PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clay Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Betoli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Betoli has chosen Mario theme as his entrance music. Mario Betoli is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Thomas
vs
Betoli

200 cm
24
275 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

195 cm
34
282 lbs
37 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Clay Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 18 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mario Betoli!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Dean Styles and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Betoli fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Betoli slips a jab and a cross from Thomas.
Betoli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas.

Thomas manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Betoli on his heels. He'll look to pass Betoli's guard now, I'm sure.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Betoli is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Betoli works over Thomas with some ground and pound from guard.
Betoli postures up in Thomas's guard and throws a big left but Thomas blocks it.

Betoli 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.
Betoli is looking to work some ground and pound but Thomas has wrist control.
Betoli wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Betoli throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Betoli trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Betoli won't allow Thomas to get back to his feet.
Betoli trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Betoli trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Betoli stops Thomas from standing up.
Betoli sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Thomas's guard.
Thomas regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Betoli.
Betoli seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Betoli stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Betoli trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Betoli manages to get himself to full guard.

Betoli working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thomas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thomas manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thomas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Thomas avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Thomas stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Thomas throws a head kick but Betoli moves out of range.
Betoli uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomas.
Thomas takes a swing at Betoli's ribcage but misses.
Thomas lands with a shot to the body.
Thomas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Betoli manages to avoid it.
Betoli keeps the fight on the outside.
Betoli misses with a takedown attempt - Thomas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Betoli throws a big shot that misses.
Thomas wants to clinch.

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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas looking to pass the guard.
Thomas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thomas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Betoli keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.

Betoli is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thomas trying to control but Betoli is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Thomas gets to his feet - Betoli follows without any prompting.
Thomas scores with a one two! Betoli had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clay Thomas dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Betoli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.
Thomas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Betoli throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thomas tries to clinch but Betoli moves out of range.
Thomas tries to bum rush Betoli with a series of wild strikes but Betoli uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thomas fails to land with a series of punches.
Betoli pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Thomas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Thomas is pressing down on Betoli's thigh, looking to free his foot. Betoli is holding on for now.
Betoli trying to control but Thomas postures up.
Thomas wants to stand up but Betoli has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Betoli is trying to get back to full guard.
Betoli trying to hold on to Thomas's head to control him but Thomas postures up.
Betoli keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thomas trying to control the action but Betoli is working from the bottom.
Thomas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Clay Thomas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thomas passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Betoli!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas has control of Betoli's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Betoli regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Betoli is working to get back to half guard.
Thomas trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Betoli is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betoli is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Betoli blocking the ground and pound.
Betoli tries to hold on but Thomas pushes him away.
Thomas scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Betoli?
Thomas wants to control the action but instead Betoli gets a body lock and reverses into Thomas's guard! Nice work!
Thomas trying to control the position here.
Betoli wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Betoli has gone for a leg lock! Thomas slips out almost immediately though and dives into Betoli's guard.
Betoli is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Betoli escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thomas gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Betoli keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Clay Thomas dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Betoli slips a jab from Thomas.
Clay Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas moves out of range of the strikes.
Betoli throws a body punch but Thomas moves out of range.
Betoli misses the shot to the body.
Betoli takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Thomas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thomas avoids the body shot from Betoli.
Clay Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Betoli misses with a hook. Thomas ducked under it nicely.
Thomas keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Betoli.
Thomas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Betoli takes a swing at Thomas's ribcage but misses.
Thomas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Betoli throws a hook to the side of Thomas's head but Thomas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Betoli just misses with a punch to the body.

Betoli gets caught napping as Thomas dives in and scores a takedown. Betoli manages to retain guard.
Thomas stopping the sweep attempt from Betoli.
Thomas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thomas throws a strike but Betoli rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Betoli passes Thomas's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Thomas wants to control but Betoli is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Betoli seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thomas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Betoli seems to be working for a kimura but Thomas defends the submission attempt.

Betoli seems to be looking for submissions.
Thomas is positioning himself well to prevent Betoli advancing to mount.
Betoli thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thomas's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Betoli keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Betoli throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Betoli is working for a submission of some sort.
Betoli looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thomas with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mario Betoli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Betoli not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Betoli is working for a submission of some sort.
Betoli thows a huge punch but Thomas dodges it nicely.

Betoli is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Thomas defends it well.
Betoli missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas pushes Betoli off looking to stand but Betoli dives back in and keeps control.

Betoli is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thomas has managed to free his arm - good work.

Betoli is looking for a kimura here.

Betoli is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Betoli is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Betoli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clay Thomas!