PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jake Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Garza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Lets Go. Garza has chosen Run This Town as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rico Garza has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thomas
vs
Garza

180 cm
25
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
27
155 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jake Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rico Garza!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Garza.

Thomas throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Garza tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Thomas is in Garza's guard.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Garza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas prevents Garza from getting back to his feet.

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.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Thomas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thomas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Garza wants to stand but Thomas is controlling the position.
Thomas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Garza is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Garza keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
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.
Thomas content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Garza wants to stand and escape but Thomas is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thomas drops back looking for a leg! Garza is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Garza manages to kick Thomas off! Thomas jumps back into Garza's guard.
Thomas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Thomas won't allow Garza to get back to his feet.
Garza looks gassed!

Garza kicks Thomas off and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas has managed to clinch.
Garza wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Thomas tightens his grip and picks Garza up, before dumping him to the ground. Garza manages to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Garza's head.

Thomas gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Garza throws a series of punches but Thomas moves out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Garza enables Thomas to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Garza manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Thomas trying to control but Garza is working from the bottom.

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.
Garza keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.

Garza has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Thomas off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Garza wants to get back to his feet but Thomas drags him back down.

Thomas wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Garza, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas wants to control but Garza is keeping him busy.
Garza is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Thomas is controlling him well.
Garza gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Thomas can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Garza is looking to escape.
You get the feeling that Garza really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Garza has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Thomas throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Garza because Thomas loaded up on that one.
Garza squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
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 postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Garza looks a forlorn figure.
Thomas working Garza over with strikes here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Garza tries to buck Thomas off but he can't manage it.
Thomas landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thomas tries to bum rush Garza with a series of wild strikes but Garza uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Garza lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thomas circles away quickly and effectively.
Garza throws a leg kick but Thomas sees it coming and moves out of range.
A leg kick checked by Thomas.

Thomas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Thomas showed some decent athleticism there.
Garza is trying to stand up here but Thomas is controlling him well.
Thomas works his way into full mount!
Garza trying desperately to get to his feet.

Thomas working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Garza squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Thomas can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Garza is looking to escape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garza is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Thomas lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Garza hang on?
Thomas dominating with strikes here.

Thomas is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Garza is surviving well by controlling Thomas's body position as best he can.

Thomas is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Garza has managed to escape the submission attempt.
You get the feeling that Garza really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Thomas with a couple of short strikes.
Garza is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Thomas.

Thomas working for a submission but Garza is keeping him at bay.
Garza really wants to buck Thomas off and get back to his feet.

Thomas is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Garza to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Garza shrugs it off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thomas trying to control but Garza is having none of it.

Thomas has hold of Garza's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Garza manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Garza somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Garza throws a solid leg kick but Thomas takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Garza.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Garza.

Thomas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Garza sprawls well initially but Thomas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Garza is looking to escape.

Thomas is working for a submission of some sort.

Garza manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Thomas looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Garza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Garza is looking to stand up but Thomas isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas distracts Garza with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Thomas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thomas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Thomas is looking to stand up but Garza won't let him.

Thomas drops back looking for a leg! Garza is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Garza manages to kick Thomas off! Thomas jumps back into Garza's guard.

Garza pushes Thomas off and scrambles back to his feet.
Garza closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Jake Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garza falls off balance throwing a combination
and Thomas counters with a three punch combo that has Garza backing up. Garza nods at Thomas to acknowledge the strikes.
Garza misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Garza napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Garza is pushing Thomas's head away, looking to escape. Thomas manages to hold on to the position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Thomas dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thomas.

Thomas wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Garza, who protects the arm well.
Garza is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Thomas has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Thomas cracks Garza with a big elbow.
Garza is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Thomas is controlling him well.

Thomas tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Thomas has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Thomas tries for a kimura but Garza is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Garza is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Thomas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Garza has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Garza, who protects the arm well.
Garza is pushing Thomas's head away, looking to escape. Thomas manages to hold on to the position though.
Jake Thomas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thomas lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Garza down.
Garza is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Thomas tries for a kimura but Garza is defending well.
Garza wants to get back to his feet but Thomas drags him back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas working the ground and pound from side control.
Thomas is chipping away with strikes.

Thomas looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Garza sneaks out the side door and pushes Thomas away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thomas.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Thomas is trying to get an arm triangle but Garza is defending well.
Garza pushes Thomas away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Thomas gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Thomas tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Thomas has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Garza throws Thomas to one side and escapes!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garza misses with a few strikes there.

Thomas fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Garza to the ground. Thomas is now in Garza's guard.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Garza keeps moving.
Thomas won't allow Garza to get back to his feet.

Garza pushes Thomas off and scrambles back to his feet.

Thomas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Garza tries to kick Thomas off but Thomas keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Thomas maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Garza could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Thomas has cracked it and Garza is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Thomas!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jake Thomas!
A victorious Jake Thomas thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.