PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Mcmarion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lal Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mcmarion
vs
Thomas

150 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
20
139 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 Hilo, Ryan Mcmarion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lal Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Ryoma Takatsuka and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas shoots for a double leg takedown but Mcmarion sprawls well. He's pushed Thomas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mcmarion fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mcmarion misses with a takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Thomas gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Mcmarion. No joy for Thomas on that attempt.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but Mcmarion shows good takedown defense.
Ryan Mcmarion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lal Thomas.
Mcmarion misses with a takedown attempt

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Thomas is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Thomas keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Mcmarion trying to control here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Mcmarion manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas trying to control but Mcmarion is working from the bottom.
Mcmarion throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mcmarion working a defensive guard here.
Mcmarion looking for a sweep. Not yet Mcmarion, not yet.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Mcmarion is keeping the position.
Thomas preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Thomas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mcmarion trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Thomas content just to control the position here.
Mcmarion tries to hold on but Thomas postures up.

Thomas looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Mcmarion can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Mcmarion can't escape the position.
Thomas looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mcmarion really is a fat lump.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcmarion tries to lock up and control but Thomas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mcmarion is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Thomas gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Mcmarion tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.

Thomas pushes Mcmarion up against the cage in a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mcmarion avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Thomas tightens his grip and picks Mcmarion up, before dumping him to the ground. Mcmarion manages to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mcmarion is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thomas defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lal Thomas dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thomas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mcmarion but Mcmarion pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thomas walks into a left hand.

Mcmarion throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Thomas tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mcmarion is in Thomas's guard.
Thomas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Thomas tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mcmarion knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Thomas. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Thomas trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mcmarion looking for a kimura from the bottom but Thomas passes into side control!
Thomas working away.
Mcmarion is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mcmarion takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Thomas scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Mcmarion to see if he's OK.
Mcmarion is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Thomas lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mcmarion down.
Thomas tries to move into full mount but can't pass Mcmarion's legs.
Mcmarion manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is trying to get back to full guard.
Thomas trying to control here.
Thomas wants to improve his position but Mcmarion is controlling well.
Thomas is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mcmarion's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mcmarion's back!
Mcmarion tries to escape but Thomas has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Thomas gets his hands free as Mcmarion looks to control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas keeps control of the position easily here as Mcmarion tries to buck him off.
Mcmarion manages to reverse the position and now he's in Thomas's guard. Nice work there by Mcmarion.
Mcmarion throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Thomas has his feet on Mcmarion's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Thomas fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mcmarion, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lal Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Thomas slips under a jab from Mcmarion.

Thomas shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mcmarion's guard.
Mcmarion wants to sweep but no luck.

Thomas decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Mcmarion, up you get!
Mcmarion misses with a head kick.
Thomas slips under a jab from Mcmarion.
Thomas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mcmarion was well out of range. Poor timing from Thomas.
Thomas finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Thomas was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Mcmarion wants to control but Thomas is having none of it.
Thomas looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Thomas cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Mcmarion is looking to get to half guard.

Thomas stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Thomas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mcmarion tries to avoid it but Thomas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mcmarion to the ground. Mcmarion escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mcmarion shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomas defends it nicely.
Thomas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mcmarion tries to avoid it but Thomas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mcmarion to the ground. Mcmarion escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mcmarion leaves Thomas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ryan Mcmarion has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lal Thomas.
Thomas takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nice sprawl there from Thomas as Mcmarion shoots in.
Mcmarion keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mcmarion tries to clinch up.

Thomas gets a clinch.
Mcmarion wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thomas wants a takedown.
Mcmarion wants to break free but Thomas has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas has Mcmarion pressed against the cage, preventing Mcmarion from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mcmarion tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thomas just stands there and leans against the cage.
Thomas drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mcmarion dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Mcmarion is trying to break the clinch but Thomas has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
Mcmarion misses with a takedown attempt - Thomas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Thomas lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mcmarion has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mcmarion and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ryan Mcmarion is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mcmarion as he avoids it easily.
Mcmarion tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mcmarion fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thomas closes the distance and clinches up with Mcmarion, looking for a takedown. Thomas pushes Mcmarion against the cage but Mcmarion circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mcmarion throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas stuffs the takedown.

Thomas fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mcmarion to the ground. Thomas is now in Mcmarion's guard.
Ryan Mcmarion has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas wants to control from the top but Mcmarion keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lal Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thomas 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Lal Thomas!
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Lal Thomas!
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight for Lal Thomas!

Lal Thomas wins by unanimous decision!