PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jibril Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Big Swing (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.

Thomas
vs
Swing

200 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 Rio de Janeiro, Jibril Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Big Swing!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swing shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thomas shoots in but no luck this time.
Thomas has a takedown stuffed.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Swing.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jibril Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swing shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thomas but Thomas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thomas lands a front kick.
Swing stuffs the takedown.
Thomas throws a half hearted mid kick.

Thomas has taken the fight to the clinch.
Swing jumps guard but Thomas stands there with Swing around his waist. Swing gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swing drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Thomas ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Thomas no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Thomas has control of Swing's left arm, preventing Swing from doing any damage.
Thomas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Swing manages to get himself to full guard.
Thomas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Swing is working an open guard so Thomas takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Swing.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Swing is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Swing scores with a jab to the body.
Swing has a takedown stuffed.

Thomas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a knee to the head but misses.
Swing tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Swing is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Thomas is defending well.

Thomas manages to pull guard.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but Swing is proving a slippery customer.
Swing wants to stand and escape but instead Thomas has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Swing wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Thomas manages to pass to side control.
Thomas looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Thomas uses his free foot to push down on Swing's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Swing.

Thomas is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Swing is surviving well by controlling Thomas's body position as best he can.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Swing tries to lock up and control but Thomas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jibril Thomas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Swing is looking to clinch.
Swing stuffs the takedown.
Thomas tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Swing defends well and Thomas ends up having to push Swing into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Swing is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thomas is defending well for now.
Swing tries to break the clinch but Thomas is controlling the position.
Swing wants to break free but Thomas has control.
Swing drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thomas pulls his leg out and moves away.
Thomas throws a series of punches but Swing avoids them all with ease.
A big left from Thomas misses.
Swing shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Thomas moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Swing tries to break the clinch but Thomas is controlling the position.
Thomas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jibril Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thomas has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Swing.
Thomas stuffs the takedown.
Swing swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
Thomas misses with a hook. Swing ducked under it nicely.
Swing throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thomas's waist but Thomas gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Swing off to one side.
Thomas slaps away a takedown attempt from Swing, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swing fails with an attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Swing.
Swing dodges the punch combination from Thomas.
Thomas leaves Swing with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Swing tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.
Swing swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
Thomas throws a lazy body kick
and Swing counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swing is looking to clinch.
Swing tries to score a power double leg takedown but Thomas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Swing somewhat.
Swing with a body punch. A glancing blow.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thomas.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Swing tries for a takedown but Thomas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thomas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.
Thomas misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swing displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.
Swing checks the leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Swing, as that shot connected.
Thomas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Swing is fending him off so far but Thomas persists. Nope, Swing circles away and we're back to standing.
Swing tries to close the distance and clinch but Thomas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thomas.
Swing fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Swing tries for a takedown but Thomas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big Swing showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Swing moves in looking to clinch but Thomas pushes him off.
Swing shoots in for a double leg but Thomas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Swing circles away.
Swing misses with a two punch combination.
Swing tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Thomas. No joy for Swing on that attempt.
Thomas tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Swing defends well and Thomas ends up having to push Swing into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Swing tries to pull guard but Thomas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Jibril Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Big Swing.

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

Thomas clinches with his opponent.
Swing is pressed up against the cage. Thomas has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Swing down to the mat. Swing avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Swing will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown but Swing manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thomas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Swing sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Big Swing seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thomas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Swing changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thomas tries to avoid it but Swing manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thomas to the ground. Thomas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Swing is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thomas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Swing tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Swing tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swing tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.
Swing tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thomas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jibril Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Swing stuffs the takedown attempt from Thomas. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet.
Thomas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Horrible takedown by Thomas or perhaps it was just good defense by Swing which made him look bad.
Swing is looking to clinch.
Thomas swats away the attempt to clinch by Swing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Swing is defended easily by Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swing throws a head kick that misses.
Swing misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thomas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thomas.
Good leg kick by Swing there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Thomas stuffs the takedown.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Swing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swing shoots in looking for a takedown. Thomas tries to sprawl out of it but Swing keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thomas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Swing lands a jab-cross combination.
Swing tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Swing tries to clinch up but Thomas circles away and keeps his distance.

Swing moves into the clinch.
Thomas keeps control of Swing as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas wants to break the clinch but can't.
Thomas fails to pull guard.
Thomas has Swing pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Swing manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Big Swing comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Swing has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Big Swing!