PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Thomas (ranked 8308 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Gonzalez (ranked 6989 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thomas
vs
Gonzalez

196 cm
23
190 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Aaron Thomas !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mario Gonzalez!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Daniel Franklin and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gonzalez closes the distance and clinches.

Gonzalez pulls guard successfully.
Thomas stopping the sweep attempt from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez is trying to keep Thomas in close.
Thomas preventing the sweep.
Gonzalez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thomas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gonzalez looking to control.

Thomas stands up from guard. Let's bang!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gonzalez gets a clinch.
Thomas tries to pull guard but Gonzalez holds him up against the cage and eventually Thomas drops back down to his feet.
A hook to the body from Gonzalez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas working hard to break the clinch.
Thomas jumps guard but Gonzalez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Gonzalez pulls guard.

Gonzalez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Thomas uses it to pass to side control.
Gonzalez gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Thomas not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Gonzalez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gonzalez is looking to control Thomas 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gonzalez avoid being mounted?

Thomas is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gonzalez wants to control but Thomas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gonzalez wants to get back to full guard.
Gonzalez is refusing to be controlled, as Thomas sits in half guard.
Gonzalez is trying to stand up here but Thomas is controlling him well.
Thomas thows a huge punch but Gonzalez dodges it nicely.
Thomas throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Thomas is taking a breather. Gonzalez says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Thomas stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Gonzalez to get to his feet.

Gonzalez moves into range and clinches up with Thomas .

Thomas jumps guard.
Thomas is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gonzalez manages to get himself to full guard.

Gonzalez wants to get back to his feet but Thomas is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Thomas stands and steps away. Gonzalez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Thomas dives in for a single leg takedown but Gonzalez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Thomas . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thomas .
Thomas moves out of range of the body kick from Gonzalez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mario Gonzalez will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thomas looks for a takedown but Gonzalez sprawls well.
Gonzalez wants to counter with a clinch but Thomas pushes him away.

Gonzalez pushes Thomas up against the cage in a clinch.
Thomas tries to pull guard but Gonzalez holds him up against the cage and eventually Thomas drops back down to his feet.
Thomas is trying to force a seperation but Gonzalez has the dominant position.
Gonzalez wants to take the fight to the mat but Thomas manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gonzalez has Thomas pressed against the cage, preventing Thomas from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzalez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Still in the clinch, Gonzalez scores with a nice short uppercut.

Gonzalez jumps into guard, dragging Thomas to the mat.
Thomas stopping the sweep attempt from Gonzalez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gonzalez wants to hit a switch here but Thomas passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Gonzalez there!
Gonzalez gets back to half guard.
Gonzalez wants to improve his position but Thomas is controlling well.
Thomas controlling the pace.
Thomas slips a nice elbow through Gonzalez's hands, connecting with Gonzalez's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is trying to maintain the position but Thomas is very close to passing his half guard.
Thomas wants to free his trapped foot but Gonzalez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gonzalez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gonzalez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gonzalez trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.
Gonzalez keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.
Thomas throws an elbow that misses. Gonzalez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thomas 's guard. Nice move by Gonzalez!

Thomas has his foot on Gonzalez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gonzalez works his way back into a safe position though.
Thomas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gonzalez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gonzalez missing with punches from the bottom.
Aaron Thomas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is staying active underneath Thomas , who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Gonzalez kicks off Thomas and gets to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thomas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gonzalez prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aaron Thomas . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gonzalez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Gonzalez. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gonzalez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thomas as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Gonzalez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Thomas darts in trying to clinch
and Gonzalez counters with a one-two to the body.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Gonzalez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gonzalez as he avoids it easily.
Gonzalez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Gonzalez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gonzalez stalling against the cage.
Gonzalez lands a body punch in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gonzalez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas slaps away a takedown attempt from Gonzalez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gonzalez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thomas pinned against the cage. Thomas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a low kick.
Gonzalez shoots in but no luck this time.
Aaron Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mario Gonzalez.
Thomas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gonzalez tries to avoid it but Thomas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gonzalez to the ground. Gonzalez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gonzalez.
As Gonzalez looks to move away, Thomas throws a big counter combo but Gonzalez just gets out of the way.
Gonzalez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gonzalez closes the distance and clinches up with Thomas , looking for a takedown. Gonzalez pushes Thomas against the cage but Thomas circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gonzalez pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Gonzalez pushes him off.
Thomas fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gonzalez defends well and Thomas ends up having to push Gonzalez into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Thomas tries to clinch but Gonzalez moves out of range.
Gonzalez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gonzalez feints the counter takedown.
Gonzalez shoots in but Thomas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thomas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gonzalez pinned against the cage. Gonzalez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gonzalez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gonzalez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Gonzalez moves into the clinch successfully.
Gonzalez has Thomas pushed against the cage.
Thomas is trying to pull guard but Gonzalez has him pressed against the cage.
Gonzalez tries to pull guard but Thomas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Gonzalez tries to pull guard but Thomas holds him up against the cage and eventually Gonzalez drops back down to his feet.
Thomas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gonzalez is pressed up against the cage. Thomas has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Gonzalez down to the mat. Gonzalez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Gonzalez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Gonzalez clinches up with Thomas and pushes him back against the cage.
Thomas is looking to take this one to the mat.

Gonzalez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Gonzalez clinches.

Gonzalez successfully pulls guard.
Thomas sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Gonzalez's guard.

Gonzalez manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gonzalez swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas .
Aaron Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mario Gonzalez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nice straight punches there by Thomas . You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thomas .

And that's the end of the fight!
Mario Gonzalez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gonzalez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mario Gonzalez!