PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chris Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve King will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Thomas
vs
King

180 cm
27
182 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

180 cm
25
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Chris Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Steve King!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Glass and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.
King tries to circle away but Thomas has him pinned against the cage.
King is trying to break the clinch but Thomas has him pressed against the cage.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Thomas instigates a clinch.
Thomas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
King working hard to break the clinch.
King prevents a takedown attempt there.
Thomas lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
King can't break the clinch.
King wants to get back to striking at distance but Thomas won't allow it.
King is trying to break free.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
King fails with an attempt to clinch.
King throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
King slips a jab and a cross from Thomas.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
King scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas tries to clinch up but King circles away and keeps his distance.
King swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
King tries to clinch up.
King closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Chris Thomas has been cut.
King lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
King throws a right hand that Thomas ducks under and follows up with a left that Thomas also avoids with ease.
Thomas wants to clinch up but King keeps it at a distance.
King tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
King moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - King circles away.

King lands a left and a right that send Thomas crashing to the mat, dazed. King thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Thomas is rocked!
Thomas wants to clinch.
Oh Thomas is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
King throws a right hand that Thomas ducks under and follows up with a left that Thomas also avoids with ease.
Thomas tries to clinch but King is having none of it.
Thomas seems to have got his legs back now.
King circles away from the clinch attempt.
King misses with a two punch combination.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but King swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Chris Thomas's cut is getting worse.

Thomas gets a clinch.
King wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Thomas rushes King and presses him up against the cage.
Thomas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite King's efforts to push away.

Thomas gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Thomas is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
King keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Chris Thomas has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
King throws a nice looking combination but Thomas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says King as he avoids it easily.
King misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
King tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
King swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
A punch combination from King misses.
King's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and King duly obliges.
Thomas is trying hard to land a takedown here. King sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King cracks Thomas with an open hand slap.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - King circles away.
Thomas tries to clinch but King is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on King's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Thomas with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Thomas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
King is looking to break free of the clinch but Thomas has double underhooks.
King is trying to force a seperation but Thomas has the dominant position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
King can't break the clinch.
King swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. King manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
King throws a body punch but Thomas moves out of range.
King is looking to clinch but Thomas is avoiding it.
Thomas tries to clinch there but King circles away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
King tries to clinch but Thomas is having none of it.
King misses with a few strikes there.
The fight stays on the outside here - King looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
King throws a nice looking combination but Thomas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve King dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chris Thomas's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thomas wants to clinch up but King keeps it at a distance.

King gets tackled into the cage by Thomas. Thomas maintains the clinch.
King tries to break the clinch but Thomas is controlling the position.
King is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
King doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
King wants to break free but Thomas has control.
King tries to break free but Thomas pushes him back against the cage.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
King tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.

Thomas rushes King and presses him up against the cage.
King can't break the clinch.
King has a couple of punches blocked by Thomas.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.

Thomas forces King back against the cage and clinches.
Thomas has King pressed against the cage, preventing King from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
King misses with a series of wild punches.
Steve King seems to be getting the better of the standup.
King tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
King misses with a few strikes there.
Steve King is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
King lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - King circles away.
Thomas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Thomas has managed to clinch.

Thomas manages to break the clinch.
King swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - King circles away.

King closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thomas with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on King's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Thomas manages to break the clinch.
King jabs Thomas to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Thomas has managed to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
King misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King stops a takedown attempt from Thomas.
King misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thomas keeps control of King as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Thomas has King pressed against the cage, preventing King from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Chris Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas uses good head movement to avoid the hook from King.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but King pushes him off.
King swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
Thomas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
King keeps the fight on the outside.

Thomas darts in and clinches King up against the cage.
Thomas with a knee to the head.
King takes a knee right on the jaw!
King working aggressively here.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Thomas instigates a clinch.
Thomas is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. King 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 Chris Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
King is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Thomas lands a nice knee to the body.
King working hard to break the clinch.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas thows a body kick. King tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
King jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
King throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
Thomas is looking to clinch but King is avoiding it.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - King circles away.
Thomas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Thomas has King up against the cage in a clinch.
King stops a takedown attempt from Thomas.
Thomas prevents King from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
King throws a series of punches but Thomas moves out of range.
A combination from King does no damage.
King fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King tries to clinch up but Thomas circles away and keeps his distance.
King swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.

Thomas moves into the clinch.
Thomas tries for a takedown but King manages to get underhooks.

Thomas gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Thomas wants to control from the top but King keeps moving.
King really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thomas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Thomas thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Thomas dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chris Thomas's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

King scores with a jab.
Thomas wants to clinch.
King looks to land a combination but Thomas avoids it well.
King digs a good hook to Thomas's body.
King misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas.

King gets a clinch.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Thomas is looking to clinch but King is avoiding it.
King tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thomas tries to clinch up.
Thomas takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
King misses with a double jab.

Thomas gets a clinch.
King wants to break the clinch but can't.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Thomas forces King back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas landing some nice looking knees to the body.
King is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
King takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
King is trying to force a seperation but Thomas has the dominant position.
King stops a takedown attempt from Thomas.
Thomas lands a knee to the head.
Thomas wants a takedown but no success here.
Thomas keeps control of King as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
King doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
King misses with some punches.
Chris Thomas has scored more points in the clinch so far.
King working hard to break the clinch.
Thomas can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but King pulls him back up using the underhooks.
King is looking to break free of the clinch but Thomas has double underhooks.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas wants to clinch up but King keeps it at a distance.
Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to clinch up but King circles away and keeps his distance.
King tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

King has Thomas up against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for King.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
This has been an exciting period of action!
King avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomas tries to clinch up.
King tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
King lands a jab-cross combination.
King tests Thomas's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Thomas tries to clinch up but King circles away and keeps his distance.
Thomas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. King manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thomas has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from King finds it's way round the side to connect with Thomas's head.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but King pushes him off.
King is looking to clinch but Thomas is avoiding it.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

King gets tackled into the cage by Thomas. Thomas maintains the clinch.

Thomas is trying to trip King. He has hold of a leg but King is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Thomas persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Thomas won't allow King to get back to his feet.

Thomas drops back looking for a leg! King is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and King manages to kick Thomas off! Thomas jumps back into King's guard.
Thomas trying to control but King is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King is looking to stand up but Thomas isn't so interested in that idea.
Thomas working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thomas throwing strikes but missing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
King wants to get back to his feet but Thomas is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Steve King.
I think King 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!