wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Thomas wants to control but Boni postures up.
Boni cracks Thomas with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Boni is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Boni wants to control but Thomas is keeping him busy.
Thomas trying to remain calm as Boni controls from the top position.
Boni trying to control the action but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Ty Boni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Thomas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four 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.
Thomas struggling a bit here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ty Boni.

Boni takes the fight into the clinch.
Boni scores with a knee to the head.
Boni is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Thomas gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Boni manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Thomas is working Boni over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Thomas stopping the sweep attempt from Boni.
Michael Thomas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Thomas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Boni has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thomas has managed to get both his arms back between Boni's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27

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