PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Da Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas comes into the arena with Devil went down to Georgia blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Da Silva's choice of entrance music: No Love - Eminem. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thomas
vs
Da Silva

188 cm
29
202 lbs
23 - 11 - 1

190 cm
30
196 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 1, fighting out of London, John Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Rafael Da Silva!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Colin Fotheringham and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Da Silva throws a series of punches but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas misses with a low kick.
Thomas fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Da Silva looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Da Silva misses with a wild body shot.
Nice jab there from Da Silva.
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Da Silva.
Thomas wants to clinch.
Thomas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Da Silva circles away quickly and effectively.
Da Silva will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
An inside leg kick from Thomas misses.
Da Silva throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Da Silva scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Thomas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Da Silva sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Thomas somewhat.
Da Silva throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Silva swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Da Silva misses with a hook. Thomas ducked under it nicely.
Rafael Da Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Da Silva throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Da Silva thows a body shot but no joy.
Da Silva misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thomas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Da Silva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas.
Thomas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Da Silva throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like John Thomas has been cut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Da Silva. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thomas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Da Silva wants to land a leg kick but Thomas is out of range.
Thomas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thomas avoids the body shot from Da Silva.
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!
Da Silva throws a jab when Thomas was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas cracks Da Silva with an open hand slap.
Da Silva tries to work over Thomas's front leg with a kick but Thomas checks it.
Da Silva misses with a wild body shot.
Da Silva misses with a head kick.
Da Silva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Thomas takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Da Silva.
Thomas slips a jab and a cross from Da Silva.
Thomas lands with a good body shot.
Da Silva swings for the body but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas misses with a wild body shot.
Thomas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Da Silva is looking to clinch but Thomas is avoiding it.
Thomas misses with a lunging right hand

and Da Silva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Da Silva taking a breather.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thomas.
Thomas struggles to land a body shot inside as Da Silva controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas struggles to land a body shot inside as Da Silva controls his hands.
Thomas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Da Silva tries to throw a body punch but Thomas avoids it by throwing Da Silva back against the cage.
Thomas tries to throw a body punch but Da Silva avoids it by throwing Thomas back against the cage.
Da Silva can't find room to land a body shot as Thomas controls the action.
Da Silva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Da Silva misses with the head strike.
Thomas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Da Silva tries to stall but Thomas uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Da Silva tries to throw a body punch but Thomas avoids it by throwing Da Silva back against the cage.
Thomas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Da Silva misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Da Silva.
Thomas tries to work over Da Silva's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Da Silva prevents a body shot from Thomas.
Da Silva lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Thomas - that landed with a thud.
Thomas struggles to land a body shot inside as Da Silva controls his hands.
Thomas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Da Silva's elbow.
Thomas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Thomas.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Da Silva lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Thomas.
Thomas pushes Da Silva back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Da Silva goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thomas misses with a punch to the body.
Thomas tries to throw a body punch but Da Silva avoids it by throwing Thomas back against the cage.
A body shot lands from Thomas.
Da Silva misses with a punch to the body.
A shot in the inside from Thomas.
Thomas throws a punch but it's blocked by Da Silva.
Thomas lands with a light punch inside.
Da Silva tries a body shot but Thomas blocks it.
Good body shot from Thomas.
Thomas missing with knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thomas lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Da Silva looks gassed!
A right hand to the body from Da Silva.
A nice left hand lands by Thomas.
Nice body punch from Thomas - that landed with a thud.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Thomas as Da Silva tries to tie him up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Thomas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Thomas's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thomas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Da Silva throws a nice looking combination but Thomas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Da Silva takes one to the side of the head.
Thomas lunges at Da Silva with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Da Silva's hand.
Thomas is looking to wear down Da Silva with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Da Silva has managed to clinch.
Thomas pushes Da Silva back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A right hook to the body lands for Da Silva.
Thomas digs a right hand underneath Da Silva's ribcage. Da Silva let out a lung full of air as it connected.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thomas tries a body shot but Da Silva blocks it.
Thomas tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Da Silva avoids it.
Thomas misses with a knee strike.
Da Silva prevents a body shot from Thomas.
Thomas tries a body shot but Da Silva blocks it.
Thomas misses with a body punch.
Thomas lands an uppercut.
Thomas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
John Thomas has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A hook to the body from Da Silva.
Thomas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Da Silva backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Da Silva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A telegraphed right hand from Thomas misses the target.
Thomas's corner calls for a 1-2. Thomas obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Da Silva.
Thomas takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Da Silva misses the jab.
Da Silva keeps the fight on the outside.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Da Silva swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Da Silva digs a good hook to Thomas's body.
Thomas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Da Silva is fending him off so far but Thomas persists. Nope, Da Silva circles away and we're back to standing.
Da Silva lands a slapping body shot.
Da Silva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thomas was well out of range. Poor timing from Da Silva.
Da Silva swings for the body but Thomas moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Da Silva lands with a nice body punch.
Thomas doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Da Silva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas.
Rafael Da Silva seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thomas just misses with a punch to the body.
Thomas misses with the combination.
Thomas blocks a leg kick.
Da Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thomas.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Da Silva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thomas throws an overhand right that lands on Da Silva's shoulder, as Da Silva tries to avoid the shot.
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rafael Da Silva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Da Silva lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Da Silva throws a hook but Thomas avoids it easily.
Da Silva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva throws out a powerful jab.
Thomas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Da Silva takes a swing at Thomas's ribcage but misses.
Da Silva tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.
Da Silva ducks under a wild hook from Thomas.
Da Silva moves out of range as Thomas throws a body kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Da Silva blocks the leg kick.
Da Silva moves out of range as Thomas strikes.
Thomas throws a hook but Da Silva blocks it.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from Da Silva.
Da Silva swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Da Silva throws a chopping leg kick but Thomas manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A big right from Da Silva misses.
Thomas blocks a head kick by Da Silva.
A looping hook to the body misses from Da Silva. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva avoids the body shot from Thomas.
Da Silva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thomas was well out of range. Poor timing from Da Silva.
Thomas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Da Silva.
Thomas staying out of range there.
Thomas misses with a double jab.

Thomas looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Thomas throws a big right hand that misses.
Da Silva is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Da Silva wants to take a breather but Thomas is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thomas trying to control from the bottom.
Thomas regains full guard. Nicely done.
Da Silva must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Da Silva postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rafael Da Silva will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on John Thomas's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Thomas bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Thomas jabs Da Silva to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Da Silva. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Da Silva throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Da Silva fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Da Silva doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Da Silva slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Thomas on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Da Silva. Da Silva obviously looking to wear him down.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Da Silva goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Da Silva misses with a body shot.
Da Silva tries a head kick but it misses.
Da Silva misses with a head kick.
Horrible takedown by Thomas or perhaps it was just good defense by Da Silva which made him look bad.
Da Silva moves in looking to clinch but Thomas pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Silva lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Da Silva's corner calls for a 1-2. Da Silva obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Da Silva swings for the body but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas takes a swing at Da Silva's ribcage but misses.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Da Silva misses with a head kick.
Nice body punch from Thomas.
Da Silva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thomas tests Da Silva's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Thomas, as that shot connected.
Da Silva jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Da Silva takes a jab right on the kisser.
Good shot there by Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Da Silva.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thomas connects with a crisp jab.
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!
Da Silva misses with a double jab.
Da Silva lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Thomas shoots in and bounces Da Silva off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Thomas throwing strikes but missing.
Thomas being controlled here momentarily.
Thomas landing some decent shots from guard.
Thomas won't allow Da Silva to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is in close to Da Silva's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Thomas stopping the sweep attempt from Da Silva.
Da Silva can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Thomas controls the pace.
Thomas distracts Da Silva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Thomas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Da Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Da Silva is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Thomas sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Thomas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Silva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thomas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thomas throwing strikes from guard but Da Silva blocks nicely.
Da Silva wants to stand but Thomas is controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thomas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Da Silva wants to get back to his feet but Thomas is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Da Silva wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Da Silva is trying to keep Thomas in close.
Thomas is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Thomas showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thomas 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Thomas!
John Thomas thanked the fans post fight for their support.