PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Julian Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cruz Jefferson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jefferson is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Thomas
vs
Jefferson

185 cm
30
178 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

185 cm
34
185 lbs
21 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julian Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 22 - 0, fighting out of London, Cruz Jefferson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left lands for Jefferson.
Thomas throws a hook but Jefferson avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Thomas misses the target.
Thomas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jefferson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Julian Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas lands the left hand.
A clash of legs there as Thomas blocks the low kick.
Thomas throws the left hand but Jefferson avoids the punch easily.
Thomas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jefferson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Jefferson takes a swing at Thomas's ribcage but misses.
A thudding body kick lands there by Jefferson!
Jefferson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Thomas misses the target.
Thomas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jefferson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jefferson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomas.
Jefferson feints and then cracks Thomas's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thomas down.
A shot to the body from Thomas misses
and Jefferson counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas tries a low kick but Jefferson avoids it.
Donk. Thomas catches Jefferson right on the button with a cross.
A chopping leg kick lands by Thomas.
Thomas takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Thomas misses the shot to the body.
Thomas misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thomas checks a low kick from Jefferson.
Thomas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jefferson throws a low kick, looking for Thomas's leg but Thomas calmly moves out of range.
Jefferson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Thomas is able to avoid easily.
A good leg kick by Jefferson.
Jefferson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Jefferson misses with a hook
and Thomas counters with a thumping low kick.
Thomas cracks a nice hook into Jefferson's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Thomas darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jefferson.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
Thomas pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Thomas using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jefferson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thomas utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Jefferson misses with a knee strike.
Jefferson pushes off an throws an elbow but Thomas leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Thomas pushes off an throws an elbow but Jefferson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Jefferson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Thomas's defenses.
Jefferson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Thomas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jefferson.
Thomas lands an elbow inside that Jefferson shrugs off.
Thomas throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Jefferson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Thomas misses with a knee strike.
Thomas looking to throw knees to the head but Jefferson is blocking nicely.
Jefferson lands an elbow inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson dodges an elbow strike from Thomas.
Jefferson throws an elbow but it misses.
Jefferson tries to stall but Thomas uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Jefferson lands a nice uppercut.
Thomas using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jefferson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jefferson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jefferson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thomas lands an elbow just above Jefferson 's eye.
Jefferson lands a shoulder strike.
Thomas avoids a wild elbow strike from Jefferson.
Jefferson pushes off an throws an elbow but Thomas leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but Jefferson blocks it.
Thomas lands a body punch.
Thomas creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Jefferson's defenses.
Thomas creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Thomas is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jefferson is defending well for now.
Jefferson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jefferson avoids the elbow strike from Thomas, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas blocks the elbow strike.
Thomas lands an elbow inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas misses with a punch to the body.
Thomas gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Jefferson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Thomas digs a right hand underneath Jefferson's ribcage. Jefferson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Jefferson lands an elbow inside.
Thomas is looking to break free of the clinch but Jefferson has double underhooks.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but Jefferson blocks it.
Thomas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Thomas throws an elbow but misses.
Thomas tries a body shot but Jefferson blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Jefferson fails to land.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jefferson misses with a knee strike.
Jefferson lands a damaging elbow.
Jefferson blocks an elbow strike from Thomas.
Jefferson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thomas scores with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Thomas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A swing and a miss from Thomas.
Jefferson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thomas.
Thomas throws a right hand that misses
and Jefferson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Thomas throws a jab when Jefferson was well out of range.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
Jefferson pushes off an throws an elbow but Thomas leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Jefferson avoiding damage as Thomas throws knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Thomas as Jefferson tries to tie him up.
Jefferson blocks an elbow strike.
A head punch on the inside from Jefferson fails to land.
Jefferson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Jefferson managing to block the knees to the body from Thomas.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but Jefferson blocks it.
Jefferson blocks an elbow strike.
Thomas lands with a short shot to the head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jefferson is stalling here.
Thomas misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jefferson throws a punch but it's blocked by Thomas.
Jefferson avoids a wild elbow strike from Thomas.
Thomas throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Julian Thomas has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The referee calls for Jefferson to work.
Thomas connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jefferson's face.
Thomas lands a knee to the head.
Thomas pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Thomas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jefferson avoids a wild elbow strike from Thomas.
Thomas throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Jefferson.
Jefferson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Jefferson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Thomas misses with a knee to the head.
Thomas avoids a wild elbow strike from Jefferson.
Thomas tries to land knees in the clinch but Jefferson avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson tries a knee to the head but Thomas blocks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas looking to throw knees to the head but Jefferson is blocking nicely.
Jefferson takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Cruz Jefferson has been cut.
Thomas throws an elbow that misses.
Jefferson has a couple of punches blocked by Thomas.
Thomas takes an elbow to the forehead.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but Jefferson blocks it.
Jefferson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thomas tries to land knees in the clinch but Jefferson avoids the damage to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Thomas throws an elbow but misses.
Thomas lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Jefferson misses with an elbow over the top.
Jefferson tries a knee to the head but Thomas blocks it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Jefferson throws an elbow but misses.
Thomas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jefferson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thomas blocks it with crossed arms.
Thomas blocks an uppercut.
A knee to the head by Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jefferson misses with a punch on the inside.
Thomas using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jefferson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thomas misses with a knee to the head.
Jefferson lands with a right to the head.
Thomas takes a shot to the head.
Thomas lands a damaging elbow.
Thomas throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jefferson blocks it with crossed arms.
Thomas working Jefferson over with knees to the body.
Jefferson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Thomas looking to throw knees to the head but Jefferson is blocking nicely.
Thomas blocking some punches.
Thomas with a knee to the head.
Jefferson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jefferson blocks an elbow strike from Thomas.
Jefferson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jefferson misses with some punches.
Jefferson looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson tries to land a knee to the head but Thomas blocks with his arms.
Jefferson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Thomas's face.
Jefferson managing to block the knees to the body from Thomas.
Jefferson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jefferson misses with the head strike.
Thomas lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Thomas misses with the head strike.
Jefferson blocks an elbow strike from Thomas.
Jefferson scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Thomas is rocked!

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A bone on bone clash there as Thomas blocks the leg kick.
Jefferson throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thomas wants to clinch
and Jefferson counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Jefferson lands a slapping body shot.
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 Julian Thomas will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Cruz Jefferson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Jefferson throws a leg kick but Thomas sees it coming and moves out of range.
Thomas misses with a wild body shot.
Thomas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Jefferson.
Thomas takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jefferson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jefferson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Thomas throws a low kick but Jefferson moves out of range easily.
Thomas lands a right hook to the body.
Jefferson fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thomas.
Jefferson looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Jefferson tries to score with a low kick but Thomas moves his leg out of the way.
Jefferson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thomas's calf.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jefferson.
Thomas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jefferson avoids the body shot from Thomas.
Jefferson cracks the inside of Thomas's front leg.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thomas displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Thomas stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Jefferson.
Jefferson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jefferson throws a lazy right hand but Thomas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Jefferson.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Jefferson keeps it at a distance.
Thomas misses with a body shot
and Jefferson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thomas stuns Jefferson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jefferson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cruz Jefferson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas thows a body shot but no joy.
Jefferson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.
Jefferson swings for the body but Thomas moves out of range.
Jefferson lands a nice looking body shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Jefferson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jefferson throws the left hand but Thomas avoids the punch easily.
Thomas throws a leg kick but Jefferson sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cruz Jefferson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jefferson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Thomass jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Thomas misses with a hook
and Jefferson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Thomas lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Thomas takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Jefferson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Thomas is looking to score with low kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Jefferson.
Thomas misses with a straight left.
Jefferson tries to work over Thomas's front leg with a kick but Thomas checks it.
Thomas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Jefferson pushes Thomas up against the cage in a clinch.
Thomas misses with a knee strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Thomas just misses with a elbow thrown towards Jefferson's brow.
Jefferson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thomas blocks it with crossed arms.
A short right from Jefferson.
A short body shot lands from Thomas as the two fighters clinch.
Julian Thomas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thomas is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Jefferson managing to block the knees to the body from Thomas.
Jefferson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Jefferson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thomas misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Thomas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jefferson.
Jefferson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Thomas's defenses.
Thomas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Jefferson with a knee to the head.
Jefferson lands an uppercut.
Jefferson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Jefferson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Thomas's brow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas avoids the elbow strike from Jefferson, against the cage.
Jefferson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Thomas lands a nice elbow.
Thomas creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Jefferson's defenses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cruz Jefferson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thomas 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Julian Thomas!
A relieved looking Julian Thomas thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.