PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lal Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien OQuinn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lal Thomas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thomas
vs
OQuinn

160 cm
20
139 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

169 cm
20
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lal Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Damien OQuinn!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Chris Saunders and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
OQuinn avoids a punch combination nicely.
OQuinn dodges the punch combination from Thomas.
Thomas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thomas throws a head kick but OQuinn moves out of range.
OQuinn slaps away a takedown attempt from Thomas, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Thomas moves into the clinch.
Thomas has OQuinn pressed against the cage, preventing OQuinn from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
OQuinn wants to break free but Thomas has control.
OQuinn has had enough of the clinch but Thomas keeps him there for the moment.

Thomas gets control of OQuinn's arms and successfully pulls guard. Thomas will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Thomas thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
OQuinn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OQuinn is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thomas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
OQuinn passes Thomas's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
OQuinn's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
OQuinn looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas works his way to full guard. Good work.
OQuinn postures up in Thomas's guard and throws a big left but Thomas blocks it.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
OQuinn tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OQuinn won't allow Thomas to sweep him here.
OQuinn trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
OQuinn 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.
OQuinn must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
OQuinn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from OQuinn.
OQuinn wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts OQuinn as he jumps to the side.

Thomas scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Thomas is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OQuinn is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him
Thomas wants to take a breather but OQuinn is having none of it.
OQuinn wants to get back to his feet.

OQuinn pushes Thomas off and gets back to his feet.

Thomas clinches up with OQuinn and pushes him back against the cage.
Thomas is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lal Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas keeps control of OQuinn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Thomas jumps guard and drags OQuinn to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing OQuinn from controlling successfully.
OQuinn looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OQuinn trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Thomas tries to get out of the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
OQuinn preventing the sweep.
OQuinn slips nicely into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
OQuinn tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thomas knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
OQuinn trying to control the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas works his way to full guard. Good work.
OQuinn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

OQuinn thows a body shot but no joy.
Thomas shoots in and drives through. OQuinn sprawls well.
OQuinn dives in and grabs Thomas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thomas pushes down on OQuinn's head and hops out.
OQuinn stuffs the takedown attempt from Thomas. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet.
OQuinn shoots for a takedown but Thomas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
OQuinn tries to close the distance and clinch but Thomas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

OQuinn shoots in and gets a takedown into Thomas's guard.
Thomas keeping full guard, as OQuinn tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OQuinn passes Thomas's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
OQuinn trying to control the action but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas is trying to stand up here but OQuinn is controlling him well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas regains full guard. Nicely done.
OQuinn wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
OQuinn pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.
Thomas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from OQuinn.
OQuinn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OQuinn not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
OQuinn throws a strike but Thomas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Thomas stops OQuinn from standing up.
OQuinn keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.

OQuinn scrambles and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas thuds a left hand into OQuinn's body.
Thomas stuffs the takedown.
Lal Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien OQuinn.
OQuinn tries to work over Thomas's front leg with a kick but Thomas checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OQuinn shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thomas as he avoids it easily.
Thomas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
OQuinn shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thomas as he avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown by Thomas or perhaps it was just good defense by OQuinn which made him look bad.
Thomas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. OQuinn tries to avoid it but Thomas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag OQuinn to the ground. OQuinn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
OQuinn looks for a takedown but Thomas sprawls well.

Thomas has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
OQuinn tries to pull guard but Thomas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Thomas pulls guard.
OQuinn looking to pass the guard.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but OQuinn is proving a slippery customer.
OQuinn sitting in guard here, content to control.
OQuinn advances to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
OQuinn not doing much here.
Thomas is staying active underneath OQuinn, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien OQuinn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Thomas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Thomas connects with a right hand. OQuinn shakes it off.
Lal Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas looks for the body kick but OQuinn saw that one coming.
Thomas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Some bone on bone action there as OQuinn checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Thomas fails with the takedown

so OQuinn counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
OQuinn is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
OQuinn really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thomas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing OQuinn from controlling successfully.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OQuinn tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
OQuinn sitting in guard here, content to control.
OQuinn passes Thomas's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Thomas makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Thomas.
OQuinn looking to pass the guard.
Thomas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
OQuinn engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OQuinn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but OQuinn is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thomas moves out of range as OQuinn strikes.
Thomas misses with the combination.
Thomas stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thomas wants it to stay on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Thomas enables OQuinn to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Thomas manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
OQuinn trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
OQuinn wants to pass the guard but Thomas is keeping the position.
OQuinn pushing down on Thomas's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
OQuinn trying to control from half guard but Thomas is working away.
Thomas trying to hold on to OQuinn's head to control him but OQuinn postures up.
OQuinn wants to take a breather but Thomas is having none of it.
Thomas is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Thomas missing with punches from the bottom.
Thomas is trying to control but can't.
OQuinn working the head and body with strikes.
OQuinn wants to control but Thomas is keeping him busy.
OQuinn is looking to advance position but Thomas won't allow it.
OQuinn perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Damien OQuinn has got the better of the ground game so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
OQuinn uses his free foot to push down on Thomas's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Thomas.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
OQuinn working away from the top, dropping strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damien OQuinn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got OQuinn winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight for Damien OQuinn!
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight for Damien OQuinn!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Damien OQuinn!

Damien OQuinn wins by unanimous decision!
Damien OQuinn seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.