PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ash Thomas Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mason Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smith has chosen Shoot to Thrill as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thomas Jr
vs
Smith

192 cm
26
270 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
270 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ash Thomas Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mason Smith!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Joseph Jones and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas Jr looks to clinch

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch.
Thomas Jr using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Smith has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smith is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Smith is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thomas Jr pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Thomas Jr is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smith is defending well.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Smith is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thomas Jr pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ash Thomas Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mason Smith.

Thomas Jr breaks from the clinch.
Thomas Jr moves to clinch but Smith breaks away

and Smith counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Thomas Jr!
Smith tries to control but Thomas Jr wriggling away.
Smith lands a big shot there that rocks Thomas Jr but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Smith with a couple of short strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas Jr is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a big shot there that rocks Thomas Jr but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Smith looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Thomas Jr knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Smith on the ground.
Smith landing shots from mount.
Smith landing shots from mount.
Smith connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Thomas Jr is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith cracks Thomas Jr with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Thomas Jr is breathing heavily.
Smith landing punches.
Smith scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Thomas Jr?
Smith sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Smith is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Smith cracks Thomas Jr with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
This has been an exciting period of action!
BOOM! Smith connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Smith wants to control but Thomas Jr has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smith connects with a nice short shot to Thomas Jr's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thomas Jr with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Smith is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Smith trying to control the action but Thomas Jr is working from the bottom.

Smith is trying to work for a kimura but Thomas Jr is defending well.
Smith working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith is keen to just control but Thomas Jr is a slippery customer.
Smith seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smith has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thomas Jr tries to clinch

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.
Thomas Jr keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Smith cracks Thomas Jr with a solid left hand.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thomas Jr's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thomas Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith works over Thomas Jr with some ground and pound from guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Thomas Jr utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith with a nice head shot there.
Mason Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith 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.
Smith landing some decent shots from guard.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thomas Jr's head.
Smith stands up over Thomas Jr, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to Thomas Jr's brow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smith postures up in Thomas Jr's guard and throws a big left but Thomas Jr blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thomas Jr's head.
Smith is working Thomas Jr over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thomas Jr's head.
Smith content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith controlling from the top position.
Smith landing with the ground and pound.
Smith slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith is in close to Thomas Jr's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Smith connects with a couple of short punches.
Smith stands up over Thomas Jr, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
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!
Smith working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Smith working some strikes from top position.
Smith with a nice head shot there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Thomas Jr can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Smith controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mason Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Thomas Jr throws a body kick that misses.
Thomas Jr tries to clinch up

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Smith.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smith lands a nice short elbow.
Thomas Jr blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smith.
Smith is nestled in close to Thomas Jr, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Smith connects with a nice short shot to Thomas Jr's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to take a breather but Thomas Jr is having none of it.
Thomas Jr is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smith scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nice strikes from Smith there.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Thomas Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Thomas Jr's head.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith lands strikes from half guard.
Smith looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Smith landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Thomas Jr has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ash Thomas Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas Jr has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Smith is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Thomas Jr on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Smith is nestled in close to Thomas Jr, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Smith scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Thomas Jr's hands, connecting with Thomas Jr's forehead.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Thomas Jr's hands, connecting with Thomas Jr's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Smith winds up and cracks Thomas Jr with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Smith lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Smith winds up and cracks Thomas Jr with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Thomas Jr's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas Jr has hold of Smith's hands but Smith slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Thomas Jr on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Thomas Jr tries to get out of the position.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Smith looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thomas Jr with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Smith scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Thomas Jr on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Smith drops an elbow to the side of Thomas Jr's head.
Smith winds up and cracks Thomas Jr with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Thomas Jr is rocked!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Oh Thomas Jr is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smith looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thomas Jr with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mason Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Smith slips a nice elbow through Thomas Jr's hands, connecting with Thomas Jr's forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mason Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smith 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 24:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 24:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mason Smith!
During a confident post fight interview, Mason Smith thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.