PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Shaoki Aomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paul Thomas is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Aomi
vs
Thomas

150 cm
29
150 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

175 cm
30
148 lbs
18 - 26 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Shaoki Aomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 26 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aomi fails with the takedown
and Thomas counters with a nice body shot.
Aomi could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Aomi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aomi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thomas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Aomi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Aomi doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Thomas leaves Aomi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Thomas. Those never looked like landing.
Aomi tries to clinch but Thomas moves away
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.
Aomi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Thomas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aomi somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaoki Aomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aomi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Aomi moves to clinch but Thomas breaks away
and Thomas counters with a three punch combo that has Aomi backing up. Aomi nods at Thomas to acknowledge the strikes.
Aomi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thomas pinned against the cage. Thomas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Thomas lands with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Aomi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aomi moves away from the strike by Thomas.
A jab from Thomas does it's job there.
Aomi shoots for a takedown but Thomas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Aomi fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Thomas to the ground. Aomi is now in Thomas's guard.
Aomi is breathing heavily.
Thomas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Aomi is controlling him.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Aomi controlling him for the moment.
Aomi trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Aomi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aomi slips nicely into half guard.

Aomi 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 Aomi.

Aomi 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 Aomi.
Thomas regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aomi trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thomas is on top in guard.

Thomas stands up and waves to Aomi to follow him.
Aomi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Thomas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Aomi somewhat.
Thomas is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Thomas sizes up Aomi with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Thomas scores with a jab.
Some wild striking there from Thomas.
Thomas catches Aomi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aomi.
Aomi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Thomas has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Aomi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Aomi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Aomi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Thomas swings for the body but Aomi moves out of range.
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aomi.
Aomi tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Thomas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A shot to the liver by Thomas. Beautiful body shot.
Thomas throws a right and a left that Aomi avoids nicely.
Shaoki Aomi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Aomi does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Thomas dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thomas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Aomi takes a swing at Thomas's ribcage but misses.

Aomi manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Thomas on his heels. He'll look to pass Thomas's guard now, I'm sure.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aomi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aomi slips nicely into half guard.
Aomi is pressing down on Thomas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thomas is holding on for now.
Aomi passes the guard and advances to mount!
Aomi wants to control the pace but Thomas is squirming around nicely.
Aomi throws some wild stikes that Thomas manages to avoid easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aomi trying to control but Thomas is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas blocking the ground and pound.
Aomi moves to take his opponent's back.

Thomas defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Thomas rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Aomi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Thomas is looking for a sweep. Aomi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aomi wants to work for an arm triangle but Thomas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Thomas makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thomas lands a jab to Aomi's midsection.
Thomas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Aomi fails with the takedown.
Aomi is looking to clinch.
Aomi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Shaoki Aomi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aomi has a takedown stuffed.
Aomi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Thomas connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Aomi scrambles back to his feet.
Thomas lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Aomi closes the distance and clinches up with Thomas, looking for a takedown. Aomi pushes Thomas against the cage but Thomas circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaoki Aomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aomi moves away.
Aomi wants to clinch
and Aomi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thomas scores with a jab. Aomi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Aomi with a poor takedown
and Thomas makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Paul Thomas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas throws a shot from downtown. Aomi moves away and avoids it.
Thomas fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aomi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thomas pinned against the cage. Thomas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Aomi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thomas circles away quickly and effectively.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Aomi.
Thomas scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Thomas works Aomi's body with a nice hook.
Thomas clobbers Aomi with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Thomas moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Thomas looks to throw the jab but Aomi is out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Aomi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aomi looks to land a combination but Thomas avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shaoki Aomi dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Thomas takes a swing at Aomi's ribcage but misses.
Paul Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aomi shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense.
Aomi tries to clinch but Thomas is having none of it.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Thomas enables Aomi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Thomas manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Thomas throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Aomi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aomi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aomi won't allow Thomas to get back to his feet.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Aomi from controlling successfully.
Aomi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
An elbow from Aomi crashes against the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aomi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Thomas, who protects the arm well.

Aomi is trying to get an arm triangle but Thomas is defending well.
Thomas manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Aomi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Thomas is trying to work for a kimura but Aomi is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Aomi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thomas.
Shaoki Aomi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thomas is thwarting Aomi's attempts to control the position.

Thomas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Aomi is just riding it out for now. Thomas eventually gives up the hold.
Aomi is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aomi has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Thomas escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Thomas!

Thomas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Aomi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Thomas decides to stand back up. Thomas steps back and let's Aomi get back to his feet.
Thomas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aomi manages to avoid it.
Aomi 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 Aomi off to one side.
Thomas shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Aomi eats them both and turns towards Thomas to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Aomi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomas defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shaoki Aomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aomi shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thomas throws a right hand that Aomi ducks under and follows up with a left that Aomi also avoids with ease.
Aomi shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense.
Thomas slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aomi misses with a takedown
and Thomas counters with a right hand to the body.
Thomas misses with a few strikes there.

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 Shaoki Aomi.
I think Aomi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shaoki Aomi!