PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Elliot Ball (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elliot Ball has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ball
vs
Thomas

196 cm
24
140 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

160 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elliot Ball!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomas dives in and grabs Ball's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ball pushes down on Thomas's head and hops out.
Thomas looks for a takedown but Ball sprawls well.
Elliot Ball has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Thomas.
Ball lands with a kick to the temple. Thomas shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Tom Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ball fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thomas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ball circles away.
Ball keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ball was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas throws a low kick but Ball avoids it.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomas cracks a nice hook into Ball's ribs.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ball paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thomas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ball cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ball stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ball wants it to stay on the feet.
A little feinted left hand from Ball on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ball showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thomas.
Thomas throws a hook but Ball avoids it easily.
Thomas shoots in and drives through. Ball sprawls well.
Thomas shoots in but no luck this time.
Thomas throws a head kick but Ball moves out of range.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Ball pushes him off.
Ball throws a quick counter kick to the body but Thomas avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ball pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thomas gets off balance looking for a body kick
enabling Ball to counter with a crisp jab.
Thomas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ball circles away.
Thomas wants to clinch.
Ball looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Ball circles away.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but Ball shows good takedown defense.
Ball throws a quick counter head kick but Thomas was just out of range.
Thomas looks for a takedown but Ball sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ball with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Thomas to score with a decent uppercut.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ball as he avoids it easily.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.
Thomas steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Ball. That one must have hurt.
No luck for Ball with that takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thomas pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Ball back to the cage. Thomas follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elliot Ball dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thomas misses with a takedown attempt
and Ball counters with a nice low kick that buckles Thomas's knee momentarily.
Ball keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thomas throws a right hand that Ball ducks under and follows up with a left that Ball also avoids with ease.
Thomas is looking to clinch but Ball is avoiding it.
Tom Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ball pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ball really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
No luck for Thomas with that takedown attempt.
Ball throws a counter high kick but Thomas was just alert enough to avoid it.
Elliot Ball has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tom Thomas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch but Ball swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thomas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ball's waist but Ball gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thomas off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ball makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Thomas tries to clinch up.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ball swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thomas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ball circles away.
Ball throws a big counter combination but Thomas scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thomas throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Ball does a little dance to reset his feet.
A low kick from Thomas is predictable there
and Ball makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Thomas really felt that one!
Ball circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ball jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ball keeps the fight on the outside.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Ball circles away and keeps his distance.
Ball defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thomas.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Elliot Ball is winning the standup battle so far.
Thomas finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ball throws a counter high kick but Thomas was just alert enough to avoid it.
Thomas shoots in but Ball avoids the takedown attempt easily.
It appears Ball was looking to counter with a kick there.
Thomas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ball manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ball appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ball fires out a quick counter leg kick but Thomas just manages to avoid it.
Nice shot lands for Thomas.
Thomas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ball manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ball swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Thomas fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Ball circles away and keeps his distance.
Thomas tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ball is able to avoid easily.
Ball feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Thomas throws a head kick but Ball moves out of range.
Ball jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
Ball displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thomas.
Ball was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ball but Ball pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thomas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thomas throws a one two combo.

Ball is rocked!
Thomas throws a body kick that misses.
Oh Ball is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Thomas tries for a takedown but Ball sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ball quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Thomas cracks Ball with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Ball tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Thomas pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Ball is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tom Thomas!