PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Josh Thomson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Pattis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thomson
vs
Pattis

177 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
161 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Great low kicks
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Thomson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Pattis!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pattis stuffs the takedown attempt from Thomson. Thomson gets slowly back to his feet.
Thomson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pattis sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Pattis drives through with a takedown into Thomson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pattis preventing the sweep.
Pattis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Thomson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pattis is aware though and is defending well.
Pattis wanted to stand there but Thomson had control of the position.
Pattis controlling from the top position.
Pattis throws a big elbow that misses.

Pattis drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Thomson dives on top into guard.
Thomson preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pattis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thomson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thomson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thomson trying to control the position from guard on top but Pattis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomson is fighting to break Pattis's control of his arms but Pattis is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomson wants to get up but he can't break Pattis's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pattis keeping moving, preventing Thomson from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Josh Thomson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Thomson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pattis as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Thomson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pattis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pattis shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomson defends it nicely.
Thomson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pattis paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thomson moves out of range of the body kick from Pattis.

Pattis drives through and clinches with Thomson against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pattis will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Thomson up against the cage.
Thomson is pressed up against the cage. Pattis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Thomson down to the mat. Thomson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pattis slaps away a takedown attempt from Thomson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Thomson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Nice sprawl there from Thomson as Pattis shoots in.
Pattis shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thomson as he jumps to the side.

Pattis looking to score a takedown here. Thomson is defending well but Pattis drives through and ends up in Thomson's guard.
Pattis looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomson 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.
Pattis wants to control from the top but Thomson keeps moving.
Thomson striking off his back but it's not causing Pattis any problems.
Thomson is trying to control the position but Pattis postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pattis is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Anthony Pattis has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Pattis works Thomson's body with a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pattis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thomson jabs at Pattis's body.
Thomson is looking to clinch.
Pattis lands a nice looking body kick.
Josh Thomson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pattis shoots in for a takedown but Thomson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Pattis enables Thomson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Pattis manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Thomson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pattis is keeping the position for now.
Thomson throwing strikes but missing.
Pattis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Well, if Pattis is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomson trying to hold on to Pattis's head to control him but Pattis postures up.

Pattis is working for a submission of some sort.
Pattis is looking to advance position but Thomson won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pattis wants to take a breather but Thomson is having none of it.
Thomson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Pattis won't allow Thomson to sweep him here.

Thomson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Pattis uses it to pass to side control.
You can see the frustration on Thomson's face as Pattis controls the position.

Pattis tries for a kimura but Thomson is defending well.
Pattis is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomson tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Pattis easily slips into full mount!
Pattis wants to control the pace but Thomson is squirming around nicely.
Thomson can't escape the position.
Thomson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Pattis breaks from Thomson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Pattis trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thomson wants to control but Pattis is having none of it.
Pattis content just to control the position here.
Thomson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Anthony Pattis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Pattis has a takedown stuffed.
A nice inside leg kick there by Thomson. That's going to slow Pattis down.
Pattis throws a front kick that sends Thomson stumbling back into the cage.
Thomson doesn't manage to clinch there - Pattis circles away.
Pattis shoots in looking for a takedown but Thomson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pattis's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pattis throws a nice head kick!

Pattis gets the takedown into side control.

Pattis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Pattis in side control, throwing shots but Thomson defends.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Pattis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pattis wants to control but Thomson is keeping him busy.
Thomson is trying to control Pattis's posture but Pattis avoids it.
Thomson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Pattis's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Pattis is trying to control the action in half guard but Thomson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pattis trying to advance position but Thomson counters by regaining guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomson wants to control the position but Pattis says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Thomson wants to control but Pattis is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thomson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Thomson.
Pattis won't allow Thomson to sweep him here.
Pattis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pattis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pattis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Thomson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomson keeping moving, preventing Pattis from controlling successfully.
Thomson trying to keep a closed guard but Pattis is proving a slippery customer.
Pattis stays in close to Thomson's body and controls the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anthony Pattis was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Thomson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pattis.
Josh Thomson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Pattis.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thomson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomson shoots in looking for a takedown. Pattis tries to sprawl out of it but Thomson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pattis manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pattis scores with a jab. Thomson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Thomson fails with the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thomson.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomson with a poor takedown

and Pattis counters by clinching up.
Josh Thomson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anthony Pattis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Pattis successfully pulls guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Pattis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pattis has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Pattis!