PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mang Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Hannibal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mang Thomas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thomas
vs
Hannibal

200 cm
24
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

191 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mang Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mark Hannibal!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Michael Johnstone and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hannibal wants to clinch but Thomas slips to the side

and Thomas counters by clinching up.
Hannibal tries to pull guard but Thomas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thomas looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.
Hannibal misses with a body kick.

Thomas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Thomas moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Thomas working the ground and pound.

It looks like Mark Hannibal has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hannibal avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Thomas.
Hannibal tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hannibal keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hannibal some visible discomfort.
Thomas happy to just control the position for now.
Hannibal wants to control but Thomas postures up.
Hannibal is pushing Thomas's head away, looking to escape. Thomas manages to hold on to the position though.
The strikes coming from Thomas are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Hannibal takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Hannibal is trying to escape the position but Thomas is controlling the position.
Hannibal prevents Thomas from moving into mount.
Thomas trying to control the action but Hannibal is working from the bottom.
Hannibal is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Thomas asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thomas tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hannibal's legs.
You can see the frustration on Hannibal's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hannibal takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Thomas working the ground and pound.
Thomas throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas staying calm.
Thomas has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Thomas working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hannibal tries to bench press Thomas off him but Thomas keeps the position.
Hannibal regains half guard there - taking advantage of Thomas's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Thomas seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Thomas is trying to control the action in half guard but Hannibal is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas controlling the action here.
Thomas wants to stand up but Hannibal is controlling the position.
Thomas looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Hannibal is refusing to be controlled, as Thomas sits in half guard.
Thomas content to control rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mang Thomas wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hannibal swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Thomas decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Thomas takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mang Thomas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mark Hannibal's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hannibal doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Thomas closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hannibal did well to prevent Thomas getting side control.
Thomas is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Thomas lands a nice shot to the head.
Thomas with the ground and pound from mount.
Hannibal really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Thomas is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Hannibal to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Hannibal shrugs it off.
Hannibal wants to get back to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thomas tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas working for a submission but Hannibal is keeping him at bay.
Hannibal tries to hold on but Thomas pushes him away.
Hannibal is squirming around, avoiding Thomas's attempts to control the action.
Hannibal tries to buck Thomas off but he can't manage it.
Thomas controlling from the full mount.
Hannibal tries to buck Thomas off but Thomas takes his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Hannibal has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Will Thomas go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Thomas has the hooks in and he's looking for a rear naked choke here. Hannibal is defending well but eventually Thomas manages to get an arm under the chin and he's locked on the RNC! Hannibal has no choice but to tap now! He does! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mang Thomas!