PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gerardo Avila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Theo Thonking (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gerardo Avila has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Avila
vs
Thonking

191 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

178 cm
23
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Gerardo Avila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Theo Thonking!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Avila enables Thonking to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Avila manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Thonking is looking to stand up but Avila won't let him.
Avila looking for a sweep. Not yet Avila, not yet.
Thonking with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thonking would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Thonking is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Thonking throws a big elbow that misses.
Thonking lands a couple of decent looking shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thonking wanted to stand there but Avila had control of the position.
Thonking stops Avila from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avila working a defensive guard but Thonking passes into half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Avila showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thonking.
As Thonking tries to get set, Avila tries to push him back and clinch up but Thonking manages to avoid the attempt.

Thonking rushes Avila and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Avila looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Avila successfully pulls guard.
Avila wants to sweep but no luck.
Thonking trying to control the position from guard on top but Avila is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thonking is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Avila is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Avila has escaped and now he's on top!
Avila missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Avila throws a big right hand that misses.
Avila working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thonking has momentary wrist control but Avila slips an elbow through the middle.
Thonking trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thonking wants to hit a switch here but Avila passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Thonking there!
Thonking is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Avila sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Thonking flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Thonking blocking the ground and pound.
Thonking throwing hammer fists to the chest of Avila. What's that going to do exactly?
Thonking keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Avila 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.

Avila is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Thonking can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Thonking sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Avila scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gerardo Avila will probably get the nod.
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.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thonking is pressed up against the cage. Avila has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Thonking down to the mat. Thonking avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Avila misses the shot to the body.
Avila dodges the punch combination from Thonking.
Thonking tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Avila manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thonking cracks the inside of Avila's front leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thonking is looking to slow Avila down with leg kicks.
Thonking 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.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thonking.
Avila wants to get back to his feet but Thonking is dominant here and he's now got Avila's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerardo Avila overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Avila turns into Thonking and is now in his guard.
Avila landing with the ground and pound.
Avila loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Avila will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Thonking has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Avila has passed into side control.

Avila swings around for an armbar but Thonking sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Avila's guard.
Thonking is looking to work some ground and pound but Avila has wrist control.
Avila seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thonking wants to stand but Avila has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thonking trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thonking wants to control from the top but Avila keeps moving.
Thonking wants to pass the guard but Avila is keeping the position.
Avila looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thonking throws a strike but Avila rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Thonking working a defensive guard but Avila passes into half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thonking fails in his attempt to clinch.

Avila moves into range and clinches up with Thonking.
Avila jumps guard but Thonking stands there with Avila around his waist. Avila gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Thonking has hold of one of Avila's legs. Avila is fighting the takedown attempt but Thonking gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Avila has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Thonking is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Avila tries to pull guard but Thonking won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerardo Avila. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thonking wants the takedown. Avila is fighting it off but Thonking persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Avila's guard against the cage.
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!
Thonking is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Avila manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thonking manages to get himself to full guard.

Thonking not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thonking is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Avila postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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 Gerardo Avila will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Avila throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Thonking.

It looks like Theo Thonking has been cut.
Avila takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thonking is looking to land body kicks.
Avila drops down looking for a counter takedown but Thonking sprawls and moves away.
Thonking lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Gerardo Avila has been cut.

Thonking drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Thonking content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Avila tries to buck Thonking off but Thonking is having none of it.

Thonking stands up and we're back to a striking 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!

Thonking drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avila wants to control but Thonking postures up.
Thonking wants to take a breather but Avila manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Thonking.
Thonking throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thonking wants to stand but Avila is controlling his posture from full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Avila is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Thonking striking off his back but it's not causing Avila any problems.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Avila throwing strikes but missing.
Avila won't allow Thonking to sweep him here.

Thonking working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Avila has passed into half guard!
Thonking takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Avila missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Avila seems to be working for a kimura but Thonking defends the submission attempt.
Thonking is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thonking is looking to control Avila's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thonking avoid being mounted?

Avila is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Thonking is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Avila's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Avila's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avila looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Thonking looking for the RNC.
Thonking has Avila flattened out and is raining down punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Avila trying to control the hands but Thonking breaks the grip.
Avila is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Theo Thonking has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gerardo Avila is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thonking scores with punches from the back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Theo Thonking comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Avila 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Gerardo Avila!