PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vladislav Magodivov (ranked 4376 p4p, 4262 weight class) and Joseph Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 486 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Magodivov
vs
Thomas

178 cm
25
147
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
155
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladislav Magodivov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joseph Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Magodivov moves in looking to clinch but Thomas pushes him off.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thomas.
Magodivov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Magodivov looks to clinch
and Thomas counters with a stiff right hand.
Magodivov shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense.
A leg kick checked by Thomas.
Thomas tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Magodivov defends well and Thomas ends up having to push Magodivov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Thomas clinches with his opponent.
Magodivov is looking to take this one to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Magodivov misses with a short punch on the inside.

Magodivov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Magodivov tries for a takedown but Thomas circles away easily
and Thomas counters with a series of strikes. Magodivov will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladislav Magodivov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magodivov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thomas digs a good body shot into Magodivov's ribs.

Magodivov tries to keep at a distance but Thomas has taken the fight into the clinch.

Magodivov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Thomas clinches up with Magodivov and pushes him back against the cage.
Thomas looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Magodivov keeps control of Thomas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Magodivov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Magodivov tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magodivov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thomas looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Thomas is trying hard to land a takedown here. Magodivov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Magodivov as he jumps to the side.
Magodivov throws the kick towards the body but Thomas avoids it.
Magodivov shoots and misses
and Thomas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Magodivov misses with a jab to the body
and Thomas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thomas shoots in but no luck this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice sprawl there from Magodivov as Thomas shoots in.

Magodivov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Thomas's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas looks winded!
Magodivov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Thomas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Magodivov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Magodivov looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magodivov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thomas can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Magodivov controls the pace.
Thomas wants to stand up but Magodivov is controlling him.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Magodivov is defended easily by Thomas.
Magodivov wants to clinch.
Magodivov walks into a jab.
Thomas displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Magodivov is rocked!
Magodivov tries a head kick but it misses.
Thomas now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Magodivov pushes Thomas up against the cage in a clinch.
Thomas avoiding damage as Magodivov throws knees to the body.
Magodivov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Thomas is trying to break the clinch but Magodivov has him pressed against the cage.
Magodivov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thomas is defending well for now.
Thomas is trying to break free.
Thomas is trying to break the clinch but Magodivov is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas tries to break free but Magodivov pushes him back against the cage.
Magodivov wants to take the fight to the mat but Thomas manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Magodivov has clasped his hands together around Thomas's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Thomas throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magodivov swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.

Magodivov forces Thomas back against the cage and clinches.
Magodivov tries to pull guard but Thomas won't allow it.
Magodivov can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladislav Magodivov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A frustrated look appears on Thomas's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Thomas is trying to force a seperation but Magodivov has the dominant position.

Magodivov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to clinch but Magodivov is having none of it.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.

Thomas clinches up against the cage.
Magodivov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thomas smiles and moves away.
Thomas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Thomas has taken the fight to the clinch.
Magodivov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Thomas gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is trying to force a seperation but Magodivov has the dominant position.
Magodivov stalling against the cage.
Magodivov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thomas walks away with a smile on his face. Magodivov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Magodivov closes the distance but Thomas moves to the side
and Thomas counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Magodivov thinking.
Joseph Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thomas throws a right and a left that Magodivov avoids nicely.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Magodivov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vladislav Magodivov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas moves into the clinch successfully.

Magodivov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Thomas forces Magodivov back against the cage and clinches.
Magodivov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thomas pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Magodivov is trying to pull guard but Thomas has him pressed against the cage.
Magodivov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Thomas is defending well.
Thomas can't break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Magodivov manages to break the clinch.
Thomas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Magodivov slaps away a takedown attempt from Thomas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joseph Thomas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Magodivov throws a combination that misses
and Thomas makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Magodivov looking to score a takedown here. Thomas is defending well but Magodivov drives through and ends up in Thomas's guard.

Thomas wriggles free and stands up.
Magodivov swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.
Magodivov tries to work over Thomas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Magodivov dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Magodivov tries to pull guard but Thomas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magodivov looking to slow down the pace here.
Magodivov tries to stall but Thomas uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Magodivov is looking for a takedown.
Thomas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Magodivov.
Magodivov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thomas's efforts to push away.
Magodivov is looking to control Thomas's arms but Thomas gets an underhook and turns him. Now Magodivov has his back to the cage.

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 working hard to break the clinch.
Thomas gets underhooks to prevent Magodivov's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladislav Magodivov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Magodivov missing with knees to the body.

Magodivov jumps guard and drags Thomas to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Thomas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Thomas gets to his feet. Magodivov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Magodivov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thomas swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Thomas lands a two punch combo.

Magodivov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Magodivov showed some decent athleticism there.
Magodivov working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Thomas's thigh. Thomas counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magodivov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Joseph Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Magodivov is looking to stand up but Thomas won't let him.
Thomas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Magodivov wants to pass the guard but Thomas is keeping the position.

That's four 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.
Magodivov trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas wants to stand but Magodivov is controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joseph Thomas!
Joseph Thomas decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.