PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Isaiah Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Ferguson
vs
Thomas

165 cm
25
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

160 cm
18
149 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Isaiah Ferguson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Xavier Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferguson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ferguson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ferguson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ferguson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thomas tries to avoid it but Ferguson 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 clinches up against the cage.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ferguson is looking to clinch but Thomas is avoiding it.
Ferguson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Thomas counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thomas.
Thomas holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ferguson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ferguson misses with a punch to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas manages to break the clinch.
Ferguson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thomas tries to avoid it but Ferguson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thomas to the ground. Thomas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ferguson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thomas as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaiah Ferguson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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

Thomas pulls guard successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Thomas working a defensive guard here.
Ferguson preventing the sweep.
Thomas looking to control.
Ferguson trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ferguson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Thomas is pulling down on Ferguson's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Xavier Thomas.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ferguson defends it nicely.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown. Ferguson tries to sprawl out of it but Thomas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ferguson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ferguson tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.

Thomas pushes Ferguson up against the cage in a clinch.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thomas should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Ferguson.
Ferguson lands a nice looking kick to the body. Thomas takes a step back to recover.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Ferguson circles away easily
letting Ferguson counter with a right hand.
Ferguson looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Ferguson fails with the takedown.
Ferguson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thomas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ferguson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ferguson wants it to stay on the feet.
Thomas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thomas is defended easily by Ferguson.
Ferguson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thomas swivels and escapes.
Thomas shoots in for a double leg but Ferguson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ferguson shoots in looking for a takedown but Thomas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ferguson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ferguson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomas defends it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ferguson fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Xavier Thomas will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thomas fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ferguson to the ground. Thomas is now in Ferguson's guard.
Thomas throws an elbow that misses. Ferguson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thomas's guard. Nice move by Ferguson!
Ferguson preventing the sweep.
Thomas is looking to stand up but Ferguson isn't so interested in that idea.
Thomas controls Ferguson momentarily but Ferguson frees himself.

Thomas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Ferguson from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas wants to sweep but no luck.

Thomas working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ferguson has passed into half guard!
Ferguson lands strikes from half guard.
Ferguson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thomas keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is looking to control Ferguson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thomas avoid being mounted?
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ferguson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thomas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Isaiah Ferguson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Thomas goes for a double leg but Ferguson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ferguson continues to drive forward.

Thomas pulls guard successfully.
Ferguson forces his way into half guard.
Ferguson is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson moves into full mount! Thomas won't be happy about that!
Ferguson is landing with some decent strikes but Thomas is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Thomas gets back to half guard.
Thomas tries to get to full guard but Ferguson has control of the leg.
Thomas tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Thomas is not content to let Ferguson control the position.

Ferguson seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Thomas is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Isaiah Ferguson!