PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Hunt Minkoff (ranked 4694 p4p, 3948 weight class) and Ieuan Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Hunt Minkoff
vs
Thomas

165 cm
25
144
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
143
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Likes musicals

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Marcus Hunt Minkoff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ieuan Thomas!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Phil Schofield and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas misses with a wild combination.
Thomas tries to clinch up.
A little feinted left hand from Hunt Minkoff on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Thomas tries to clinch there but Hunt Minkoff circles away.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown. Hunt Minkoff tries to sprawl out of it but Thomas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hunt Minkoff manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Thomas scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Hunt Minkoff is defending well.
Thomas passes into side control, despite Hunt Minkoff's attempt to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt Minkoff is looking to reverse the position.
Hunt Minkoff on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hunt Minkoff tries to get out of the position.
Hunt Minkoff can't do much from the bottom here.
Hunt Minkoff is trying to get back to his feet.
Thomas tries to score with some ground and pound. Hunt Minkoff controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Hunt Minkoff is pushing Thomas's head away, looking to escape. Thomas manages to hold on to the position though.
Hunt Minkoff is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Thomas is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Thomas pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Hunt Minkoff tries to control the position but Thomas now has his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt Minkoff wants to get back to his feet.
Hunt Minkoff turns into Thomas and is now in his guard.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Hunt Minkoff from controlling successfully.
Thomas wants to stand and escape but Hunt Minkoff is having none of it.
Hunt Minkoff has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hunt Minkoff got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thomas has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hunt Minkoff has managed to get both his arms back between Thomas's legs - danger averted.
Thomas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thomas wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hunt Minkoff has gone for a leg lock! Thomas slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hunt Minkoff's guard.

Hunt Minkoff wants to control the position but Thomas says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Hunt Minkoff actively working from the bottom here.
Thomas trying to control from half guard but Hunt Minkoff is working away.

Thomas stands up out of the half guard.
Hunt Minkoff looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
It seemed like Thomas was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Thomas shoots in for a double leg but Hunt Minkoff sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hunt Minkoff circles away.
Marcus Hunt Minkoff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ieuan Thomas.

Hunt Minkoff looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Thomas has one foot on Hunt Minkoff's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hunt Minkoff avoids it really well and circles away.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.

Hunt Minkoff scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Hunt Minkoff wants to free his trapped foot but Thomas is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ieuan Thomas dominated that 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.

Hunt Minkoff clinches up with Thomas and pushes him back against the cage.
Thomas is looking to control Hunt Minkoff's arms but Hunt Minkoff gets an underhook and turns him. Now Thomas has his back to the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Hunt Minkoff.

Hunt Minkoff gets control of Thomas's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hunt Minkoff will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Thomas forces his way into half guard.
Hunt Minkoff is staying active underneath Thomas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hunt Minkoff has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Thomas is on him like a limpet, forcing Hunt Minkoff back against the cage.
Thomas is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hunt Minkoff is keeping busy.

Hunt Minkoff has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Thomas is trying to keep an underhook but Hunt Minkoff manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hunt Minkoff knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thomas on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hunt Minkoff performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hunt Minkoff wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thomas keeps working.
Thomas keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Thomas is looking for a sweep. Hunt Minkoff is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hunt Minkoff trying to control from half guard but Thomas is working away.
Thomas makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Thomas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hunt Minkoff pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.
Hunt Minkoff working some strikes from top position.
Hunt Minkoff won't allow Thomas to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas pulls Hunt Minkoff in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Marcus Hunt Minkoff is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hunt Minkoff closes the distance and pushes Thomas back into the cage.

Hunt Minkoff has picked Thomas up - he's going for a ride! Hunt Minkoff dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Hunt Minkoff trying to control from half guard but Thomas is working away.
Thomas trying to control but Hunt Minkoff postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt Minkoff tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thomas knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Thomas is trying to maintain the position but Hunt Minkoff is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunt Minkoff lands strikes from half guard.
Thomas gets back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hunt Minkoff trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas looking to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Hunt Minkoff dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Thomas closes the distance and clinches up with Hunt Minkoff, looking for a takedown. Thomas pushes Hunt Minkoff against the cage but Hunt Minkoff circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hunt Minkoff connects with a nice looking jab.

Hunt Minkoff clinches.

Hunt Minkoff has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Thomas clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Thomas is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas goes for a double leg but Hunt Minkoff avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hunt Minkoff continues to drive forward.
Marcus Hunt Minkoff has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ieuan Thomas.
Nice sprawl there from Hunt Minkoff as Thomas shoots in.

Hunt Minkoff throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Thomas tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hunt Minkoff is in Thomas's guard.

Thomas has his feet on Hunt Minkoff's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas closes the distance but Hunt Minkoff moves to the side

and Hunt Minkoff counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Thomas kicks off Hunt Minkoff and gets to his feet.
Hunt Minkoff defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thomas.
Hunt Minkoff misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Hunt Minkoff clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hunt Minkoff lands an uppercut.

Hunt Minkoff's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas tries to clinch up.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.

Hunt Minkoff closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Thomas to the mat! Thomas manages to get full guard.

Thomas pushes Hunt Minkoff off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas fails with the takedown.

Hunt Minkoff shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hunt Minkoff is pressing down on Thomas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thomas is holding on for now.
Thomas keeping control of the position.
Hunt Minkoff tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thomas knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.

Hunt Minkoff stands up out of the half guard.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Thomas enables Hunt Minkoff to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Thomas manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but Hunt Minkoff is proving a slippery customer.
Hunt Minkoff pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.
Thomas lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt Minkoff is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thomas is controlling him.

Thomas gets to his feet - Hunt Minkoff follows without any prompting.
Thomas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thomas tries to clinch

and Hunt Minkoff counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hunt Minkoff looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Hunt Minkoff trying to control the action but Thomas is working from the bottom.

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 Marcus Hunt Minkoff.
I think Hunt Minkoff has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Marcus Hunt Minkoff!