PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gracie's entrance music is cult of personality. A fine choice. Mark Thomas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Thomas

181 cm
28
174 lbs
12 - 18 - 0

190 cm
29
181 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Matt Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mark Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paulsen Ambrosius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Thomas gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Thomas throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gracie wants to stand but Thomas has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thomas looking to control.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas pulls Gracie in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie wants to stand but Thomas has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thomas looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mark Thomas.
Gracie fails with the takedown
and Thomas counters with a two punch combo.
Thomas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gracie takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gracie scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gracie throws a leg kick but Thomas checks it.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Thomas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie misses with a wild combination.

Gracie shoots in and gets a takedown into Thomas's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Thomas might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gracie kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Thomas manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Thomas sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas dominating with strikes here.
Thomas cracks Gracie with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Thomas working Gracie over with strikes here.

Gracie is rocked!

Thomas is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Gracie is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mark Thomas!