PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darius Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tantric Yogi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Thomas
vs
Yogi

192 cm
29
205 lbs
18 - 6 - 1

180 cm
27
185 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Darius Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Tantric Yogi!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yogi throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
Nice shot by Yogi.
Thomas blocks a head kick by Yogi.
Yogi scores with a jab. Thomas acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Thomas takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Thomas fails to land the takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Yogi. No joy for Thomas on that attempt.
Yogi connects with a solid leg kick.
Yogi misses with a looping right.
Thomas throws an overhand right that lands on Yogi's shoulder, as Yogi tries to avoid the shot.
Yogi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Yogi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Thomas misses with a hook.
Yogi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thomas.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darius Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yogi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Thomas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Yogi.
Thomas throws out a loose jab but Yogi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Yogi throws a leg kick but Thomas checks it.
Nice sprawl there from Yogi as Thomas shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Yogi's waist but Yogi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thomas off to one side.
Thomas takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tantric Yogi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab lands there for Thomas.
Thomas shoots in and drives through. Yogi sprawls well.
Yogi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yogi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Yogi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Thomas did well to prevent Yogi getting side control.
Yogi tries to pass to full mount but Thomas defends it.
Yogi drops an elbow to the side of Thomas's head.

Yogi seems to be working for a kimura but Thomas defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas is refusing to be controlled, as Yogi sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is looking to improve his position.
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!
Thomas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Yogi.
Thomas preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Thomas is not content to let Yogi control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to get to full guard but Yogi has control of the leg.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thomas trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Yogi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Well, if Yogi is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Thomas connects with a nice looking jab.
Yogi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Yogi drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Thomas controls Yogi momentarily but Yogi frees himself.
Thomas lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Yogi!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tantric Yogi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Yogi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Yogi lands with a slapping head kick.
Yogi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Thomas has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Yogi.
Thomas shoots for a takedown but Yogi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Yogi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Yogi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Yogi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Thomas is able to avoid easily.

Thomas feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Thomas's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Yogi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Yogi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Darius Thomas just wasn't active enough.
Thomas moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nice jab there from Yogi.
Yogi lands a leg kick that knocks Thomas off balance momentarily.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Yogi.
Yogi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Thomas is out of range and Yogi settles back down.
Yogi throws a head kick that Thomas semi-blocks.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Yogi.
Thomas misses with a low kick.
Thomas dives in and grabs Yogi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yogi pushes down on Thomas's head and hops out.

Yogi gets a double leg takedown into Thomas's guard.
Yogi passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Yogi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thomas regains full guard. Nicely done.

Thomas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Yogi slips nicely into half guard.
Yogi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yogi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thomas keeps working.
Thomas tries to get to full guard but Yogi has control of the leg.
Yogi works his way into side control.
Yogi is putting a hurting on Thomas here, landing some big shots from side control.
Thomas tries to bench press Yogi off him but Yogi keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yogi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thomas keeps working.
Thomas tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Yogi presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Yogi wants to control the pace but Thomas is squirming around nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tantric Yogi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Yogi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Yogi throws a leg kick which misses Thomas's front leg but catches the back leg as Thomas tries to avoid it.
Yogi takes one on the button.
A nice inside leg kick there by Yogi. That's going to slow Thomas down.
Thomas stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Yogi.
Thomas throws a body punch but Yogi moves out of range.
Yogi misses with a wild body shot.
Yogi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tantric Yogi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Yogi moves out of range of the strikes.
Thomas avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Yogi.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown. Yogi tries to sprawl out of it but Thomas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yogi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thomas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Yogi manages to avoid it.

Yogi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Thomas manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yogi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Thomas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yogi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Yogi trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Yogi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thomas can't keep his opponent in guard - Yogi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas trying to control but Yogi postures up.
Thomas is looking for a sweep. Yogi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Yogi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thomas knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Yogi wants to take a breather but Thomas is having none of it.
Yogi is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Thomas reverses the position - he's now on top in Yogi's guard.
Yogi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yogi has his foot on Thomas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thomas works his way back into a safe position though.
Darius Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yogi being controlled here, momentarily.

Thomas avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Thomas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tantric Yogi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Yogi trying to control the position.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Yogi keeps moving.
Tantric Yogi has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Darius Thomas just wasn't active enough.
Yogi is looking to chop away at Thomas's legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Thomas is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Thomas misses with a wild body shot.
Thomas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Yogi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tantric Yogi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Yogi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tantric Yogi!
A victorious Tantric Yogi thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.