PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Arnoldo Thomas (ranked 7199 p4p, 0 weight class) and Russell Bell (ranked 9657 p4p, 496 weight class). Russell Bell told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Thomas
vs
Bell

166 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

169 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Arnoldo Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Russell Bell!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Colin Fotheringham and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas tries to bum rush Bell with a series of wild strikes but Bell uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Bell closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thomas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bell prevents it.
Thomas tries to score a body lock takedown but Bell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Bell manages to break the clinch.

Bell drives through and clinches with Thomas against the cage.
Thomas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bell just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arnoldo Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bell tries to land a knee to the head but Thomas blocks with his arms.

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

Bell gets the takedown into side control.

Thomas throws Bell to one side and escapes!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas pushes Bell up against the cage in a clinch.
Thomas is trying to maintain a safe position but Bell gets an underhook and turns Thomas into the cage.

Bell manages to break the clinch.
Bell throws a nice looking combination but Thomas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Bell.
Bell chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Bell fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thomas sprawls well initially but Bell persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Thomas makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thomas misses with a double jab.
Bell ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bell gets tackled into the cage by Thomas. Thomas maintains the clinch.
Thomas is trying to pull guard but Bell turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Bell escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bell throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Thomas tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Bell is in Thomas's guard.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet but Bell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Thomas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bell manages to get himself to full guard.

Thomas is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thomas stays in close to Bell's body and controls the position.

Thomas stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Thomas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Thomas has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to pull guard but Bell forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Thomas tries to pull guard but Bell forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Thomas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bell just stands there and leans against the cage.

Bell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Bell.

Bell closes the distance and clinches.

Bell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bell throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
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 Arnoldo Thomas will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Thomas gets caught napping as Bell dives in and scores a takedown. Thomas manages to retain guard.

Bell stands up from Thomas's guard - Bell perhaps looking for a knockout.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bell blocks a head kick by Thomas.
Bell throws a counter combo.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Bell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bell changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Thomas throws a low kick, looking for Bell's leg but Bell calmly moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bell digs a good body shot into Thomas's ribs.
Bell misses with a series of wild punches.
Thomas jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bell drives through with a takedown into guard.

Thomas pushes Bell off and gets back to his feet.

Thomas instigates a clinch.
Thomas has Bell pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bell manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Thomas is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bell to keep the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bell breaks from the clinch.
Thomas blocks a head kick by Bell.
Bell misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thomas seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Thomas clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Bell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bell throws a nice head kick!
Sloppy strikes from Thomas. Those never looked like landing.

Bell clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is trying to pull guard but Bell has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arnoldo Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Arnoldo Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bell throws a body punch but Thomas moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Thomas. Those never looked like landing.
Thomas is looking to clinch.

Bell clinches.

Bell breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thomas is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bell to keep the fight standing.

Bell has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Thomas is trying to keep an underhook but Bell manages to get the takedown into half guard.
It looks like Bell is going to stand back up.

Thomas has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Bell is on him like a limpet, forcing Thomas back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Bell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Thomas gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bell to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Thomas wriggles free and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Russell Bell will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bell misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thomas went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Thomas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thomas tries to clinch but Bell moves out of range.
Thomas has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Thomas tries to land a body kick
and Bell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bell closes the distance and clinches.
Russell Bell seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bell is pressed up against the cage. Thomas has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bell down to the mat. Bell avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.
Bell prevents the takedown attempt.
Bell gets underhooks to prevent Thomas's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arnoldo Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bell manages to break the clinch.
Bell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thomas half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Bell scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Thomas manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Bell keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bell tightens his grip and picks Thomas up, before dumping him to the ground. Thomas manages to land in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bell wants to stand but Thomas has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bell prevents Thomas from getting back to his feet.
Thomas looking for a sweep. Not yet Thomas, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but Bell is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bell gets to his feet - Thomas follows without any prompting.
Thomas misses the shot to the body.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bell.
Thomas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Thomas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Russell Bell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bell goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Thomas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Bell circles away.
Thomas wants to clinch but Bell slips to the side
and Bell counters with a three punch combo that has Thomas backing up. Thomas nods at Bell to acknowledge the strikes.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bell stops a takedown attempt from Thomas.
Thomas drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bell gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Bell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Russell Bell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bell has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russell Bell!