PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brad Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Fox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Thomas
vs
Fox

175 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brad Thomas!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Eric Fox!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Bruno Hogan and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Eric Fox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fox throws a right hand that Thomas ducks under and follows up with a left that Thomas also avoids with ease.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
Thomas's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fox pushes Thomas back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fox lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Fox fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thomas manages to avoid it.

Thomas is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Fox's half guard.
Thomas prevents Fox from standing back up.
Fox keeping hold of Thomas's head, controlling as best he can.
Fox tries to roll over but Thomas keeps him under control.

Thomas is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Fox doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thomas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox wants to improve his position but Thomas is controlling well.
Thomas tries to stand and escape but Fox is controlling the position.
Fox pushes Thomas off looking to stand but Thomas dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fox manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Fox pushes Thomas off and gets back to his feet.
Fox misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fox sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Thomas somewhat.
Thomas looks for a takedown but Fox sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brad Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Fox's waist but Fox gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thomas off to one side.
Thomas pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Fox back to the ropes. Thomas follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Fox dips to his left and cracks Thomas with an uppercut!
Fox fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
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!
Fox misses with a wild combination.
Fox lands a really nice looking cross but Thomas seems unphased.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Fox sprawls well. Fox wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet.
Eric Fox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fox throws a hook but Thomas avoids it easily.
A big left from Fox misses.
Fox rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but Fox shows good takedown defense.
Fox moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Fox cracks a nice hook into Thomas's ribs.
Fox tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Fox jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fox's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Fox duly obliges.
A left and a right from Fox both land. Nice combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas takes one to the chin there.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thomas tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Fox counters with a nice uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters circling - Fox throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Thomas has managed to clinch.
Knees to the body from Thomas.
A short left from Fox.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Fox dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thomas pushes Fox up against the ropes in a clinch.
Thomas is trying to maintain a safe position but Fox gets an underhook and turns Thomas into the ropes.
Thomas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fox tries a body shot but Thomas blocks it.
Fox takes a knee right on the jaw!

Thomas successfully pulls guard.
Fox wants to stand but Thomas is controlling his posture from full guard.
Fox sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Fox 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.
Fox wants to get up but he can't break Thomas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Fox pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thomas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fox doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fox manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Fox controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.
Fox stopping the sweep attempt from Thomas.
Thomas being controlled here, momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Eric Fox.
Fox fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Fox keeps the fight on the outside.
The fighters circle momentarily. Fox darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fox swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fox thows a body shot but no joy.
Thomas moves out of range as Fox strikes.
Fox tries to clinch there but Thomas circles away.
Brad Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas shoots in and drives through. Fox sprawls well.
Thomas tries to clinch but Fox moves out of range.
Fox circles away from the clinch attempt.

Fox closes the distance and clinches.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fox stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Thomas takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fox misses with a hook

and Thomas counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fox.
Thomas lands a good knee to the midsection. Fox won't want to take too many of those.
Thomas jumps guard but Fox turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fox.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fox moves into range and connects with a jab.
Fox lands an overhand right.
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fox.
Thomas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brad Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fox wants to clinch
and Thomas counters with a one-two to the body.
Fox is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Thomas gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fox circles away quickly and effectively.
Fox connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fox lands with a cross.
Fox lands a nice looking body shot.
Some wild striking there from Fox.
Eric Fox seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fox misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas.
Fox's corner calls for a 1-2. Fox obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Thomas wants to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice jab there from Fox.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Fox showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Thomas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fox getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Fox has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Fox connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Thomas's hands.
Fox throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thomas sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fox jabs Thomas right on the nose. Thomas blinks but takes it well.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown. Fox tries to sprawl out of it but Thomas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Fox manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thomas displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Fox throws out the jab.
Left hook, right uppercut from Fox.

Thomas moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Fox misses with a hook

and Thomas decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Fox's guard.
Fox is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Fox takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Fox keeps moving.

Fox is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fox lands a lovely overhand right.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fox throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Fox looks to throw the jab but Thomas is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Thomas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fox swings widly with a right hand

and Thomas moves into the clinch.
Fox wants to stall.
Fox misses with some punches.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Fox connects with a good right hand that stumbles Thomas. Thomas circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thomas is defended easily by Fox.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brad Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thomas.
Thomas moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fox's jab looks to have found its range, popping Thomas under the eye.

Fox has Thomas up against the ropes in a clinch.
Fox misses with the head strike.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but Fox blocks it.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Fox is looking to clinch.
Thomas fails with the takedown.
Fox looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Fox scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Thomas looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fox fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Thomas looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nice jab there from Fox.
Fox thows a left - swing and a miss!
Fox displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thomas.
Nice shot by Fox.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Fox.
Fox connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Brad Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Fox takes the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Fox comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Fox winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Fox!
Eric Fox is the new welterweight champion!