PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fertas Bekan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ash Thomas Jr (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.

Bekan
vs
Thomas Jr

165 cm
22
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
16
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
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 New York, Fertas Bekan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ash Thomas Jr!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Franklyn Lucas and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas Jr misses with a head kick.
Bekan tries to clinch but Thomas Jr is having none of it.

Bekan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Thomas Jr, pushing him back against the cage.
Thomas Jr misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thomas Jr is looking to break free of the clinch but Bekan has double underhooks.

Bekan breaks the clinch.
Bekan doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas Jr circles away.
Thomas Jr lands a high kick!
Thomas Jr throws a lazy head kick

and Bekan counters with a shoot takedown. Thomas Jr fights it but they end up in guard.
Bekan sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bekan wants to control from the top but Thomas Jr keeps moving.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bekan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Thomas Jr is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bekan decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Thomas Jr, up you get!
A low kick from Thomas Jr misses

and Bekan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bekan.

Bekan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas Jr feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Bekan's calf.
Thomas Jr throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Bekan throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Thomas Jr tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bekan is in Thomas Jr's guard.
Bekan controlling from the top position.
Bekan trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bekan gets to his feet - Thomas Jr follows without any prompting.

Bekan shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Thomas Jr manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
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!
Bekan is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bekan's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Thomas Jr really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bekan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bekan passes Thomas Jr's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Bekan stands up from half guard.

Bekan gets the takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bekan stands up and beckons Thomas Jr to his feet.
Bekan on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Bekan closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Thomas Jr did well to prevent Bekan getting side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bekan sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Bekan trying to control from half guard but Thomas Jr is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bekan is working for a kimura but Thomas Jr is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fertas Bekan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nice body kick there by Thomas Jr.
Bekan shoots in looking for a takedown but Thomas Jr manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bekan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Bekan closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Thomas Jr's guard.
Thomas Jr keeping moving, preventing Bekan from controlling successfully.
Bekan controlling from the top position.
Bekan forces his way into half guard.
Fertas Bekan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas Jr wants to get back to full guard.
Bekan lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Bekan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bekan perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bekan 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.
Thomas Jr desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Thomas Jr keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Bekan is looking for a kimura but Thomas Jr is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bekan to get the leverage.
Bekan is trying to control the action in half guard but Thomas Jr is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Bekan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bekan thows a huge punch but Thomas Jr dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bekan seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Bekan trying to control the action but Thomas Jr is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Fertas Bekan.
Thomas Jr turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Thomas Jr throws a quick inside leg kick.

Bekan closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Thomas Jr quickly recovers to half guard.
Bekan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thomas Jr looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bekan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thomas Jr's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas Jr tries to kick Bekan off but Bekan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bekan is taking a breather. Thomas Jr says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fertas Bekan dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Bekan misses with a wild combination.
Thomas Jr tries a head kick but it misses.
Thomas Jr blocks a head kick by Bekan.

Bekan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bekan showed some decent athleticism there.
Bekan slips a nice elbow through Thomas Jr's hands, connecting with Thomas Jr's forehead.
Bekan is trying to control the action in half guard but Thomas Jr is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bekan is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Thomas Jr!

Thomas Jr defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Bekan.
A nice elbow there by Bekan.
Bekan trying to control but Thomas Jr is having none of it.

Bekan gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Ash Thomas Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas Jr gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bekan passes Thomas Jr's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bekan seems to be looking for submissions.
Bekan is looking to stall here but Thomas Jr recovers full guard.

Bekan stands up and waves to Thomas Jr to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas Jr throws a low kick but Bekan moves out of range easily.
Thomas Jr pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bekan is out of range and Thomas Jr settles back down.
A head kick misses from Thomas Jr.
Thomas Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thomas Jr throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bekan.
Bekan lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Thomas Jr down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas Jr trying to remain calm as Bekan controls from the top position.

Bekan stands up.
Fertas Bekan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bekan shoots in and gets a takedown into Thomas Jr's guard.
Thomas Jr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bekan controlling from the top position.

Bekan stands and steps away. Thomas Jr gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fertas Bekan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bekan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fertas Bekan!