PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Margarito Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Altin Brcic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thomas
vs
Brcic

195 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
240 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 heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Margarito Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Altin Brcic!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Brcic tries to keep at a distance but Thomas has taken the fight into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Thomas takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Brcic successfully pulls guard.
Brcic wants to control the position but Thomas says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Thomas seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Brcic trying to control here.
Thomas could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Thomas takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brcic has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thomas is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brcic missing with punches from the bottom.
Brcic is trying to escape back to his feet but Thomas uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas decides to stand back up. Thomas steps back and let's Brcic get back to his feet.
Altin Brcic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Brcic is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thomas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Brcic clinches with his opponent.

Thomas jumps guard and drags Brcic to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Brcic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Brcic drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Brcic jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Thomas has his hands on Brcic's head, controlling the position.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Thomas pulls Brcic in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Brcic is aware though and is defending well.
Thomas working a defensive guard here.

Thomas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Brcic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Brcic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Brcic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas working for submissions but it's allowed Brcic to get to half guard.

Brcic postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Thomas to stand up.

Brcic darts in and clinches Thomas up against the cage.
Brcic blocks a body shot from Thomas.
Brcic leaning his opponent against the cage.
Thomas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Brcic walks away with a smile on his face. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Brcic moves into range and clinches up with Thomas.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Thomas as Brcic tries to tie him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Brcic breaks from the clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Brcic enables Thomas to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Brcic manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Brcic looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Thomas won't allow Brcic to sweep him here.
Brcic throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brcic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thomas is one step ahead there.
Thomas would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
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 Margarito Thomas will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Brcic shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Thomas is trying to defend but Brcic finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Thomas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Brcic lands a nice short elbow.
Thomas keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brcic trying to control from half guard but Thomas is working away.
Brcic missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Thomas makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brcic throws a leg kick

and Thomas counters with a single leg into guard. Brcic didn't expect that.
Brcic working a defensive guard here.
Thomas is stalling in the full guard.
Brcic is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brcic is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Brcic is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thomas chips away with some ground and pound.
Brcic wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Thomas landing some decent shots from guard.
Thomas wanted to stand there but Brcic had control of the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Brcic. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thomas appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Brcic swinging wildly here.
Thomas half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Thomas stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thomas wants it to stay on the feet.
Brcic is breathing heavily.

Thomas gets caught napping as Brcic dives in and scores a takedown. Thomas manages to retain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas is pulling down on Brcic's head to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brcic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thomas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thomas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Brcic from controlling successfully.
Thomas wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Brcic misses with a takedown attempt - Thomas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brcic with a poor takedown

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Margarito Thomas dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Brcic stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Brcic wants it to stay on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thomas is defended easily by Brcic.
Brcic misses with a head kick.

Brcic closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Thomas did well to prevent Brcic getting side control.
Thomas trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas looks like he's trying to stand up.
Thomas has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Brcic is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brcic seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Brcic wants to control but Thomas is keeping him busy.

Brcic is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thomas has managed to free his arm - good work.
Brcic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Thomas manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brcic clinches.
Brcic being controlled against the cage.
Thomas taking a breather.
Thomas slowing the pace effectively.
Brcic tries to score a body lock takedown but Thomas shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Thomas pulls guard.
Brcic is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Brcic would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Brcic scoring with some ground and pound.
Thomas seems keen to control Brcic's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas continues to stall.
Brcic won't allow Thomas to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck for Brcic with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Thomas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Thomas working Brcic over with strikes.
Thomas passes into side control, despite Brcic's attempt to control the position.
Brcic is looking for a sweep.
Altin Brcic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Margarito Thomas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brcic keeps trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Margarito Thomas.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thomas, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Margarito Thomas!