PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tsatsu Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Judas Priest - Painkiller. Craig Thomas will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gomi
vs
Thomas

170 cm
27
195 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

183 cm
29
195 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tsatsu Gomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas lands a nice shot to the body.
Gomi has his takedown stuffed
and Thomas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Gomi feints and as Thomas raises his hands in defense, Gomi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas being controlled here, momentarily.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gomi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Thomas is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tsatsu Gomi wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Nice shot lands for Thomas.
Gomi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Gomi dives in and grabs Thomas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thomas pushes down on Gomi's head and hops out.
Gomi fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tsatsu Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gomi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thomas's waist but Thomas gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gomi off to one side.
Gomi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thomas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi slips under a jab from Thomas.
Gomi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thomas is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Gomi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Gomi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gomi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Thomas misses with a hook.
Thomas misses the body punch

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

Gomi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Gomi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thomas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gomi.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Gomi controlling the pace.
Gomi wants to control but Thomas is keeping him busy.
Still in half guard, Gomi seems content to control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Thomas is defending against the submission attempts here by Gomi.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gomi seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tsatsu Gomi will probably get the nod.
That's time! Gomi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gomi slips a jab from Thomas.
Gomi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gomi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thomas's waist but Thomas gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gomi off to one side.
Gomi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thomas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gomi circles away quickly and effectively.
Gomi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tsatsu Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thomas lands a jab to Gomi's midsection.
Gomi moves away from the strike by Thomas.
Gomi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thomas avoids it really well and circles away.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gomi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tests Gomi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Thomas fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gomi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Thomas has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A swing and a miss from Thomas.
Thomas misses with a wild combination.
Thomas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looks to throw the jab but Gomi is out of range.
Thomas throws out a loose jab but Gomi uses good head movement to avoid it.

Gomi shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Gomi is working for a submission of some sort.
Gomi wants to take a breather but Thomas is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to get to full guard but Gomi has control of the leg.
Gomi wants to control but Thomas is keeping him busy.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tsatsu Gomi.
Nice defenses there by Gomi.
Gomi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thomas's waist but Thomas gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gomi off to one side.
Gomi shoots and misses
and Thomas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gomi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomas defends it nicely.
Gomi shoots in but no luck this time.
Thomas misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gomi fails with the takedown
and Gomi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tsatsu Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gomi tries for a takedown but Thomas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gomi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Thomas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gomi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thomas throws out the jab.
Thomas stuffs the takedown.
Gomi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thomas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gomi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thomas.
Gomi ducks under a wild hook from Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Gomi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gomi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thomas pinned against the cage. Thomas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Gomi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gomi lands in his opponent's guard.
Gomi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thomas can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Gomi controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
Gomi stopping the sweep attempt from Thomas.
Thomas is pulling down on Gomi's head. It's preventing any offense from Gomi, at least for the moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Gomi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Tsatsu Gomi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Thomas scores with a nice right hand.
Craig Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Gomi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gomi.
Craig Thomas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gomi shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

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