PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert York (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas comes to the cage accompanied by Voodoo Child. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Thomas
vs
York

173 cm
28
177 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

178 cm
25
177 lbs
9 - 5 - 1

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Robert York!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - York looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thomas shoots in but no luck this time.
York misses with a body shot.
Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and York connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thomas walks into a left hand.
Thomas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from York.
Thomas sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
York works Thomas's body with a nice hook.
York getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says York as he avoids it easily.
A big right from York misses.
Thomas throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts York as he jumps to the side.
York rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas shoots in and drives through. York sprawls well.
Thomas walks into a left hand.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from York.

Thomas looking to score a takedown here. York is defending well but Thomas drives through and ends up in York's guard.
Thomas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. York is keeping the position for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if York can do anything to dispel that myth.
York preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thomas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but York is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
York has Thomas pulled in close to control his posture.
Thomas has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
York avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thomas throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
York looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thomas is one step ahead there.

York pushes Thomas off and scrambles back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thomas displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as York throws out the jab.
Robert York is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas fails with the takedown
and York counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
York goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
York throws a nice head kick!
York throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A combination from York does no damage.
Thomas takes one to the side of the head.
York lands a high kick!
York is looking to slow Thomas down with leg kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from York misses.
Thomas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and York counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Thomas is breathing heavily.

Thomas gets tackled into the cage by York. York maintains the clinch.
York dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
York pushes Thomas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The referee is keeping an eye on York - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
York receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas changes levels and goes for a takedown here. York fights it off and pushes away nicely.
York scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

York moves into range and clinches up with Thomas.
A short left from York.

York pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

York has managed to clinch.
Thomas drops down looking for an ankle pick but York pulls his leg out and moves away.
Robert York seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thomas dives in and scores a takedown into York's guard.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but York is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas prevents York from getting back to his feet.
Thomas preventing the sweep.
Thomas postures up.
Thomas lands a couple of elbows.
York working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thomas.
York controls Thomas momentarily but Thomas frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
York is looking to stand up but Thomas isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
York bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thomas's guard.
York being controlled here momentarily.
Thomas is trying to keep York in close.
Thomas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thomas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. York manages to get himself to full guard.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but York is retaining full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thomas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thomas with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas won't allow York to sweep him here.
York wants to stand and escape but Thomas is having none of it.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but York is retaining full guard.
Thomas is looking to work some ground and pound but York has wrist control.
Michael Thomas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thomas trying to control but York is working from the bottom.
York wants to sweep but no luck.
Thomas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thomas landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas throws an elbow that misses. York uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thomas's guard. Nice move by York!
Thomas keeping moving, preventing York from controlling successfully.
Thomas wants to hit a switch here but York passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Thomas there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by York.
Thomas sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
York is stalling here. Thomas is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! York seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Thomas has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
York looks to move to half guard but instead Thomas has passed into mount! Damn!
York working to try and regain half guard.
You get the feeling that York really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
York is looking to improve his position but Thomas isn't that keen on the idea.
York is in a horrible position here. Thomas smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
York takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
York tries to lock up and control but Thomas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
York wants to try and get back to his feet.
Thomas lands a nice shot to the head.

It looks like Robert York has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thomas goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now York is on top in guard.

Thomas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. York is aware though and is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
York trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Thomas manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Thomas connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Thomas dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Robert York's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

York throws a hook but Thomas avoids it easily.
Good leg kick by York there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
York has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from York there as he acknowledges the shot.
York misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thomas connects with a body shot.
Thomas attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Thomas fails to land the takedown.
Thomas takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Good exchange - York coming out on top.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from York. Thomas shrugs it off though.
A shot to the liver by York. Beautiful body shot.
Thomas fails with the takedown.
Danga de danga de dang - York scores with a four punch combination!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
York throws a head kick but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas shoots for a double leg takedown but York sprawls well. He's pushed Thomas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
York is looking to clinch but Thomas is avoiding it.
York displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Thomas tries to score a power double leg takedown but York sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Thomas somewhat.
Thomas takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
York ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.
Thomas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has York pinned against the cage. York gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
York showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas swings for the body but York moves out of range.
York throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
A combination from York does no damage.
York lands a really nice looking cross but Thomas seems unphased.
York lands a front kick.
Thomas tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by York.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thomas takes a shot right to the bread basket.
York misses with a wild combination.
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from York.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Thomas or perhaps it was just good defense by York which made him look bad.
A right-left combo lands from York.
York delivers a nice body kick.
York throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thomas tries for a takedown but York sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thomas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but York avoids it really well and circles away.
Thomas takes one on the chin but seems OK.
York throws a series of punches but Thomas moves out of range.

York moves into range and clinches up with Thomas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

York breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
York throws a jab when Thomas was well out of range.
York looks to land a combination but Thomas avoids it well.
Thomas takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
York looks to land a right hand but Thomas moved out of range.
York swinging wildly here.
York tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thomas was well out of range. Poor timing from York.
A slapping body kick lands there for York.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
York throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
York misses with a head kick.
York lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by York.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but York shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert York comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think York 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert York!