PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jimbo Covert (ranked 2463 p4p, 274 weight class) and Mason Thomas (ranked 7020 p4p, 477 weight class). Mason Thomas acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Covert
vs
Thomas

190 cm
28
192 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

185 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jimbo Covert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mason Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Colin Fotheringham and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Covert cracks Thomas with an open hand slap.
Covert connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Thomas tests Covert's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Thomas.
A big left from Covert misses.
Covert throws out a loose jab but Thomas uses good head movement to avoid it.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.

Covert pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas scoring with punches to the head and body.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas lands a couple of digs.
Thomas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Covert working for a triangle but Thomas defends it easily.

Covert looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thomas passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Thomas in particular looking to stall.
Covert is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Thomas scores with a couple of nice shots.
Thomas content to control rather than advance.

Covert looking for submissions off his back.
Thomas seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Thomas is working for a submission of some sort.
Thomas looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Covert with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Thomas landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Well, if Thomas is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Covert is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Thomas scores with a couple of nice shots.
Thomas not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Covert looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Covert actively working from the bottom here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Thomas connects with a nice short shot to Covert's temple.

Covert is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thomas pulls his head out easily.
Covert won't allow Thomas to pass to mount.
Thomas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Covert actively working from the bottom here.

Covert looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thomas looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Covert trying to control but Thomas postures up.
Thomas slows the pace down in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thomas is continuing to stall.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Covert gets tackled into the cage by Thomas. Thomas maintains the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Covert.
A nice left hand lands by Thomas.

Thomas manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Covert is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Thomas is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Thomas has escaped and now he's on top!

Thomas controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Covert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Covert is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Covert working for a triangle but Thomas defends it easily.
Thomas showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Covert is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thomas looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The adventures of Thomas the control monster continue. Boring.

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.

Covert working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Thomas has passed into half guard!
Thomas lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Thomas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Covert looking for submissions off his back.
Thomas keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Thomas connects with a nice short shot to Covert's temple.
Covert has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thomas is working away from the top position though.
Thomas winds up and cracks Covert with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Covert looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Covert manages to get to full guard.
Thomas is stalling in the full guard.
Thomas lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Thomas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Thomas has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Covert to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Thomas is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Covert pulls down on the head and he's put Thomas to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Jimbo Covert!