PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alonzo Guerra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Guerra
vs
Thomas

208 cm
24
215 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

200 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alonzo Guerra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Joseph Jones and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Guerra.
Thomas fails to land the takedown.

Thomas shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Guerra manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Thomas stopping the sweep attempt from Guerra.
Guerra is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Guerra really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Thomas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guerra looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Thomas puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Guerra trying to hold on to Thomas's head to control him but Thomas postures up.
Guerra is looking to improve his position.
Guerra wants to control but Thomas is keeping busy.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Guerra keeps working.
Guerra tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Thomas has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Guerra is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas controlling from mount.
Thomas scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Guerra suckers Thomas into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Guerra is now in Thomas's guard!
Guerra pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.
Thomas wants to hit a switch here but Guerra passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Thomas there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thomas is desperately trying to improve his position but Guerra has a good base and remains in mount.
Guerra unloads with some shots from mount but Thomas bucks and avoids them well.
Guerra trying to control but Thomas is having none of it.
Guerra throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Thomas because Guerra loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guerra content just to control the position here.
Thomas is working to get back to half guard.
Guerra sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Guerra'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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josh Thomas will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Guerra misses with a takedown attempt - Thomas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Thomas drives through with a takedown into Guerra's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Guerra looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Guerra is wriggling around but Thomas manages to pass to half guard.

Guerra looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thomas seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guerra works his way to full guard. Good work.
Guerra looking for a sweep. Not yet Guerra, not yet.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Guerra keeps moving.
Guerra doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Guerra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Guerra will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Thomas trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Guerra manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looking to control.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Guerra from controlling successfully.
Thomas 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.
Guerra pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.
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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Guerra accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Guerra missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Guerra from controlling successfully.
Guerra sitting in guard, not really doing much.

We're going to have a standup here because Alonzo Guerra wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Guerra scores with a body shot.
Thomas looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Guerra shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomas defends it nicely.
Thomas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Guerra closes the distance and clinches.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thomas throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Guerra's head.
Guerra tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thomas swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alonzo Guerra. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Guerra has taken the fight to the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Guerra jumps guard but Thomas stands there with Guerra around his waist. Guerra gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A shot in the inside from Guerra.
Thomas is trying to pull guard but Guerra turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alonzo Guerra will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thomas.
Guerra taking punishment in the form of punches.

Thomas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Guerra struggling a bit here.
Guerra gets back to half guard.
Guerra moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas trying to move into half guard but instead Guerra has managed to sweep!
Thomas looking for a sweep. Not yet Thomas, not yet.

Thomas looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Guerra has picked Thomas up and slammed him! Thomas can't keep hold of the triangle and Guerra manages to pass to side control!
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The ground and pound from Guerra seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Guerra tries for a kimura but Thomas is defending well.
Thomas tries to bench press Guerra off him but Guerra keeps the position.
You can see the frustration on Thomas's face as Guerra controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Guerra decides to stand back up.
Guerra slaps away a takedown attempt from Thomas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Guerra throws a head kick that half lands.
Guerra shoots in looking for a takedown but Thomas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Guerra's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Thomas throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Guerra shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thomas as he jumps to the side.
Nice body punch from Guerra.
Guerra is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thomas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alonzo Guerra. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Guerra's waist but Guerra gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thomas off to one side.
Guerra shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomas defends it nicely.
Thomas changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Guerra is defended easily by Thomas.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Guerra circles away.
Thomas lands a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guerra will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Guerra gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Guerra has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Thomas uses from the top position.
Thomas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thomas is in close to Guerra's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Guerra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Guerra is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas's corner is telling him to maintain position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alonzo Guerra.
I think Guerra has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Alonzo Guerra!