PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Misiek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fury Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Misiek
vs
Thomas

181 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
182 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rafael Misiek!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Fury Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Andrew Berry and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Misiek's waist but Misiek gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thomas off to one side.
Thomas looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Misiek rushes Thomas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Misiek pulls guard successfully.
Misiek bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thomas's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Misiek accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Misiek trying to stand up but can't free himself from Thomas's guard.
Misiek throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thomas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Misiek drops back looking for a leg! Thomas is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Thomas manages to kick Misiek off! Misiek jumps back into Thomas's guard.
Misiek tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
Misiek postures up in Thomas's guard and throws a big left but Thomas blocks it.
Misiek loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misiek with a flurry of punches that miss.
Misiek throws a big right hand that misses.
Misiek pushing down on Thomas's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Thomas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Misiek.
Misiek throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Misiek moves into full mount! Thomas won't be happy about that!
Misiek landing punches.
Misiek landing strikes, looking to finish!
Misiek thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Misiek throwing strikes here but Thomas is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Misiek thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Misiek looking to control but Thomas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Misiek misses with a head shot.
Thomas avoids a series of strikes thrown by Misiek.
Thomas blocking the ground and pound.
Misiek sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Misiek controlling the position easily from mount.
BOOM! Misiek connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Misiek looking for a guillotine from mount but Thomas is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misiek thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Misiek can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thomas is looking to escape.
Misiek raining down shots from the mount!
Misiek thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Thomas holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Misiek tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas taking shots to the head.
Misiek raining down shots from the mount!
Misiek is landing with some decent strikes but Thomas is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Misiek punching from mount but Thomas doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Misiek looking to control but Thomas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thomas tries to hold on but Misiek postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Misiek dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Misiek dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Misiek is looking to clinch.
Misiek fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thomas looks for a takedown but Misiek sprawls well.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Misiek, right into the meat.
Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.

Misiek moves into the clinch.
Misiek landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Misiek decides to pull guard.
Misiek is pulling down on Thomas's head to control his posture.
Misiek wants to stand and escape but Thomas is having none of it.
Thomas is breathing heavily.

Misiek pushes Thomas off and scrambles back to his feet.

Misiek feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misiek throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thomas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thomas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Misiek gets to his feet - Thomas follows without any prompting.
Misiek fails in his attempt to clinch.
Misiek is looking to clinch.

Thomas tries to keep at a distance but Misiek has taken the fight into the clinch.
Misiek displaying some good clinch control by pressing Thomas up against the cage.
Misiek looking to throw knees to the head but Thomas is blocking nicely.
Misiek pushes Thomas back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Misiek creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Thomas's defenses.

Misiek escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Misiek throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Thomas on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Misiek tries to clinch up but Thomas circles away and keeps his distance.
Misiek tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Thomas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Misiek has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thomas takes an elbow to the forehead.
Misiek is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thomas can do to turn this around?
Misiek looking for a takedown.
Thomas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Misiek prevents Thomas from breaking the clinch.
Thomas tries to stall but Misiek uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Misiek keeps control of Thomas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Misiek pulls Thomas into guard.
Rafael Misiek overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thomas throws a strike but Misiek rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Misiek working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Misiek lands a head kick!

Misiek 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. Misiek is in Thomas's guard.
Misiek throws an elbow that misses. Thomas uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Misiek's guard. Nice move by Thomas!
Misiek is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Misiek looking for a guillotine here but Thomas defends easily.
Thomas throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Misiek swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Misiek manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Thomas is in a horrible position here. Misiek smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Misiek dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Misiek gets a takedown into half guard.
Misiek throwing shots but Thomas is blocking nicely.
Misiek scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Misiek wants to free his trapped foot but Thomas is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Misiek throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Misiek throwing shots but Thomas is blocking nicely.
Thomas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Misiek.
Misiek passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misiek working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Misiek looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Thomas is avoiding damage well.
Misiek connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Thomas some visible discomfort.
Misiek trying to control the position but Thomas is working away.
Misiek sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Thomas is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The ground and pound from Misiek seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Misiek's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Misiek in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Misiek lands a few punches from side control.
Misiek misses with the ground and pound.
Misiek wants to control but Thomas is keeping him busy.
Thomas dodges the ground and pound from Misiek.
Misiek misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
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 takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Misiek stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Misiek forces Thomas back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misiek keeps control of Thomas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Misiek working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
Misiek lands a right hook to the body.
Thomas swats away the attempt to clinch by Misiek.
Misiek fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Misiek fails with an attempt to clinch.
Misiek tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Thomas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Misiek doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Thomas on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Thomas decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Thomas with the ground and pound but Misiek uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rafael Misiek is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Misiek looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looking to pass the guard.
Thomas throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas won't allow Misiek to sweep him here.
Misiek wants to stand up but Thomas is controlling him.
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!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thomas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Misiek is trying to keep Thomas in close.
Fury Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas stops Misiek from standing up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Misiek showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Misiek has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:26
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Misiek!