PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyndon Grant (ranked 23685 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Thomas (ranked 22547 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Lyndon Grant has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Grant
vs
Thomas

191 cm
19
278 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lyndon Grant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas moves into the clinch.

Grant ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Grant no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

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

Thomas is looking to reverse the position.
Thomas is still trying to improve position.
Grant gets to mount! Thomas was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Thomas is squirming around, avoiding Grant's attempts to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas tries to improve his position but instead Grant has taken his back!
Thomas just trying to survive but Grant is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is keeping busy.
Thomas trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Grant looking for the choke from the back.
Thomas just trying to survive but Grant is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Grant is staying active.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is trying to stand back up.
Thomas tries to escape the position.

Thomas defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to stand but Grant is controlling from the bottom.
Thomas working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Grant's head.
Thomas sitting in guard here, content to control.
Thomas stops Grant from standing up.

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 seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Thomas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Grant has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thomas has managed to get both his arms back between Grant's legs - danger averted.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Grant keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Thomas gets a double leg takedown into Grant's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Grant lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyndon Grant dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Grant blocks a head kick by Thomas.
Thomas throws a sloppy head kick and Grant moves out of range easily.
Grant could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.

Grant is fighting off a takedown attempt but Thomas is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Grant to the mat. Grant regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Thomas is standing up over Grant. Grant looks to escape but Thomas dives into side control.

Thomas tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Thomas has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas trying to control the position but Grant is working away.
Lyndon Grant overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thomas scoring with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grant wants to get back to his feet but Thomas drags him back down.
Grant is looking for a sweep.
Thomas is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Thomas wants to control but Grant is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thomas controls the position from side control.
Grant is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Thomas tries to stand but Grant controls the position and pulls Thomas into his guard.

Grant throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Grant is looking to stand up but Thomas isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Grant looking for a guillotine here but Thomas defends easily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thomas.

Thomas stands up and beckons Grant to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Thomas.
Grant changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Thomas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grant moves away.

Thomas clinches.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
John Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Grant gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Grant wants to stand and escape but Thomas is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Thomas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Grant is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Thomas working the body and head with strikes.

It looks like Lyndon Grant has been cut.
Thomas landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Grant trying to remain calm as Thomas controls from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas working the ground and pound.
A lull in the action here.
Grant tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas punishes Grant with strikes from the back mount.
Thomas controlling well, preventing Grant from escaping the position.
Thomas trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Grant doesn't escape.

Thomas patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas scores with strikes from the back.

Thomas is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Grant is defending well though. Thomas let's go of the attempt for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Grant defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Thomas's arms.
Thomas is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Grant takes a big shot to the side of the head.

Lyndon Grant's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas keeps control of the position as Grant tries to break free.

Grant showing good submission defense here.
Thomas is punishing Grant with strikes - can he finish him?!

Jeez, Lyndon Grant's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). John Thomas!