PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rico Garza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garza comes to the cage accompanied by Run This Town. Thomas has chosen Lets Go as his entrance music. Rico Garza has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Garza
vs
Thomas

179 cm
27
155 lbs
1 - 9 - 0

180 cm
25
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rico Garza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jake Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garza does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Thomas looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Thomas stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Garza.

Thomas scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Garza kicks off Thomas and gets to his feet.
Garza cracks the inside of Thomas's front leg.
Garza lands with a thumping leg kick.
Garza throws a leg kick but Thomas sees it coming and checks it nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garza lands a nice leg kick that just misses Thomas's sensitive parts.
Garza looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thomas is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Garza.
A nice inside leg kick there by Garza. That's going to slow Thomas down.
Garza throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rico Garza seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thomas gets a clinch.

Garza breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A nice inside leg kick there by Garza. That's going to slow Thomas down.
Garza misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thomas slips a jab and a cross from Garza.
Garza swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Thomas counters with a straight right hand.

Thomas clinches up with Garza and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garza's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Thomas scores a takedown into full mount!

Garza bucks up and throws Thomas to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Garza misses with a leg kick

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
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!
Garza pushes Thomas off looking to stand but Thomas dives back in and keeps control.
Still in half guard, Thomas seems content to control.
Garza wants to get back to his feet.
Thomas missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Garza kicks Thomas off and gets back to his feet.
Thomas takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Garza napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garza is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Thomas is trying to get an arm triangle but Garza is defending well.
Garza is looking to get back to his feet here but Thomas is keeping cool and he's managed to take Garza's back.
Garza is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Garza has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Thomas is persistently looking for the submission but Garza is defending it well.

Thomas patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Garza fending off the submission attempt from Thomas.

Thomas is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Thomas has his opponent's back but Garza is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Thomas.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Thomas closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Garza quickly recovers to half guard.
Garza won't allow Thomas to pass to mount.
Garza is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him
Garza won't allow Thomas to pass to mount.

Thomas is working for a kimura but Garza is defending it quite comfortably.
Thomas wants to stand up but Garza has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Garza tries to kick Thomas off but Thomas keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

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

Thomas is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Garza has managed to free his arm - good work.
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!
Garza is staying active underneath Thomas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Garza is trying to stand up here but Thomas is controlling him well.

Garza manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Garza misses with a two punch combination.

Thomas shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Garza is trying to defend but Thomas finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Thomas dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thomas has closed the distance and engaged Garza in a clinch.
Garza using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thomas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Garza keeps control of Thomas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Thomas gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Thomas stops Garza from getting back to his feet.

Thomas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Garza wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Garza kicks off Thomas and gets to his feet.

Thomas has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thomas wants to break free but Garza has control.

Garza manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas has Garza up against the cage in a clinch.

Garza's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sloppy strikes from Garza. Those never looked like landing.

Thomas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Garza sprawls well initially but Thomas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Thomas trying to control the action but Garza is working from the bottom.
Garza won't allow Thomas to pass to mount.
Garza is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him
Thomas is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Thomas is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Garza sees it coming and defends easily.
Jake Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.

Thomas is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Garza doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thomas.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to pass the half guard into mount. Garza knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Garza is looking to escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas wants to control but Garza is keeping him busy.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but Garza is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thomas to get the leverage.
Thomas stops Garza from getting back to his feet.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but Garza is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thomas to get the leverage.
Garza tries to kick Thomas off but Thomas keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Thomas is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Thomas passes the guard and advances to mount!

Garza bucks Thomas off and manages to get back to his feet!
Garza fails to land with a series of punches.
Rico Garza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Garza is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him

Thomas is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Garza makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Thomas closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Garza quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Garza pushes Thomas off and gets back to his feet.
Garza throws a right hand that Thomas ducks under and follows up with a left that Thomas also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Garza's half guard.
Garza is trying to stand up here but Thomas is controlling him well.

Garza has one foot on Thomas's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Garza throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Thomas counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Garza pushes Thomas off and gets back to his feet.
Thomas blocks a low kick nicely.

Thomas pushes Garza up against the cage in a clinch.

Thomas lands a takedown into guard.
Thomas is looking to work some ground and pound but Garza has wrist control.

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.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Garza has his feet on Thomas's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Thomas is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Garza's half guard.

Garza manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Garza lands a nice leg kick that just misses Thomas's sensitive parts.
Garza fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Garza misses with a few strikes there.

Thomas looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Thomas is working Garza over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Thomas stands and steps away. Garza gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thomas drives through with a takedown into guard.
Garza is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Garza keeps moving.
Thomas throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garza is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Thomas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thomas working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thomas trying to control but Garza is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Garza uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Thomas misses with a series of wild punches.
Garza misses with a two punch combination.
Garza lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thomas circles away quickly and effectively.

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 lands a couple of decent looking shots.

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 wants to stand but Thomas is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas scoring with punches to the head and body.
Garza wants to stand and escape but Thomas is having none of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas trying to control but Garza is working from the bottom.
Garza wants to get back to his feet but Thomas is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Thomas thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Garza wants to stand but Thomas is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas distracts Garza with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Garza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Garza is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thomas is controlling him.
Garza preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thomas is looking to work some ground and pound but Garza has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garza working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thomas.
Garza keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Garza is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Thomas keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Garza's head.
Garza is looking to stand up but Thomas isn't so interested in that idea.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Garza keeps moving.

Garza manages to escape and get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Thomas drives through with a takedown into Garza's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Thomas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Garza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thomas 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... 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.