PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alex Asztalos (ranked 150 p4p, 23 weight class) and Derrick Thomas (ranked 664 p4p, 95 weight class). Asztalos comes into the arena with Dethroned Emperor by Celtic Frost blaring out of the sound system. Thomas has chosen Shinedown - as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Asztalos
vs
Thomas

188 cm
33
199 lbs
27 - 12 - 0

191 cm
27
189 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
FORCEE

FORCEE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Asztalos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Derrick Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asztalos slips under a jab.
Asztalos throws a leg kick but Thomas sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Thomas was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Alex Asztalos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Thomas lands a body shot.
Asztalos connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Asztalos scores with a jab to the head.
Asztalos throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thomas.
Asztalos has been working on his boxing with his coaches at ~T~ Troid - Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Asztalos just misses with a punch to the body.
Thomas misses with a straight right.
Asztalos just misses with a punch to the body.
Thomas lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Asztalos avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Asztalos misses the target.
Thomas misses with a body punch
and Asztalos counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thomas throws a low kick but Asztalos avoids it.
Asztalos throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Asztalos uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Thomas has time to react.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Asztalos bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Asztalos misses with a hook. Thomas ducked under it nicely.
Asztalos lands with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asztalos ducks under a wild hook from Thomas.
Thomas takes one on the button.
Thomas moves out of range as Asztalos strikes.
Asztalos throws out a powerful jab.
Asztalos lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Thomas goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Asztalos on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thomas. Thomas obviously looking to wear him down.
Asztalos works Thomas's body with a nice hook.
Asztalos throws a jab but it's blocked by Thomas.
A big left from Asztalos misses.
Asztalos thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thomas lands a glancing blow to the side of Asztalos's head.
Asztalos takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Thomas chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Asztalos can pounce on him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A clash of legs there as Thomas blocks the low kick.
Thomas looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Thomas.
Asztalos lands a nice looking kick to the body. Thomas takes a step back to recover.
Asztalos takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asztalos blocks a low kick nicely.
Asztalos with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Asztalos throws a leg kick
and Asztalos takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thomas lands a nice shot to the body.
Asztalos slips under a jab from Thomas.
Asztalos throws a low kick but Thomas moves out of range easily.
Asztalos connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Thomas's hands.
Thomas thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Asztalos if he has to take too many more of those.
Asztalos lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Asztalos throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thomas.
Asztalos scores with a leg kick.
Thomas lands a nice shot to the body.
Asztalos bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Asztalos is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Asztalos fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Thomas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A counter left hand to the body from Asztalos misses its target.
A good leg kick by Asztalos.
Thomas looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas takes a swing at Asztalos's ribcage but misses.
Thomas stuns Asztalos with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A big right from Asztalos misses.
Thomas swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Thomas throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Thomas feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Asztalos's calf.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
Thomas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thomas with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Asztalos misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thomas prevents a body shot from Asztalos.
Asztalos doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Asztalos.
Asztalos struggles to land a body shot inside as Thomas controls his hands.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Asztalos lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Thomas.
Thomas lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Asztalos doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Asztalos lands a shot to the body.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas on the wrong end of a nice hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jab, jab by Asztalos - just one landing.
Thomas throws a low kick but it's checked well by Asztalos.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.
Asztalos lands a slapping body shot.

Thomas forces Asztalos back against the cage and clinches.
Asztalos misses with a short punch on the inside.
Asztalos doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thomas lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Asztalos can't find room to land a body shot as Thomas controls the action.
Asztalos can't find room to land a body shot as Thomas controls the action.
Asztalos working aggressively here.
Thomas has a couple of punches blocked by Asztalos.
Asztalos misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Asztalos tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.
Asztalos tries a body shot but Thomas blocks it.
Asztalos has a couple of punches blocked by Thomas.
Asztalos takes a knee right on the jaw!
Asztalos tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.
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 Alex Asztalos will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Asztalos lands a jab to Thomas's midsection.
Asztalos connects with a looping right hand.

Thomas darts in and clinches Asztalos up against the cage.
Asztalos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Asztalos scores with a nice hook to the head.
Asztalos scores with a nice hook to the head.
Asztalos misses with a body punch.
Asztalos throws a punch but it's blocked by Thomas.
Thomas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Asztalos misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Asztalos fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Asztalos.
Thomas lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Asztalos lands with a right to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thomas can't find room to land a body shot as Asztalos controls the action.
Asztalos throws a head punch that misses.
Asztalos tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thomas working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Thomas is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Asztalos gets through Thomas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Thomas landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas tries to land knees in the clinch but Asztalos avoids the damage to the body.
Asztalos blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A head punch on the inside from Asztalos fails to land.
Thomas lands a body punch in the clinch.
Thomas makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Thomas - that landed with a thud.
Thomas with a knee to the head.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thomas lands a body shot.
Thomas lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Asztalos takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Thomas lands with a good body shot.
Thomas chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Thomas misses with a straight left.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas misses with a looping right.
Thomas lands with a good body shot.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Thomas in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Asztalos tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thomas was well out of range. Poor timing from Asztalos.
Asztalos backing away here, and Thomas unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Asztalos throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Asztalos.
A quick step to the side and Asztalos tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thomas moves out of range of the strikes.
Asztalos takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Thomas - that will leave a mark!
Thomas's jab looks to have found its range, popping Asztalos under the eye.
Asztalos tries to work over Thomas's front leg with a kick but Thomas checks it.
As Asztalos backs off Thomas throws a huge counter combo but Asztalos manages to avoid it all.
A bone on bone clash there as Asztalos blocks the leg kick.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.
Asztalos connects with a body shot.
Thomas getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Thomas slips a straight right by Asztalos.
Thomas is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Asztalos with a body shot.
Thomas lands a nice shot that snaps Asztalos's head back.
Thomas displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Asztalos throws out the jab.
Thomas scores with a crisp jab that stopped Asztalos in his tracks.
Thomas looks to land a right hand but Asztalos moved out of range.
Thomas slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas scores with a leg kick.
Thomas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thomas bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Asztalos throws a hook but Thomas avoids it easily.
Thomas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Asztalos swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Thomas.
Derrick Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Asztalos on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thomas. Thomas obviously looking to wear him down.
Thomas cracks Asztalos with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Thomas avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thomas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nice defenses there by Thomas.
Asztalos darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Thomas throws a push kick but Asztalos slaps the foot to one side.
Asztalos throws a quick inside leg kick.
Thomas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Asztalos.
Thomas appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Thomas blocks a jab.
Asztalos has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Asztalos there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Asztalos feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Thomass jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Asztalos is looking to score with low kicks.
Asztalos fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Thomas is out of range.
Asztalos does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Thomas displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Asztalos throws out the jab.
Thomas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Asztalos.
Asztalos closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Asztalos just misses with a punch to the body.
A swing and a miss from Thomas.
Asztalos takes a jab right on the kisser.

Asztalos is rocked!

Thomas gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Oh Asztalos is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Thomas softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thomas unloads with a big right hand that wobbles Asztalos! He's leaning against the cage trying to keep his feet but Thomas is unloading with more strikes now! Asztalos drops to his knees and the referee stops the fight for a TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Derrick Thomas!
Derrick Thomas made sure to mention his sponsor, FORCEE in his post fight interview.
Alex Asztalos spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll be back.'.