PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marco Moore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marco Moore has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Moore
vs
Thomas

212 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marco Moore!
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, Josh Thomas!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Kavanagh and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Thomas wants to control for a moment but Moore uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Thomas wants to control but Moore is keeping him busy.
Thomas tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but Moore is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thomas to get the leverage.
Moore trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas wants to advance to full mount but Moore doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Moore wants to sweep but no luck.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Moore keeps moving.
Moore lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thomas!
Thomas is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to control but Moore is having none of it.

Moore is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Thomas to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Thomas shrugs it off.
Thomas wants to control but Moore is having none of it.
Moore wants to stand but Thomas is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Thomas is in a horrible position here. Moore smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Moore will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Moore working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Thomas wants to control but Moore is having none of it.
Thomas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Moore. 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.

Moore goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Thomas turns into him and now he's in Moore's guard.
Thomas passes Moore's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Moore is staying active underneath Thomas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Moore defends it well.
Moore is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him
Thomas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Moore's head.

Thomas seems to be working for a kimura but Moore defends the submission attempt.
Thomas lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Moore closes the distance and clinches.

Thomas gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Moore keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Thomas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Moore is keeping the position for now.
Thomas postures up in Moore's guard and throws a big left but Moore blocks it.
Moore trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Thomas closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Moore did well to prevent Thomas getting side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Thomas 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.
Thomas is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Josh Thomas hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Thomas shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Moore is trying to defend but Thomas finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Moore wants to control but Thomas is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thomas looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Moore tries to get to full guard but Thomas has control of the leg.
Thomas wants to stand but Moore has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Thomas clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Thomas lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Moore keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.
Moore bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thomas's guard.
Thomas wants to stand but Moore is controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Moore wants to stand but Thomas has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thomas managing to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Moore slips a jab and a cross from Thomas.
Moore moves in looking to clinch but Thomas pushes him off.
Moore doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Moore avoids the head kick by Thomas.

Thomas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Thomas showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moore works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas landing with the ground and pound.
Thomas won't allow Moore to sweep him here.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Moore keeps moving.

Thomas gets to his feet. Moore looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Moore clinches up with Thomas and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Thomas closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Moore did well to prevent Thomas getting side control.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but Moore is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thomas to get the leverage.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Thomas is working for a kimura but Moore is defending it quite comfortably.

Thomas is looking for submissions but instead, Moore has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas trying to move into half guard but instead Moore has managed to sweep!
Moore is looking to stand up but Thomas won't let him.

Moore gets to his feet. Thomas looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Moore is defended easily by Thomas.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch but Moore swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thomas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Josh Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Thomas looking to sit in guard and control but Moore gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Moore would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Marco Moore has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Thomas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Thomas can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Moore manages to get himself to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thomas 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Thomas!