PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gideon Navarro (ranked 283 p4p, 41 weight class) and Jax Thomas (ranked 79 p4p, 13 weight class). Thomas is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Killing is my business, and business is good! - Megadeth. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Navarro
vs
Thomas

181 cm
25
178 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

175 cm
27
170 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Conviction
Urban Fighter

UnderGround Supplements
UnderGround Clothing Co.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gideon Navarro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Jax Thomas!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Franklyn Lucas and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Navarro tries to clinch up.
Navarro throws a body shot but no joy.
Thomas takes one to the chin there.
Thomas moves away from the strike by Navarro.
Navarro misses with a lunging right hand
and Thomas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thomas misses with a leg kick.
Navarro is looking to counter punch.
Navarro lands with an overhand left.
We've been told by Navarro's head coaches at Big Bear Fight Factory that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Navarro misses with a straight left.
Navarro lands with a straight right. Thomas didn't see that one coming.
Navarro stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Navarro wants it to stay on the feet.
Navarro avoids the body shot from Thomas.
An inside leg kick lands from Navarro.
Nice straight punches there by Thomas. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thomas.
Navarro throws a leg kick which misses Thomas's front leg but catches the back leg as Thomas tries to avoid it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Navarro moves out of range of the strikes.
Navarro swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Thomas just misses with a punch to the body.
Navarro throws a jab when Thomas was well out of range.
Gideon Navarro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Navarro throws a looping overhand right but Thomas ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Navarro closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Thomas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Navarro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thomas takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Thomas swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Navarro.
Navarro cracks Thomas with a right hand to the side of the head.
Thomas slips under a jab.
Good work by Thomas as he checks the leg kick.
Navarro connects with a looping right hand.
Navarro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Navarro does a little dance to reset his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Navarro lands a lovely overhand right.
A punch combination from Navarro misses.
Thomas swats away the attempt to clinch by Navarro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas needs to keep his hands up - Navarro had a free shot at his head there.
A head kick misses from Navarro.
Thomas tries to counter by closing the distance.
Navarro throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
Thomas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Navarro was well out of range. Poor timing from Thomas.
Good exchange - Navarro coming out on top.
Navarro throws a looping overhand right but Thomas ducks down to avoid it.

Navarro closes the distance and pushes Thomas back into the cage.
Thomas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Navarro blocking some punches.
Navarro has a couple of punches blocked by Thomas.
A head punch on the inside from Navarro fails to land.
Thomas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Navarro's elbow.
Navarro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thomas is trying to drag Navarro to the mat but Navarro just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Thomas lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Thomas cracks Navarro with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas drags the fight down to the ground.
Thomas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Navarro is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Navarro trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Navarro stopping the sweep attempt from Thomas.
Thomas is still trying to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Navarro is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Thomas being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Navarro checks the leg kick nicely there.
Thomas gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Navarro.
Navarro is looking to clinch but Thomas is avoiding it.
A head kick from Navarro lands but Thomas takes it in his stride.
Navarro throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gideon Navarro dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thomas takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Navarro tries to work over Thomas's front leg with a kick but Thomas checks it.
Thomas feints the counter takedown.
Thomas has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Navarro finds it's way round the side to connect with Thomas's head.
Thomas displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Navarro throws out the jab.
Thomas tries to counter with a clinch but Navarro shakes him off and moves away.
Navarro keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A little feinted left hand from Navarro on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nice shot by Navarro.
Navarro throws a lazy right hand but Thomas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thomas swings for the body but Navarro moves out of range.
Thomas blocks a jab.
Thomas is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Navarro rather than just go for the knockout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Navarro throws a poor cross that misses
and Navarro takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thomas takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Navarro avoids the head kick by Thomas.
Navarro thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thomas takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Navarro looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Navarro misses with a straight right.
Donk. Navarro catches Thomas right on the button with a cross.
Navarro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thomas can do to turn this around?
Navarro looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Thomas scores with a head kick.
Thomas takes one to the side of the head.
Navarro slips a jab from Thomas.
Navarro misses with an uppercut. Thomas saw that one coming.
Navarro misses the jab.
Thomas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Navarro was well out of range. Poor timing from Thomas.
Navarro pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thomas moves out of range of the strikes.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Thomas has closed the distance and engaged Navarro in a clinch.
Navarro scores with a shoulder strike.
Navarro prevents a body shot from Thomas.
Thomas tries to pull guard but Navarro won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Navarro lands a left hand.
Navarro lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Thomas throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Navarros head.
Thomas lands a hook that snaps the head of Navarro backwards.
Navarro misses with a body punch.
Navarro misses with a punch on the inside.
Thomas presses Navarro against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Navarro misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Navarro fails to land.
Navarro has a couple of punches blocked by Thomas.
Gideon Navarro has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A shot in the inside from Navarro.
Navarro throws a punch but it's blocked by Thomas.
Navarro works on Thomas's body with a couple of short punches.
Navarro throws a punch but it's blocked by Thomas.
Navarro stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Thomas scores with a hook to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Thomas.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Thomas lands a takedown into guard.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Navarro is retaining full guard.
Thomas passes into half guard.
Navarro is trying to maintain the position but Thomas is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Navarro taking some punishment here, with Thomas in his half guard.
Thomas wants to free his trapped foot but Navarro is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Navarro is pressing down on Thomas's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Navarro keeps moving.
Thomas stopping the sweep attempt from Navarro.
Thomas throws a big right hand that misses.
Thomas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Navarro is keeping the position for now.
Navarro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Navarro is trying to keep Thomas in close.

Navarro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thomas defends well.
Thomas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Navarro keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.

Navarro working for a triangle but Thomas defends it easily.
Thomas cracks Navarro with a solid left hand.
Navarro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gideon Navarro dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Navarro throws a leg kick which misses Thomas's front leg but catches the back leg as Thomas tries to avoid it.
Navarro fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Navarro misses with a hook. Thomas ducked under it nicely.
Navarro throws a looping overhand right but Thomas ducks down to avoid it.
Thomas looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Thomas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Navarro manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Navarro is looking to counter punch.
Navarro closes the distance looking to clinch
and Thomas counters with a left and a right that stings Navarro.
Navarro takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Navarro moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Navarro tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Navarro is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Navarro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thomas takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Navarro.
Navarro misses with a straight right.
A telegraphed right hand from Navarro misses the target.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Navarro lands a nice shot that snaps Thomas's head back.
Navarro throws the left hand but Thomas avoids the punch easily.
Gideon Navarro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Navarro.
Thomas slips under a jab.
Thomas now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Thomas misses with a wild body shot.
Navarro throws an overhand right that lands on Thomas's shoulder, as Thomas tries to avoid the shot.
Thomas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thomas looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Navarro lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Thomas misses with a head kick.
Navarro was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Gideon Navarro is winning the standup battle so far.
Thomas takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Jax Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Navarro throws a big shot that misses.
Thomas has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Navarro takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Thomas misses with an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A slow jab from Navarro misses its intended target.
Navarro keeps the fight on the outside.
Thomas checks a leg kick nicely.

Thomas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Navarro is trying to control Thomas's posture but Thomas avoids it.
Thomas has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Navarro keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Thomas misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Thomas lands a couple of good shots and Navarro has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Jax Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Navarro.
Navarro looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Navarro covering up well and avoiding damage.
Thomas missing with punches from the back.
Gideon Navarro is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thomas is trying to stick to Navarro's back but Navarro is turning into Thomas. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Thomas's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Navarro.
Thomas looking for a sweep. Not yet Thomas, not yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thomas is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Navarro is trying to control the position but Thomas postures up.
Thomas being controlled here momentarily.
Thomas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Navarro utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Navarro is retaining full guard.
Thomas postures up and lands a big shot to Navarro's brow.
Thomas throws a big elbow that misses.
Navarro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thomas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gideon Navarro.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Navarro, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28

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