PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Damian Nitschke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Damian Nitschke has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Damian Nitschke seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Nitschke
vs
Thomas

181 cm
21
177 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

173 cm
26
177 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Experienced

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Damian Nitschke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Thomas!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Donatello Bradman and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nitschke with a jab.

It looks like Michael Thomas has been cut.
Nitschke swings widly with a right hand
and Thomas counters with a nice body shot.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Nitschke.
Thomas throws a series of strikes that have Nitschke backpedaling.

It looks like Damian Nitschke has been cut.

Nitschke gets caught napping as Thomas dives in and scores a takedown. Nitschke manages to retain guard.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Nitschke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nitschke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nitschke avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Nitschke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas throwing strikes from guard but Nitschke blocks nicely.
Thomas is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nitschke is working an open guard so Thomas takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Nitschke throws an overhand right that lands on Thomas's shoulder, as Thomas tries to avoid the shot.
Nitschke misses with a lunging right hand
and Thomas counters with a series of strikes. Nitschke will be more careful next time no doubt.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nitschke as he jumps to the side.
Nitschke throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Thomas lands with an uppercut that bounces Nitschke off the cage and back into rage.

Thomas is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nitschke's half guard.
Nitschke is looking for a sweep. Thomas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nitschke avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thomas.
Thomas tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Nitschke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nitschke regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nitschke is breathing heavily.
Thomas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nitschke looking for a sweep. Not yet Nitschke, not yet.
Thomas lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nitschke seems keen to control Thomas's posture.
Thomas trying to control but Nitschke is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thomas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thomas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nitschke is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thomas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thomas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nitschke is keeping the position for now.
Thomas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nitschke pulls Thomas in to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown but Nitschke manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thomas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nitschke misses with a left hand
and Thomas counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nitschke tries to clinch but Thomas is having none of it.
Nitschke throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Thomas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nitschke throws a sloppy body shot
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.
Thomas feints a jab promting Nitschke to slip. Thomas then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Nitschke slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Nitschke throws a lazy uppercut
and Thomas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Thomas gets the takedown into side control.
Thomas lands a decent elbow from side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nitschke can't do much from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nitschke sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Thomas fails to land a wild elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Thomas dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thomas swinging wildly here.
Nitschke throws a head kick that misses.
Michael Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas fails to land the takedown.
Thomas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Nitschke gets caught napping as Thomas dives in and scores a takedown. Nitschke manages to retain guard.
Thomas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thomas being controlled here momentarily.
Thomas wanted to stand there but Nitschke had control of the position.
Thomas thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Nitschke keeps moving.
Thomas keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nitschke's head.
Thomas looking to pass the guard.
Thomas looking to sit in guard and control but Nitschke gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thomas is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nitschke got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thomas has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nitschke has managed to get both his arms back between Thomas's legs - danger averted.
Thomas doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nitschke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nitschke throwing strikes but missing.
Thomas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nitschke is one step ahead there.
Nitschke wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Nitschke pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.
Nitschke showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nitschke trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Damian Nitschke just wasn't active enough.
Thomas slips under a jab.
A combination from Thomas does no damage.
A slow jab from Nitschke misses its intended target.
Nitschke throws out a leg kick but Thomas moves out of range and Nitschke only half commits.
Thomas defending well as Nitschke loads up on a big left hand.
Nitschke takes one on the button.
Thomas blocks a head kick by Nitschke.
Thomas scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown but Nitschke manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thomas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nitschke closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thomas circles away.
Nitschke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Nice takedown defense from Nitschke. No joy for Thomas on that attempt.
Damian Nitschke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Thomas.
Nitschke throws a combination. Thomas tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown but Nitschke manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thomas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Michael Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Thomas gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
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!
Nitschke 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 keeping full guard, as Nitschke tries to pass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nitschke trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nitschke won't allow Thomas to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Damian Nitschke will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Thomas.
Nitschke throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nitschke swinging wildly here.
Thomas shoots in but no luck this time.
Nitschke misses with a left hand
and Thomas counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Nitschke is looking to improve his position but Thomas isn't that keen on the idea.
Thomas lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Nitschke?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas breaks from Nitschke's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Thomas is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Thomas is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Nitschke has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Thomas cracks Nitschke with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Nitschke is trying desperately to improve position.
Thomas trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thomas is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nitschke holds on, trying desperately to control.
Thomas with shots to the head and body - Nitschke looks very uncomfortable down there.
Thomas putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Michael Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.
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!
Poor strikes thrown by Thomas there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Thomas swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Nitschke is now in Thomas's guard. A big mistake from Thomas there, giving up the dominant position!
Nitschke is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Nitschke wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.
Nitschke is stalling in the full guard.
Nitschke wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Damian Nitschke just wasn't active enough.
Nitschke swings away with a body shot that misses

and Thomas decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Nitschke's guard.
Thomas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nitschke swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Thomas drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nitschke looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nitschke looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nitschke!
Nitschke taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nitschke's best efforts.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nitschke wants to pass the guard but Thomas is defending well.
Nitschke scoring with strikes to the body and head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas is refusing to be controlled, as Nitschke sits in half guard.
Nitschke throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael 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 John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29

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