PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dick Rich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Thomas (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.

Rich
vs
Thomas

199 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dick Rich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Eliza Hachem and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas looking to score a takedown here. Rich is defending well but Thomas drives through and ends up in Rich's guard.
Rich could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rich throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Rich throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Rich trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Rich throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Thomas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rich is keeping the position for now.
Thomas content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Rich throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Thomas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Thomas thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rich will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rich will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Rich keeps moving.
Rich striking off his back but it's not causing Thomas any problems.
Rich trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rich trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Thomas passes into half guard.
Thomas prevents Rich from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is keen to just control but Rich is a slippery customer.

Thomas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rich is just riding it out for now. Thomas eventually gives up the hold.
Rich is trying to get back to full guard.
Thomas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Thomas is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rich sees it coming and defends easily.
Rich is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Thomas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rich defends it well.
Thomas moves into full mount! Rich won't be happy about that!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rich is bucking up trying to escape but Thomas cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rich keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Thomas landing strikes from the mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thomas with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Rich tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Thomas has control of Rich's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Rich regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Rich is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Thomas looking to secure an arm triangle but Rich defends it well.
Rich is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rich is breathing heavily.

Thomas is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Rich is surviving well by controlling Thomas's body position as best he can.
Rich is trying desperately to improve position.
Thomas is landing with some decent strikes but Rich is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rich working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rich is working hard here to advance position.
Thomas wants to control the pace but Rich is squirming around nicely.
Rich can't escape the position.
Thomas is landing with some decent strikes but Rich is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rich is squirming around, avoiding Thomas's attempts to control the action.
Thomas punishing his opponent with strikes.
Thomas has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rich's face.
Thomas landing punches.
Rich is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thomas controlling his opponent.

Thomas working for a submission but Rich is keeping him at bay.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thomas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rich.
Rich shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomas defends it nicely.
John Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.
Rich tries to land a knee to the head but Thomas blocks with his arms.

Thomas gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rich regains guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Thomas trying to control but Rich is working from the bottom.
Thomas advances position into side control!

Thomas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Thomas decides to stand back up.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rich napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Thomas tries for a kimura but Rich is defending well.
Thomas is breathing heavily.

Thomas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rich wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Thomas looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rich manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thomas's best efforts.
Rich gets back to full guard.
Rich trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Rich doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Rich throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Thomas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rich thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rich will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Rich throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rich throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Thomas is looking to work some ground and pound but Rich has wrist control.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Rich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rich avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rich tries to strike from the bottom.
Rich thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Rich thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Thomas lands a couple of digs.
Rich keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Rich trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Thomas is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Thomas working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas trying to control but Rich is working from the bottom.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Rich is keeping the position.
Rich tries to strike from the bottom.
Thomas content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
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!
Rich striking off his back but it's not causing Thomas any problems.
Rich keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Rich has momentary wrist control but Thomas slips an elbow through the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rich keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.
Thomas is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Thomas 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. This is the final round!

Thomas dives in and scores a takedown into Rich's guard.
Thomas working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rich's head.
Rich throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Rich keeps moving.
Thomas pushing down on Rich's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Thomas passes to full mount!
Rich tries to improve his position but instead Thomas has taken his back!
Thomas keeps control of the position as Rich tries to break free.
Thomas lands an elbow to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rich tries to roll but Thomas sticks to his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rich tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rich is desperately trying to improve his position but Thomas has a good base and remains in mount.
Rich is squirming around, avoiding Thomas's attempts to control the action.
Thomas in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rich really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Thomas wants to control the pace but Rich is squirming around nicely.
Thomas raining down shots from the mount!
Rich is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Thomas is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rich can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Thomas is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Rich has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Thomas wants to control the pace but Rich is squirming around nicely.
Rich is looking to improve his position but Thomas isn't that keen on the idea.
Thomas landing shots from mount.
Thomas scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rich?
Rich in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rich is squirming around, avoiding Thomas's attempts to control the action.
Rich tries to reverse the position but Thomas maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rich throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Rich is looking to improve his position but Thomas isn't that keen on the idea.
Thomas tries to control but Rich wriggling away.

Thomas swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). John Thomas!