PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Van Erickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Isiah Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Erickson
vs
Thomas

164 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Van Erickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Isiah Thomas!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Erickson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thomas.
Thomas with a poor takedown

and Erickson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Thomas is trying to stand.
Erickson wants to pass the guard but Thomas is defending well.

Erickson wants to work for an arm triangle but Thomas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Erickson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson is taking a breather. Thomas says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Thomas is concentrating on defense, preventing Erickson from advancing position.
Thomas is trying to control but can't.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Erickson really is a fat lump.

Thomas throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Erickson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Thomas is in Erickson's guard.

Thomas drops back looking for a leg! Erickson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Erickson manages to kick Thomas off! Thomas jumps back into Erickson's guard.
Erickson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Erickson wants to sweep but no luck.

Erickson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Thomas trying to control but Erickson is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas wants to stand but Erickson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Thomas passes into half guard.
Thomas is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson is trying to stand.

Thomas is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Erickson sees it coming and defends easily.
Thomas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thomas is trying to control. Erickson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thomas prevents Erickson from standing back up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Thomas wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A frustrated look appears on Erickson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Thomas stalls.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thomas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Isiah Thomas dominated that round.
That's time! Erickson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.
Thomas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thomas fails to pull guard.
A left hand lands to the body for Thomas.

Thomas gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Erickson has one foot on Thomas's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thomas.
Thomas throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Van Erickson has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas shoots for a double leg takedown but Erickson sprawls well. He's pushed Thomas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Van Erickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Isiah Thomas.
Thomas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt
and Erickson counters with a big head kick but Thomas shrugs it off.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Erickson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thomas.
Isiah Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Erickson.
Sloppy strikes from Thomas. Those never looked like landing.
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Erickson stuffs the takedown.

Thomas clinches up with Erickson and pushes him back against the cage.

Erickson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Erickson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erickson connects with a solid leg kick.
Erickson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thomas drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Erickson defends it well.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thomas is looking to take this one to the mat.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Thomas shoots in for a double leg but Erickson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Erickson is looking for a counter combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
Erickson misses with a short punch on the inside.

Erickson pulls guard effortlessly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erickson has control of Thomas's left arm, preventing Thomas from doing any damage.
Erickson working a defensive guard but Thomas manages to pass into side control anyway.
Thomas wants to control but Erickson is keeping him busy.
Thomas working away.

Thomas stands up.
Van Erickson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Erickson is looking for a counter combo.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Erickson.
Thomas replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Erickson blocks it well.

Thomas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thomas prevents Erickson from breaking the clinch.
Thomas manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Thomas is trying to pull guard but Erickson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Isiah Thomas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Van Erickson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Erickson leaves Thomas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Thomas just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromErickson.
Van Erickson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Erickson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Erickson throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.

Thomas moves into the clinch.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Thomas pushes Erickson up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Erickson to keep the fight standing.
Erickson tries to break free but Thomas pushes him back against the cage.

Erickson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas closes the distance and pushes Erickson back into the cage.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Thomas darts in and clinches Erickson up against the cage.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Erickson manages to get underhooks.
Van Erickson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Isiah Thomas.
Erickson wants to get back to striking at distance but Thomas won't allow it.
Nice elbow from Thomas.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Erickson.
Thomas darts in looking for a takedown but Erickson gets double underhooks and turns Thomas into the cage.
Thomas avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas has his takedown stuffed

and Erickson counters with a takedown into side control.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet but Erickson is dominant here and he's now got Thomas's back!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
What can Thomas do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Thomas rolls, trying to escape but Erickson keeps control of the position.
Thomas is trying to stand back up.
Erickson lands punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas fending off the submission attempt from Erickson.
Thomas tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Erickson looking to control but Thomas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Erickson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Thomas has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Thomas is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Thomas tries to improve his position but instead Erickson has taken his back!
Erickson lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Thomas hold on?!

Thomas showing good submission defense here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thomas covering up well and avoiding damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Van Erickson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thomas has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Van Erickson!