PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Travis Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Travis Smith had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Smith
vs
Thomas

194 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Travis Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Chad Campbell and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith looks to throw a body kick

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Smith is trying to keep Thomas in close.

Smith isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Thomas stacks Smith on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Thomas!
Thomas working away.

Thomas stands up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smith looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Thomas fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smith, pushing him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas wants a takedown.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Thomas is controlling him.
Thomas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smith just stands there and leans against the cage.
Smith is working for takedown but Thomas is calmly controlling the position for now.
Thomas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Smith pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Travis Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Thomas.
Thomas goes for a takedown attempt but Smith pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Smith keeps the fight on the outside.
Thomas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Thomas counters with a big head kick but Smith shrugs it off.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt

and Thomas counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Smith tries to circle away but Thomas has him pinned against the cage.
Smith can't break the clinch.
Thomas tries to pull guard but Smith holds him up against the cage and eventually Thomas drops back down to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Thomas has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Smith regains guard immediately.
Thomas controlling from the top position.
Smith 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.

Smith looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Thomas has picked Smith up and slammed him! Smith can't keep hold of the triangle and Thomas manages to pass to side control!
The referee asks Thomas politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Thomas prefers to stall for the moment though.

Thomas decides to stand back up. Thomas steps back and let's Smith get back to his feet.
Smith tries to clinch up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Thomas.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Smith sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thomas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smith swivels and escapes.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt

and Thomas moves into the clinch.
Thomas wants a takedown but no success here.

Thomas pulls guard.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet but Smith is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith stays in close to Thomas's body and controls the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Thomas dominated that round.
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.

Smith moves in looking to clinch but Thomas pushes him off.
Thomas fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smith looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Thomas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Thomas persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Thomas misses with a body shot.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Smith circles away and keeps his distance.
Thomas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smith.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Thomas.
Smith tries to pull guard but Thomas holds him up against the cage and eventually Smith drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smith.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travis Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas stalling against the cage.
Smith is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Thomas is defending well.
Thomas displaying some good clinch control by pressing Smith up against the cage.
Smith goes for a takedown attempt but Thomas pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Travis Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith tries to clinch up but Thomas circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Smith is not content to let Thomas control the position.
Thomas might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Smith haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Smith has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Thomas is on him like a limpet, forcing Smith back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas leaning his opponent against the cage.
Smith taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas breaks the clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Smith enables Thomas to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Smith manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Smith working for a triangle but Thomas defends it easily.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.

Smith pushes Thomas off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith throws a leg kick that misses.
Thomas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smith sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Thomas somewhat.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Thomas shoots in for a takedown but Smith shows good takedown defense.
Thomas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Thomas persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Thomas misses with a head kick.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Thomas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.
Smith tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.
Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thomas tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thomas to the ground. Thomas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thomas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Travis Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Thomas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas scores with a sloppy right hand. Smith should have avoided that one.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Thomas scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thomas.
Smith trying to control but Thomas postures up.
Thomas trying to pass the guard but Smith defending well.
Smith makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Smith.
Thomas looking to sit in guard and control but Smith gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith controls from within his opponent's guard.
Smith throwing strikes from guard but Thomas blocks nicely.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Thomas.

Thomas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.

Smith got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thomas has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Smith has managed to get both his arms back between Thomas's legs - danger averted.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is adopting a defensive guard.
Smith looking to pass the guard.
Smith trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Travis Smith has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Thomas feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Travis Smith 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.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.

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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30

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