PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Rain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Rain
vs
Thomas

190 cm
26
195 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

184 cm
24
193 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Rain!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Karl Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rain waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thomas.

Thomas darts in and clinches Rain up against the cage.
Thomas is struggling to control the position.
Rain has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thomas is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rain misses with a body punch.
Rain is trying to break the clinch but Thomas is controlling him.
Thomas stalling against the cage.
Thomas misses with a hook to the ribs.
A left hand lands to the body for Thomas.
Thomas utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Thomas.
Thomas manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Thomas lands a good knee to the midsection. Rain won't want to take too many of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Thomas.
Thomas prevents the takedown attempt.
Rain misses with the head strike.
Thomas scores a nice knee to the body.
Thomas lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rain or not.
Thomas lands a body shot.
Thomas stalling in the clinch.
Thomas throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rains head.
Rain is trying to force a seperation but Thomas has the dominant position.
Thomas manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Thomas misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rain tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thomas just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Rain. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rain backwards.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thomas lands a front kick.
Thomas throws a head kick but Rain moves out of range.

Thomas moves into the clinch.
Rain blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thomas dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Thomas unloads a knee to the mid-section.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A right hand to the body from Thomas.
Rain being controlled against the cage.
Thomas is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Thomas landing knees to the head.

It looks like Johnny Rain has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas has Rain pressed against the cage.
Thomas continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Karl Thomas.
Thomas tries to clinch but Rain is having none of it.
Rain punishes Thomas's body with a nice straight punch.
Thomas turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rain misses with a few strikes there.
Thomas slips under a jab.
Thomas scores with a head kick. Rain tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Rain rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Thomas counters with a low kick, right behind Rain 's knee.
Rain misses with a straight right.
Thomas thows a body kick. Rain tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Rain is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looking to throw knees to the head but Rain is blocking nicely.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rain on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Thomas lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Thomas clinches with his opponent.
Thomas stalling against the cage.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A good leg kick by Thomas.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rain swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Thomas has closed the distance and engaged Rain in a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thomas lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rain.
Thomas makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Thomas throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rains head.
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 Johnny Rain's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thomas throws a hook to the side of Rain's head but Rain sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thomas lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Johnny Rain seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Thomas lands with a slapping head kick.
Rain blocks a head kick by Thomas.
Thomas scores with a head kick. Rain tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Thomas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rain.
The fighters circling - Rain throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thomas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thomas works Rain's body with a nice hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Thomas.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rain stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thomas.
Thomas scores with a spinning back kick!
Thomas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thomas scores with a push kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas throws a nice outside leg kick.
Thomas throws a quick inside leg kick.
Karl Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thomas slips a jab from Rain.
Thomas chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Thomas instigates a clinch.
Rain takes a knee to the side of the body.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Thomas.
Thomas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rain's calf.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas scores with a leg kick.
Thomas thumps Rain with a low kick.

Thomas has closed the distance and engaged Rain in a clinch.
Thomas'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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thomas obliges.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Thomas lands a leg kick that knocks Rain off balance momentarily.
Thomas lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Thomas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rain's calf.

Thomas gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Thomas manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Thomas using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rain's face.
Thomas lands a nice uppercut.
Thomas landing knees to the body.
Rain drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rain will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Rain is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Thomas gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Thomas connects with a knee to the head.

Johnny Rain's cut is getting worse.
Thomas is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rain takes a knee to the side of the body.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thomas lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Thomas dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Thomas receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands a good knee to the midsection. Rain won't want to take too many of those.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rain ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.
Thomas moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Thomas scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Thomas gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thomas obliges.
Thomas unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rain is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Thomas landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but Rain blocks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thomas is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Karl Thomas seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Thomas.
Thomas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rain backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Johnny Rain's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thomas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rain stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nice body punch from Rain.
Thomas throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Thomas is looking to slow Rain down with leg kicks.
Thomas thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Rain if he has to take too many more of those.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thomas lands a right hook to the body.
Thomas throws a head kick but Rain moves out of range.
Thomas throws a leg kick which misses Rain's front leg but catches the back leg as Rain tries to avoid it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Thomas, right into the meat.
Thomas tries to clinch but Rain is having none of it.
A good leg kick by Thomas.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rain stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thomas.
Thomas lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rain's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas tries to clinch but Rain moves out of range.
Thomas lands a head kick!
A head kick misses from Thomas.
Thomas throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rain rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Thomas counters with a nice leg kick.
A solid body kick from Thomas.
An inside leg kick lands from Thomas.

Thomas rushes Rain and presses him up against the cage.
Thomas leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rain is trying to push Thomas away but Thomas has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands a good knee to the midsection. Rain won't want to take too many of those.
Thomas has Rain pushed against the cage.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rain misses the jab.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Rain.
Rain throws a hook to the side of Thomas's head but Thomas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rain misses with a left hand
and Thomas counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rain misses with an uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Rain misses with a hook
and Thomas counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rain's knee momentarily.
Thomas scoring well with a low kick there.
Thomas connects with a high kick.

Johnny Rain's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thomas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rain's calf.
Rain is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Thomas fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Rain.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas scoring well with a low kick there.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Rain pushes him off.
Thomas looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Thomas throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rain's head.
A good leg kick by Thomas.

Thomas rushes Rain and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Thomas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Thomas with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A left hand lands to the body for Thomas.
Thomas lands a good knee to the midsection. Rain won't want to take too many of those.
A left hand lands to the body for Thomas.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Thomas.
Thomas just leaning against Rain, taking a breather.
Thomas crunches a lovely knee into Rain's ribcage.
Thomas throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thomas lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Thomas stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thomas lands a hook that snaps the head of Rain backwards.
A frustrated look appears on Rain's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rain changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Thomas fights it off and pushes away nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Thomas really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Johnny Rain's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thomas has closed the distance and engaged Rain in a clinch.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thomas is looking to land body kicks.
Rain swings widly with a right hand
and Thomas counters with a nice leg kick.

Rain gets tackled into the cage by Thomas. Thomas maintains the clinch.
Thomas stalls.
Rain is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rain blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
Rain steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Thomas. That one must have hurt.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.
Thomas scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thomas thumps Rain with a low kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rain moves out of range of the leg kick from Thomas.
Rain misses with a jab to the body
and Thomas counters with a thumping low kick.
Rain thows a leg kick but Thomas checks it
and Thomas counters with an outside leg kick.
Thomas slips a straight right by Rain.
Thomas thumps Rain with a low kick.
Thomas blocks a jab.
Rain throws a lazy uppercut
and Thomas counters with a low kick, right behind Rain 's knee.
Thomas fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Thomas.

Thomas moves into range and clinches up with Rain.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Thomas putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rain in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Thomas pressing his opponent against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Thomas.
Thomas presses Rain against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Stalling in the clinch from Thomas.
Rain looking for a takedown.
Rain tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thomas smiles and moves away.
Thomas looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Rain circles away and keeps his distance.
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rain.

Thomas moves into the clinch successfully.
Thomas pressing his opponent against the cage.
Thomas lands a knee to the head.
The referee is keeping an eye on Thomas - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rain tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rain has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thomas is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Rain. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas connects with a knee to the head.
Thomas is pressed up against the cage. Rain has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Thomas down to the mat. Thomas avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rain throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
That kick from Thomas tenderised Rain's leg. Rain is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rain blocks a head kick by Thomas.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
Thomas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rain misses with some punches.
Thomas throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Thomas takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Thomas lands a knee to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas stops a takedown attempt from Rain.
Thomas landing knees to the head.

Jeez, Johnny Rain's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Thomas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Thomas scores a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Thomas dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Johnny Rain's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rain takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Thomas, right into the meat.
Rain chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Thomas can pounce on him.
Thomas looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rain throws a body punch but Thomas moves out of range.
Rain throws a right hand that misses
and Thomas counters with an inside leg kick.
Thomas moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Thomas lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Thomas lands with a thumping leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thomas throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rain.
Thomas swings for the body but Rain moves out of range.
Thomas is looking to slow Rain down with leg kicks.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Thomas gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas connects with a knee to the head.
Thomas lands a left hand.
Thomas lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rain loads up on a big right hand but Thomas slips the punch.
Thomas darts in trying to clinch
and Rain counters with a stiff right hand.
Thomas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rain.
Thomas feints and then cracks Rain's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rain down.
A low kick from Rain is predictable there
and Thomas counters with a nice leg kick.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rain misses with a looping right.
Thomas blocks a jab.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Thomas.
Rain stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thomas.
A telegraphed right hand from Rain misses the target.
Rain throws a right hand that misses
and Thomas counters with a solid body kick.
A head kick from Thomas lands but Rain takes it in his stride.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Johnny Rain's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Karl Thomas!
Karl Thomas is the new middleweight champion!