PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Thomason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Tucker Jr (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.

Thomason
vs
Tucker Jr

185 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 Hilo, Craig Thomason!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, David Tucker Jr!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Chris Saunders and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Tucker Jr misses.
Tucker Jr misses with a looping right.
Tucker Jr tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thomason was well out of range. Poor timing from Tucker Jr.
Thomason defending well as Tucker Jr loads up on a big left hand.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thomason keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tucker Jr's efforts to push away.

Thomason's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tucker Jr sizes up Thomason with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Tucker Jr pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A big right from Tucker Jr misses.
A combination from Tucker Jr does no damage.
Thomason uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tucker Jr.
Tucker Jr throws a big shot that misses.

Thomason scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Thomason stops Tucker Jr from getting back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thomason decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Tucker Jr misses with a hook

and Thomason counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thomason.
Tucker Jr can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Thomason controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tucker Jr wants to get back to his feet but Thomason is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Thomason trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tucker Jr is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Thomason dives into side control.
Tucker Jr pushes Thomason away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Thomason gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Tucker Jr takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Thomason happy to just control the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker Jr tries to escape but Thomason is in control.
Tucker Jr is trying to escape the position but Thomason is controlling the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Tucker Jr is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Thomason has just dragged him back down to the mat.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Craig Thomason just wasn't active enough.

Tucker Jr gets tackled into the cage by Thomason. Thomason maintains the clinch.

Thomason pulls guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tucker Jr throws an elbow that misses. Thomason uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tucker Jr's guard. Nice move by Thomason!
Thomason stops Tucker Jr from standing up.
Thomason is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tucker Jr wants to get back to his feet but Thomason is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Thomason stays in close to Tucker Jr's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Craig Thomason wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Thomason ducks under a wild hook from Tucker Jr.
Tucker Jr misses with an uppercut.
Tucker Jr throws a lazy uppercut
and Thomason counters with an outside leg kick.
Tucker Jr throws a lazy right hand but Thomason sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tucker Jr fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Thomason steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tucker Jr.
Thomason shoots in for a takedown but Tucker Jr shows good takedown defense.
Tucker Jr misses with a combination

and Thomason counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Tucker Jr!

Thomason is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tucker Jr has escaped the position, nice work there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tucker Jr wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomason is working Tucker Jr over with some ground and pound from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tucker Jr wants to get back to his feet but Thomason drags him back down.
Tucker Jr looks winded!

Thomason wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tucker Jr, who protects the arm well.
Tucker Jr bucks up and tries to throw Thomason off but instead Thomason has got his back!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
I would not like to be Tucker Jr right now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Thomason dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thomason throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tucker Jr was covering up waiting for the punch and Thomason finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Craig Thomason overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tucker Jr is looking to stand up but Thomason isn't so interested in that idea.
Tucker Jr is breathing heavily.
Thomason is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Craig Thomason has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Tucker Jr throws a right hand that misses
and Thomason counters with a two punch combo.
Tucker Jr throws an off balance right hand
and Thomason counters with a big head kick but Tucker Jr shrugs it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thomason 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomason is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tucker Jr wants to get back to his feet but Thomason is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Thomason content to stall in guard here.
Tucker Jr wants to stand but Thomason is controlling the position.

Craig Thomason has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Tucker Jr throws a body punch but Thomason moves out of range.

Thomason looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Thomason moves into full mount! Tucker Jr won't be happy about that!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tucker Jr is trying to stand up.
Thomason controlling from the full mount.
Tucker Jr is trying to stand.
Tucker Jr is trying to stand but he's just given Thomason his back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomason controls the action.

Thomason has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Tucker Jr! Can he survive? No! He's out! Thomason gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Craig Thomason!