PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rene Simard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rene Simard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thomas
vs
Simard

180 cm
29
170 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

175 cm
23
175 lbs
6 - 15 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sam Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rene Simard!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.
Horrible takedown attempt by Simard or perhaps it was just good defense by Thomas, which made it look bad.
Simard dives in for a single leg takedown but Thomas sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Thomas lands a high kick!

Thomas gets a clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simard fails with a takedown attempt.
Sam Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rene Simard.
Thomas lands a front kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Simard manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Simard doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thomas counters with a two punch combo.

Thomas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Simard looks winded!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Thomas stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Simard doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Thomas counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thomas.

Thomas is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Simard can't fight it off and eventually Thomas manages to take the fight to the floor. Simard looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Simard controls Thomas momentarily but Thomas frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Thomas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Simard is retaining full guard.
Simard wants to sweep here but Thomas controlling him for the moment.
Simard wants to control but Thomas passes easily into half guard.

Thomas is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Thomas lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thomas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thomas's back!

Thomas showing good submission defense here.
Simard is hanging on to Thomas's back as he tries to escape.
Thomas tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Simard looking to control but Thomas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thomas is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simard can't control as he wanted to and Thomas manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Simard trying to control the action but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Simard looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Thomas with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
We've been informed that Simard has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Thomas is defending against the submission attempts here by Simard.
Simard tries to pass to full mount but Thomas defends it.
Thomas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Simard on the ground.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.
Thomas is trying to stand up here but Simard is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Thomas dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Simard as he avoids it easily.
Simard now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Thomas swats away the attempt to clinch by Simard.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Simard as he jumps to the side.

Thomas looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Simard looking for a sweep. Not yet Simard, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Simard trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simard might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Thomas haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Simard is retaining full guard.
Simard 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 postures up and lands a big shot to Simard's brow.
Simard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thomas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Simard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thomas's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Simard from controlling successfully.
Thomas pulls Simard in close to his closed guard and prevents Simard from doing any damage or advancing position.

Simard drops back, looking for a kneebar! Thomas looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Thomas looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Thomas!

Simard is breathing heavily.
Simard tries to improve position but can't.
Thomas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Simard can do to turn this around?
Simard gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simard is trying to maintain the position but Thomas is very close to passing his half guard.
Thomas tries to pass the half guard into mount. Simard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Simard wants to control but Thomas is keeping busy.
Simard tries to get to full guard but Thomas has control of the leg.

Thomas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Simard is just riding it out for now. Thomas eventually gives up the hold.
Thomas winds up and cracks Simard with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

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 working the head and body with strikes.
Simard trying to control here.
Thomas prevents Simard from improving his position.

Thomas decides to return to a standing position.

Thomas clinches up against the cage.

Thomas pulls guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Thomas looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Simard passes into side control.
Thomas pecks away with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Thomas dominated that second round.
That's time! Thomas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Simard shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomas defends it nicely.
Simard darts in trying to clinch
and Thomas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Simard fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Simard tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thomas swivels and escapes.
Sam Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rene Simard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Thomas was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Thomas in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Simard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Simard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simard is letting Thomas control him for a moment.
Simard wants to control but Thomas postures up.
Simard is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Simard seems a little lost for a moment, as Thomas dominates the positioning.

Thomas decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Thomas throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands a really nice looking cross but Simard seems unphased.

Thomas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Simard taking some punishment here, with Thomas in his half guard.
Thomas with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Simard wants to control but Thomas is keeping busy.
Thomas controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Thomas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thomas taking a breather.
Simard has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Thomas after a bit of a struggle.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Simard looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a good cross that connects.

Thomas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sam Thomas is winning the standup battle so far.

Thomas feints and as Simard raises his hands in defense, Thomas changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Simard working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Thomas controls the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simard lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Thomas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thomas has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

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