PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Boris Spetznaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Spetznaz
vs
Thomas

169 cm
27
220 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

175 cm
21
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Gilop®

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Boris Spetznaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Spetznaz counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Thomas wants to improve his position but instead Spetznaz has moved into half guard.
Thomas won't allow Spetznaz to pass to mount.
Thomas is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Spetznaz jumps into side control!
Thomas is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spetznaz moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Thomas tries to improve position but can't.
Thomas is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Thomas wants to control the action here but instead Spetznaz manages to pass to full mount!
Thomas looks gassed!
Thomas regains half guard.

Spetznaz escapes and gets back to his feet.

Spetznaz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Thomas wants to control but Spetznaz passes into side.
Thomas is trying to control Spetznaz's posture but Spetznaz avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spetznaz decides to stand back up.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt

and Spetznaz counters with a takedown into side control.

Spetznaz stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Spetznaz closes the distance and pushes Thomas back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spetznaz prevents the takedown attempt.
Boris Spetznaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Thomas.
Thomas drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thomas changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Spetznaz fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Spetznaz feints and as Thomas raises his hands in defense, Spetznaz changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Spetznaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.

Spetznaz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Spetznaz working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's six 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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thomas keeping full guard, as Spetznaz tries to pass.
Spetznaz's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Thomas working a defensive guard here.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Spetznaz controlling him for the moment.
Spetznaz passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Thomas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Spetznaz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Thomas is looking for a sweep. Spetznaz is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Thomas strikes from the bottom but Spetznaz uses the opportunity to move to side control.

That's eight 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.
Thomas is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Spetznaz stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Thomas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Spetznaz counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Spetznaz is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Thomas controls Spetznaz momentarily but Spetznaz frees himself.
Spetznaz looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Spetznaz dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Spetznaz has taken the fight to the clinch.
A hook to the body from Spetznaz.
Thomas is trying to drag Spetznaz to the mat but Spetznaz just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Spetznaz tightens his grip and picks Thomas up, before dumping him to the ground. Thomas manages to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Spetznaz 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.

Thomas is looking for a triangle here but Spetznaz uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Spetznaz stands up.
A nice combination there by Spetznaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Spetznaz circles away easily

and Spetznaz counters by clinching up.
Thomas being controlled against the cage.

Spetznaz tightens his grip and picks Thomas up, before dumping him to the ground. Thomas manages to land in guard.
Boris Spetznaz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spetznaz not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Thomas isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Spetznaz stacks Thomas on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Spetznaz!
Spetznaz lands a nice forearm strike.

That's four 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.

Spetznaz decides to stand back up. Spetznaz steps back and let's Thomas get back to his feet.
Thomas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thomas misses with a takedown

and Spetznaz counters with a shoot takedown. Thomas fights it but they end up in guard.
Boris Spetznaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Thomas.
Spetznaz postures up.
Thomas is striking from the bottom but Spetznaz uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Spetznaz prevents Thomas from improving his position.
Spetznaz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's six 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.

We're going to have a standup here because Boris Spetznaz wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Thomas shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Spetznaz's guard.
Spetznaz wants to stand and escape but Thomas is having none of it.

Spetznaz wriggles free and stands up.
Thomas throws a predictable looking body shot

and Spetznaz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thomas won't be happy with that.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Spetznaz stands up and beckons Thomas to his feet.

Spetznaz looking to score a takedown here. Thomas is defending well but Spetznaz drives through and ends up in Thomas's guard.
Thomas has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Spetznaz has passed into side control.

Spetznaz stands up and beckons Thomas to his feet.
Thomas with a poor takedown

and Spetznaz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Spetznaz perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Thomas throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Spetznaz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thomas can do to turn this around?
Spetznaz controlling the action here.

Spetznaz decides to stand up.
Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt

and Spetznaz counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Thomas!
Spetznaz controlling his opponent.
Thomas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Spetznaz dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Spetznaz is looking to clinch.
Spetznaz wants to clinch.
Boris Spetznaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas has his takedown stuffed

and Spetznaz counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thomas won't be happy with that.
Thomas throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thomas is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Thomas tries to bench press Spetznaz off him but Spetznaz keeps the position.
Spetznaz moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Thomas is trying to control Spetznaz's posture but Spetznaz avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Spetznaz stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Spetznaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Spetznaz wants to clinch.
Spetznaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a takedown

and Spetznaz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Spetznaz slows the pace down in half guard.

Spetznaz postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Thomas to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas with a poor takedown

and Spetznaz counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Boris Spetznaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Thomas.
Spetznaz moves nicely into side control.
Thomas is trying to get back to half guard.

Spetznaz decides to stand back up. Spetznaz steps back and let's Thomas get back to his feet.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Spetznaz drives through and clinches with Thomas against the cage.
Thomas tries to score a body lock takedown but Spetznaz shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A hook to the body from Spetznaz.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Spetznaz.
A right handed body shot lands from Spetznaz.

Spetznaz lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Spetznaz is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Spetznaz passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Thomas!
Spetznaz looking to control and managing it successfully.
Thomas is looking to improve his position but Spetznaz isn't that keen on the idea.
Boris Spetznaz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throwing hammer fists to the chest of Spetznaz. What's that going to do exactly?
Spetznaz content just to control the position here.

That's eight 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.
Spetznaz has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Boris Spetznaz wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Thomas shoots and misses

and Spetznaz counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thomas's guard now.
Thomas is trying to control the position but Spetznaz postures up.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Spetznaz passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Thomas is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Spetznaz jumps into side control!
Thomas is trying to control Spetznaz's posture but Spetznaz avoids it.
Spetznaz controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boris Spetznaz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Spetznaz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight for Boris Spetznaz!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Boris Spetznaz!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Boris Spetznaz!

Boris Spetznaz wins by unanimous decision!