PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tobias Marshall (ranked 1826 p4p, 85 weight class) and Tom Thomas (ranked 1361 p4p, 68 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Marshall
vs
Thomas

170 cm
39
139 lbs
25 - 23 - 0

160 cm
30
140 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 25 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tobias Marshall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas scores with a sloppy right hand. Marshall should have avoided that one.
Thomas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Marshall manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed right hand from Marshall misses the target.
A bone on bone clash there as Marshall blocks the leg kick.
Thomas changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Marshall takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Marshall ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Thomas swings for the body but Marshall moves out of range.
Thomas misses with a combination
and Marshall counters with a straight right hand.
Thomas throws a hook but Marshall avoids it easily.
Marshall has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Tōshi in the buildup to the fight.
Thomas swings widly with a right hand
and Marshall counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Marshall tries to keep at a distance but Thomas has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Marshall blocking some punches.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tom Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marshall moves away from the strike by Thomas.
Marshall throws a big shot that misses.
Thomas throws a big shot that misses.
Marshall is looking to counter punch.
Thomas throws a hook to the side of Marshall's head but Marshall sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Marshall is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Thomas is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch but Marshall swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Thomas clinches up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Thomas fails to land.
Marshall tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Marshall has a couple of punches blocked by Thomas.
Thomas gets through Marshall's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Marshall misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marshall.

Marshall pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marshall avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marshall takes a swing at Thomas's ribcage but misses.
Thomas jabs Marshall right on the nose. Marshall blinks but takes it well.
A shot to the body from Thomas misses
and Marshall counters with a nice body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Marshall doesn't seem bothered though.
Thomas connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Thomas throws the left hand but Marshall avoids the punch easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Thomas misses the target.
Thomas misses the jab.
Marshall swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Thomas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A left lands for Marshall.
Thomas scores with a nice right hand.
Marshall steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas swings widly with a right hand
and Marshall counters with a left to the body.

Thomas has taken the fight to the clinch.
Marshall pushes Thomas back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thomas lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Marshall or not.
Thomas softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Marshall.
A nice left hand lands by Thomas.
A short uppercut from Thomas.
Thomas struggles to land a body shot inside as Marshall controls his hands.
Thomas lands an uppercut.
Thomas working aggressively here.
Thomas lands a shoulder strike.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Marshall struggles to land a body shot inside as Thomas controls his hands.
Thomas misses with some punches.
Thomas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Thomas swings wildly with an uppercut but Marshall uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Thomas fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Marshall backwards.
Thomas blocking some punches.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas scores with a three punch combo!
A telegraphed right hand from Marshall misses the target.
Thomas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A jab from Thomas misses.
Marshall fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Thomas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Marshall sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thomas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marshall.
A nice combination there by Thomas.
Thomas tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Marshall counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Thomas thinking.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marshall scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Thomas dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Marshall staying out of range there.
A little feinted left hand from Marshall on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Marshall takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Thomas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Marshall makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nice defenses there by Thomas.
Thomas jabs at Marshall's body.
Thomas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Marshall sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Marshall throws out a powerful jab.
Thomas lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Marshall thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas slips under a jab from Marshall.
Thomas throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Marshall counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Marshall throws a jab but it's blocked by Thomas.
Thomas doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
The fighters circling - Marshall throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Marshall counters with a stiff right hand.
Marshall slips under a jab from Thomas.
Marshall takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Marshall throws a body shot but no joy.
Marshall misses with a straight left.
Marshall takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Marshall misses with a looping left.

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.
Thomas lands a nice shot to the body.
Thomas presses Marshall against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Thomas blocks an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Thomas.
Thomas blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is leaning against Marshall and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Marshall working aggressively here.
Thomas has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Marshall seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Thomas can turn it around.
Thomas lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Tom Thomas seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right hook to the body lands for Thomas.
Marshall working aggressively here.
Marshall lands with a short shot to the head.
Marshall lands with a right to the head.
Marshall working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Marshall.
Thomas misses with some punches.
Marshall makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Marshall.
Marshall tries a body shot but Thomas blocks it.
Marshall misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Marshall struggles to land a body shot inside as Thomas controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Marshall fails to land.
Thomas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Marshall lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Thomas scores with a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marshall misses with a hook from the clinch.
Marshall misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thomas lands a shot to the body.
Thomas throws a head punch that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Thomas.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Marshall loads up on a big right hand but Thomas slips the punch.
Marshall takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A telegraphed right hand from Thomas misses the target.
Marshall swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Marshall throws a hook to the side of Thomas's head but Thomas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thomas misses with a right hand
and Marshall connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thomas scores with a jab to the body.
Marshall slips under a jab from Thomas.
Marshall ducks under a wild hook from Thomas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thomas.
Marshall swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Marshall.
Thomas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thomas throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marshall jabs at Thomas's body.
Marshall throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
Thomas misses with an attempted mid kick.
Marshall waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thomas.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marshall.
A quick step to the side and Marshall tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thomas misses with a wild body shot.
Marshall throwing a counter right hand but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Marshall stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Marshall does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tobias Marshall will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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's corner calls for a 1-2. Thomas obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Thomas throws a looping overhand right but Marshall ducks down to avoid it.
Marshall avoids a punch combination nicely.
Marshall scores with a crisp jab that stopped Thomas in his tracks.
Thomas swinging wildly here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marshall misses the shot to the body.
Marshall connects with a body shot.
Marshall takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Thomas throws a hook to the side of Marshall's head but Marshall sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas throws a jab when Marshall was well out of range.
Thomas fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Marshall on the side of the head.
Marshall missing with a left hand there. Thomas was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thomas throws a poor cross that misses
and Marshall connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thomas's jab looks to have found its range, popping Marshall under the eye.
Marshall misses with an uppercut.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but Marshall is just out of range.
Marshall was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Thomas changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas misses with a looping left.
Marshall feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Thomass jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Thomas loads up on a big right hand but Marshall slips the punch.
Marshall throwing a counter right hand but Thomas manages to avoid it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas cracks the inside of Marshall's front leg.
Marshall defending well as Thomas loads up on a big left hand.
An attempted straight right counter from Marshall misses the target.
Thomas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marshall on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Thomas moves out of range of the strikes.
Thomas takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thomas avoids the body shot from Marshall.
Nice shot lands for Thomas.
Marshall looks to land a right hand but Thomas moved out of range.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but Marshall is just out of range.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marshall swinging wildly here.
Thomas throws out a counter right but Marshall avoids it with no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas pushes Marshall up against the cage in a clinch.
Marshall's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Marshall misses with some punches.
Thomas lands with a light punch inside.
A shot in the inside from Marshall.
Marshall working aggressively here.
Marshall lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Thomas is trying to break the clinch but Marshall has him pressed against the cage.
Thomas has a couple of punches blocked by Marshall.
Marshall scores with a shoulder strike.
Thomas throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Thomas taking a breather.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from Marshall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marshall ducks under a wild hook from Thomas.
Thomas scores with a crisp jab that stopped Marshall in his tracks.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas throws a body shot but no joy.
It looked like Marshall wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Thomas throws the left hand but Marshall avoids the punch easily.
Marshall is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Marshall throws a body shot but no joy.
Thomas misses with a hook. Marshall ducked under it nicely.
Thomas misses with a looping right.
Nice jab there from Marshall.
Thomas cracks Marshall with an open hand slap.
A big right from Marshall misses.
It seemed like Thomas was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A big left from Thomas misses.
A little feinted left hand from Marshall on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Thomas!
After winning the bout, Tom Thomas thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.