PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Robert Vanderwiel (ranked 5307 p4p, 252 weight class) and Lee Thomas (ranked 5514 p4p, 258 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Vanderwiel
vs
Thomas

175 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
139 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Robert Vanderwiel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lee Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas dives in and grabs Vanderwiel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vanderwiel pushes down on Thomas's head and hops out.
Lee Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas tries to clinch but Vanderwiel moves out of range.
It looked like Vanderwiel was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Thomas scores with a nice body kick.

Vanderwiel gets a clinch.
Thomas blocks an elbow strike.
Thomas wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Vanderwiel misses with an elbow strike.
Thomas blocks the elbow strike.
Vanderwiel content to slow the pace in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vanderwiel throws an elbow but it misses.
Vanderwiel presses Thomas against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Vanderwiel misses with an elbow strike.
Thomas is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Vanderwiel to keep the fight standing.
Vanderwiel pushes off an throws an elbow but Thomas leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Thomas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vanderwiel is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Robert Vanderwiel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Thomas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanderwiel lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A body shot lands from Vanderwiel.
Vanderwiel prevents Thomas from breaking the clinch.
Thomas takes an elbow to the temple.
A right hook to the body lands for Vanderwiel.
Thomas looks winded!
Vanderwiel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A hook to the body from Vanderwiel.
Vanderwiel content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Vanderwiel.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Vanderwiel lands a body punch in the clinch.
Vanderwiel looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Thomas jumps guard but Vanderwiel turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
A body shot lands from Vanderwiel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanderwiel lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Lee Thomas has been cut.
Vanderwiel stalling the fight.
Vanderwiel works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Vanderwiel lands an elbow inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vanderwiel lands an elbow inside.
Vanderwiel scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Vanderwiel lands a nice shot to the body.
Vanderwiel is leaning against Thomas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Vanderwiel stalling against the ropes.
Vanderwiel pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Thomas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A hook to the body from Vanderwiel.
Vanderwiel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Thomas blocks the elbow strike.
A right hand to the body from Vanderwiel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Vanderwiel creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Vanderwiel dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Vanderwiel is working Thomas over against the ropes.
The referee calls for Vanderwiel to work.
Vanderwiel is struggling to control the position.
Vanderwiel gets through Thomas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Vanderwiel looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Vanderwiel avoiding damage.
Vanderwiel leaning his opponent against the ropes.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Robert Vanderwiel.

Thomas tries to keep at a distance but Vanderwiel has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanderwiel manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Vanderwiel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Vanderwiel content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Thomas blocks an elbow strike.
Thomas avoids a wild elbow strike from Vanderwiel.
Vanderwiel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Thomas is working for takedown but Vanderwiel is calmly controlling the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Vanderwiel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lee Thomas's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vanderwiel closes the distance and pushes Thomas back into the ropes.
Robert Vanderwiel has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Come on Vanderwiel - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Vanderwiel cracks Thomas with a nice body shot.
Thomas dodges an elbow strike from Vanderwiel.
Vanderwiel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Vanderwiel is working Thomas over against the ropes.
Vanderwiel 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thomas avoids a wild elbow strike from Vanderwiel.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Vanderwiel throws an elbow but it misses.
Vanderwiel stalling in the clinch.
Vanderwiel content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Vanderwiel works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Vanderwiel just misses with a elbow thrown towards Thomas's brow.
Vanderwiel lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Thomas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vanderwiel prevents it.
Vanderwiel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vanderwiel stalling.
Thomas jumps guard but Vanderwiel stands there with Thomas around his waist. Thomas gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Robert Vanderwiel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Thomas.
Vanderwiel just leaning against Thomas, taking a breather.
Vanderwiel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thomas can do to turn this around?
Vanderwiel works on Thomas's body with a couple of short punches.
Vanderwiel lands with a left to the head.
Thomas avoids a wild elbow strike from Vanderwiel.
Vanderwiel is leaning against Thomas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Vanderwiel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Vanderwiel misses with an elbow over the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanderwiel scores with a hook to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Vanderwiel.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Vanderwiel lands a nice shot to the body.
Vanderwiel lands a nice uppercut.
Vanderwiel digs a right hand underneath Thomas's ribcage. Thomas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vanderwiel just leaning against Thomas, taking a breather.
Thomas dodges an elbow strike from Vanderwiel.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Vanderwiel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanderwiel lands a shot to the body.
Vanderwiel misses with an elbow strike.
Thomas is trying to maintain a safe position but Vanderwiel gets an underhook and turns Thomas into the ropes.
Vanderwiel displaying some good clinch control by pressing Thomas up against the ropes.
Thomas being controlled against the ropes.
Thomas takes an elbow to the forehead.
Vanderwiel works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Vanderwiel looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Vanderwiel lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Vanderwiel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That has opened up Lee Thomas's cut even more.
Vanderwiel creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Thomas's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanderwiel lands a nice elbow.
Vanderwiel lands an elbow inside that Thomas shrugs off.
Thomas tries to pull guard but Vanderwiel forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Vanderwiel comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vanderwiel pushes off an throws an elbow but Thomas leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Vanderwiel lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Vanderwiel softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.

Thomas is rocked!
Thomas blocks an elbow strike from Vanderwiel.
Vanderwiel lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Thomas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Thomas avoids a wild elbow strike from Vanderwiel.
Thomas dodges an elbow strike from Vanderwiel.
Thomas tries to break the clinch but Vanderwiel is controlling the position.
Vanderwiel content to slow the pace in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Vanderwiel dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lee Thomas's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Thomas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice takedown defense from Vanderwiel. No joy for Thomas on that attempt.
Robert Vanderwiel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.

Vanderwiel closes the distance and clinches.
Thomas blocks the elbow strike.
Thomas looking to stall.
Vanderwiel lands an elbow inside that Thomas shrugs off.
Vanderwiel lands a nice elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Vanderwiel.
A hook to the body from Vanderwiel.
A body shot lands from Vanderwiel.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The referee is keeping an eye on Vanderwiel - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Vanderwiel lands an elbow inside that Thomas shrugs off.

The cut above Lee Thomas's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Vanderwiel.
Vanderwiel holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
The referee calls for Vanderwiel to work.
Vanderwiel comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Vanderwiel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Thomas is trying to pull guard but Vanderwiel has him pressed against the ropes.
A body shot lands from Vanderwiel.
Vanderwiel stalling.
Vanderwiel throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Vanderwiel is working Thomas over against the ropes.
Vanderwiel lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanderwiel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Vanderwiel lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thomas or not.
Vanderwiel manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Vanderwiel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Vanderwiel will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Thomas up against the ropes.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Robert Vanderwiel.

Vanderwiel moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanderwiel dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Thomas takes an elbow to the forehead.
Thomas letting Vanderwiel take a breather here.
Vanderwiel lands a nice elbow.
Vanderwiel slowing the pace effectively.
Vanderwiel has Thomas pushed against the ropes.
Vanderwiel gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Vanderwiel just leaning against Thomas, taking a breather.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Robert Vanderwiel.
Nice sprawl there from Vanderwiel as Thomas shoots in.
It looked like Vanderwiel was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Robert Vanderwiel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Thomas.

Vanderwiel clinches up against the ropes.
Vanderwiel works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Vanderwiel.
Vanderwiel lands an elbow inside that Thomas shrugs off.

Lee Thomas's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Vanderwiel stalling.
Vanderwiel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Vanderwiel gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Lee Thomas's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Robert Vanderwiel!