PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rufus Jimenez (ranked 7232 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Thomas (ranked 7756 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jimenez
vs
Thomas

208 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rufus Jimenez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Jimenez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Thomas dives in and scores a takedown into Jimenez's guard.
Thomas is standing up over Jimenez. Jimenez looks to escape but Thomas dives into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Jimenez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Thomas looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Jimenez is avoiding damage well.
Jimenez wants to get back to his feet but Thomas drags him back down.
Thomas moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Jimenez pushes Thomas away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Thomas gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Jimenez!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jimenez swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Jimenez wants to hold on but Thomas pushes him away.
Jimenez is looking to get to half guard.
Thomas avoids the attempt from Jimenez to control.

Thomas get's back to his feet.
Jimenez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thomas.

Jimenez gets caught napping as Thomas dives in and scores a takedown. Jimenez manages to retain guard.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Jimenez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jimenez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Thomas controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to stand but Jimenez is controlling from the bottom.
Thomas trying to control but Jimenez is working from the bottom.

Jimenez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Thomas gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Jimenez's guard.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Jimenez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas looking to pass the guard.
Thomas postures up in Jimenez's guard and throws a big left but Jimenez blocks it.
Jimenez working a defensive guard but Thomas passes into half guard.
Thomas is thwarting Jimenez's attempts to control the position.
Thomas trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Jimenez sees it coming and defends easily.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but Jimenez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thomas to get the leverage.

Jimenez looking for subs from the bottom but Thomas mounts him!
Thomas controlling the pace for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jimenez tries to lock up and control but Thomas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Thomas dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thomas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Thomas lands in his opponent's guard.
Jimenez striking off his back but it's not causing Thomas any problems.
Jimenez keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Thomas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas won't allow Jimenez to get back to his feet.
Jimenez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Thomas passes Jimenez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Jimenez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Jimenez keeps control of the position for the meantime.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Thomas shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Jimenez is trying to defend but Thomas finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Jimenez strikes from the bottom but Thomas passes into mount!
Thomas throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Jimenez manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Jimenez, under a barage of strikes from Thomas.
Thomas wants to free his trapped foot but Jimenez is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is taking a breather. Jimenez 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.
Jimenez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thomas.
Jimenez is trying to get back to full guard.

Jimenez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Thomas decides to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Jimenez napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Thomas decides to stand up, so the ref orders Jimenez to his feet.

Thomas forces Jimenez back against the cage and clinches.

Thomas turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Thomas decides to stand back up. Thomas steps back and let's Jimenez get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Thomas moves into the clinch.

Thomas jumps guard and drags Jimenez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Thomas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into 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.

Thomas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Thomas lands in his opponent's guard.
Jimenez trying to control the position.
Jimenez wants to stand but Thomas is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jimenez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thomas can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Jimenez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Thomas uses it to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jimenez wants to control but Thomas postures up.

Thomas decides to stand back up. Thomas steps back and let's Jimenez get back to his feet.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
Jimenez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thomas.

Thomas manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Thomas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thomas controls Jimenez momentarily but Jimenez frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to sweep but no luck.
Jimenez tries to stand but Thomas is controlling from the bottom.
Thomas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jimenez.
Jimenez chips away with some ground and pound.
Max Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jimenez wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Thomas controls Jimenez momentarily but Jimenez frees himself.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Thomas gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jimenez throws Thomas to one side and escapes!

Thomas gets a clinch.
Jimenez tries to break free but Thomas pushes him back against the cage.

Thomas gets control of Jimenez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Thomas will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jimenez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thomas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jimenez is controlling him.
Jimenez connects with a couple of short punches.
Jimenez tries to stand but Thomas is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Jimenez is in close to Thomas's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Jimenez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jimenez scoring with some ground and pound.
Jimenez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thomas's head.
Jimenez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jimenez wanted to stand there but Thomas had control of the position.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but Jimenez is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Max Thomas.
Well Thomas 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Thomas!