PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ichigo Curas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitchell Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Curas
vs
Thomas

170 cm
19
160 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

176 cm
23
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ichigo Curas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mitchell Thomas!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas thows a leg kick but Curas checks it
and Curas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Thomas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thomas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Curas - that will leave a mark!
Thomas cracks Curas with an open hand slap.
Thomas throws a body kick the misses
and Curas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A punch combination from Curas misses.
Thomas wants to clinch
and Curas counters with a leg kick.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Curas circles away.
Curas throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Thomas.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.
Curas lands with a thumping leg kick.
Curas lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Curas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Curas feints and then cracks Thomas's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thomas down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Curas misses.
Thomas misses with a head kick.
Thomas throws a series of punches but Curas avoids them all with ease.
Curas throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Curas lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
No joy there for Curas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Curas dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thomas. That did some damage!
Curas lands a leg kick that knocks Thomas off balance momentarily.
Curas swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
Thomas feints and then cracks Curas's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Curas down.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Curas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Curas misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Thomas. Those never looked like landing.
Thomas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice body kick there by Curas.
Thomas tries to clinch up
and Curas counters with a two punch combo.
Curas misses with a wild body shot.
Thomas tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Curas counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Curas misses with a wild combination.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Curas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curas keeps the fight on the outside.
Curas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thomas attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Curas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Curas moves out of range as Thomas strikes.
Curas blocks a head kick by Thomas.
Some wild striking there from Curas.
Curas swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Curas throws a low kick but Thomas moves out of range easily.
Curas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thomas tries to clinch but Curas moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands with an overhand left.
Thomas tries to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Curas tries a head kick but it misses.
Curas is breathing heavily.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Curas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thomas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Curas counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Thomas throws a leg kick
and Curas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Curas fails to land with a series of punches.
Curas swinging wildly here.
Thomas throws a front kick that sends Curas stumbling back into the cage.
Thomas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Curas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Curas.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
No joy there for Curas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thomas tries to clinch but Curas moves out of range.
Curas swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichigo Curas dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thomas tries to clinch up but Curas circles away and keeps his distance.
Curas feints a jab promting Thomas to slip. Curas then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Thomas slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Thomas listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Curas keeps the fight on the outside.
Curas throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Curas fakes the leg kick and cracks Thomas in the body.
Curas throws a wild body kick that Thomas sees coming a mile off.
Thomas tries to clinch up.
Curas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thomas was well out of range. Poor timing from Curas.
Mitchell Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Curas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thomas takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Curas checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ichigo Curas is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curas dodges the punch combination from Thomas.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Curas circles away.
Curas lands a high kick!
Some wild striking there from Thomas.
Curas lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Curas.
Curas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas tries to clinch but Curas moves out of range.
Ichigo Curas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas misses with a head kick.
Thomas thows a body kick. Curas tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Curas misses with a wild combination.
Sloppy strikes from Thomas. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thomas feints and then cracks Curas's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Curas down.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Curas, right into the meat.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch but Curas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thomas throws a sloppy head kick and Curas moves out of range easily.
Curas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Curas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thomas wants to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas slips a jab and a cross from Curas.
Thomas works over Curas's head and body with a nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thomas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Curas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Curas.
Curas throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
A head kick by Thomas misses
and Curas counters with a leg kick.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thomas throws a series of punches but Curas avoids them all with ease.
Thomas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Curas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Good shot there by Curas.
A slapping leg kick lands for Curas.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Curas keeps it at a distance.
Thomas chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Curas can pounce on him.
Thomas goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Thomas lands with an uppercut that bounces Curas off the cage and back into range.
No joy there for Thomas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thomas has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Curas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thomas is looking to clinch but Curas is avoiding it.
No joy there for Thomas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thomas throws a right and a left that Curas avoids nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Curas looks to land a combination but Thomas avoids it well.
Thomas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Curas misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mitchell Thomas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Thomas tries to clinch but Curas is having none of it.
Curas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A nice combination there by Curas.
Curas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Curas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Curas fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thomas.
Crunch! Curas slams his shin into Thomas's torso.
Sloppy strikes from Curas. Those never looked like landing.
Curas scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thomas has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Curas.
Thomas moves out of range of the body kick from Curas.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Curas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Curas swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curas blocks a head kick by Thomas.
Thomas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thomas wants to clinch but Curas slips to the side
and Curas counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Thomas tries to clinch
and Curas counters with a left and a right that stings Thomas.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Curas pushes him off.
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Curas.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Curas circles away.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Curas throws a nice looking combination but Thomas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Curas is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Thomas.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Curas circles away and keeps his distance.
Curas throws a quick inside leg kick.
Curas throws a leg kick but Thomas moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curas connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Curas fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thomas.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Curas circles away and keeps his distance.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Curas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thomas misses with a wild combination.
Thomas tries to clinch there but Curas circles away.
A head kick misses from Thomas.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Curas lands a leg kick that knocks Thomas off balance momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Curas.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Curas keeps it at a distance.
Curas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Curas keeps it at a distance.
Thomas takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Curas lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Curas dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thomas. That did some damage!
Thomas is looking to clinch but Curas is avoiding it.
Curas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thomas throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Curas's head.
Thomas cracks the inside of Curas's front leg.
A head kick misses from Thomas.
Curas misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas blocks a low kick nicely.
Thomas has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Curas.
Thomas is looking to score with low kicks.
A head kick misses from Thomas.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Curas circles away and keeps his distance.
Curas swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
Curas circles away from the clinch attempt.
A cross from Thomas lands.
Curas blocks a head kick by Thomas.
Thomas's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An inside leg kick lands from Curas.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Curas misses the shot to the body.
Curas avoids the head kick by Thomas.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ichigo Curas.
Well Curas 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mitchell Thomas!