PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Donat Simon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lincoln Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Pulse of the Maggots. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Simon
vs
Thomas

180 cm
18
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
217 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

5th Round

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 St Petersburg, Donat Simon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lincoln Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas misses with the combination.
Thomas looks to throw the jab but Simon is out of range.
Thomas shoots in and drives through. Simon sprawls well.
Simon showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thomas.
Thomas throws a series of punches but Simon moves out of range.
Lincoln Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Simon has managed to clinch.
Thomas lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thomas is trying to break the clinch but Simon has him pressed against the cage.
Simon drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thomas pulls his leg out and moves away.

Simon shoots in and bounces Thomas off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Thomas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Simon. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is looking to stand up but Simon isn't so interested in that idea.
Simon passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The referee asks Simon politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Simon prefers to stall for the moment though.
Simon prevents Thomas from escaping the position.
Thomas tries to buck Simon off but Simon is having none of it.

Simon tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Simon staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Simon has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Simon there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Thomas is trying desperately to improve position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Thomas can do anything to dispel that myth.
Simon fails to take his opponent's back.
Thomas tries to lock up and control but Simon gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simon raining down shots from the mount!
Thomas is squirming around, avoiding Simon's attempts to control the action.

Simon working for a guillotine from mount but Thomas is in no mood to give up.

Simon with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Thomas is squirming around, avoiding Simon's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thomas is in all sorts of trouble here.

Simon is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Thomas can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Thomas is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Thomas working to try and regain half guard.
Thomas wants to control but Simon is having none of it.
Thomas is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Thomas looks gassed!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simon tries to control but Thomas wriggling away.
Thomas is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donat Simon 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.

Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thomas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thomas tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Simon decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thomas's guard.
Simon stops Thomas from standing up.
Simon forces his way into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Simon in particular looking to stall.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Simon passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Thomas!

Simon working for a submission but Thomas is keeping him at bay.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Thomas is holding on tight.
Simon looking to control but Thomas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Simon is really struggling to control Thomas but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Thomas is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Simon lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Simon jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Thomas manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Thomas is looking to get back to his feet here but Simon is keeping cool and he's managed to take Thomas's back.
Simon thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Thomas looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Thomas staying busy and making it hard for Simon to control.

Simon looking for the RNC.

Simon working for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simon is not going to allow Thomas to sit and survive in this position.
Thomas rolls, trying to escape but Simon keeps control of the position.

Simon working for the choke.
Simon wants to control the position but Thomas frees himself and scrambles - Simon manages to regain control in side control.
Simon trying to control the action but Thomas is working from the bottom.

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.
Thomas is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Simon asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Thomas is not content to let Simon control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thomas misses with a jab, cross combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simon takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donat Simon dominated that second round.
That's time! Simon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Simon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomas throws a right and a left that both miss.
Simon tries to clinch up.
Simon tries to clinch up.
Simon slips under a jab from Thomas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Simon pushes Thomas up against the cage in a clinch.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Simon steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Thomas misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon tries to clinch up
and Thomas counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Thomas sizes up Simon with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Thomas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Simon moves away.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A right-left combo lands from Thomas.
Simon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Simon clinches but Thomas breaks the clinch

and Thomas holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas can't break the clinch.

Simon gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
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 thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Simon tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
Simon is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Simon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.
Thomas wants to stand and escape but Simon is having none of it.

Simon thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Simon tries to clinch there but Thomas circles away.
Thomas throws a right hand that Simon ducks under and follows up with a left that Simon also avoids with ease.

Simon scores a takedown into full mount!
Simon misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Simon wants to control the pace but Thomas is squirming around nicely.
Simon lands a big elbow.
Donat Simon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simon tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Thomas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Simon controlling the position easily from mount.
Lincoln Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas is in all sorts of trouble here.
Simon trying to control but Thomas is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lincoln Thomas.
I think Simon 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donat Simon!