PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Charon Lehto (ranked 224 p4p, 659 weight class) and Derrick Thomas (ranked 33 p4p, 81 weight class). Charon Lehto has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lehto
vs
Thomas

201 cm
37
275
32 - 12 - 0

200 cm
28
265
21 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

NARCOS
FF Gear

Conviction
NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Charon Lehto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Derrick Thomas !
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas throws a head kick but Lehto moves out of range.
Lehto jabs at Thomas 's body.
Lehto slips under a jab from Thomas .
Lehto throws a body shot but no joy.
Lehto fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lehto scores with a leg kick.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from Lehto.
Lehto misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lehto manages to avoid it.
Lehto scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lehto backing away here, and Thomas unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Thomas cracks Lehto with a good jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lehto jabs at Thomas 's body.
Thomas takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Lehto lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

It looks like Derrick Thomas has been cut.
Lehto tries to clinch up.
Thomas appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Lehto throws a quick inside leg kick.
Lehto takes a swing at Thomas 's ribcage but misses.
Lehto is looking to wear down Thomas with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Lehto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lehto has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Thomas .
Lehto throws a nice looking combination but Thomas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A big right from Thomas misses.
Lehto swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
It appears Lehto was looking to counter with a kick there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looks to land a left hand but Lehto moved out of range nicely.
Nice body kick from Lehto.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Lehto.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lehto.
Lehto misses with a jab to the body
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.
Lehto ducks under a wild hook from Thomas .
Thomas clobbers Lehto with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Thomas misses with an uppercut. Lehto saw that one coming.
Thomas throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lehto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehto fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thomas .
Thomas misses with a left hand
and Lehto makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Lehto slips a straight right by Thomas .
Lehto was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Lehto lands a jab to Thomas 's midsection.
Lehto takes a swing at Thomas 's ribcage but misses.
Derrick Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas takes a jab right on the kisser.
Lehto looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Thomas .
Lehto keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lehto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thomas paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lehto darts in and clinches Thomas up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lehto scores with a shot to the side of Thomas 's head.
Lehto tries to land knees in the clinch but Thomas avoids the damage to the body.
Lehto blocks an uppercut.
Our sources have told us that Lehto has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Lehto blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thomas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lehto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Thomas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thomas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thomas throws a punch but it's blocked by Lehto.
Lehto with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thomas lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Lehto.
Lehto prevents a body shot from Thomas .
Thomas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Thomas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thomas gets through Lehto's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Thomas stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Charon Lehto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Derrick Thomas 's cut.
That's time! Lehto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thomas takes a swing at Lehto's ribcage but misses.
Lehto appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Lehto misses with a body shot.
Lehto has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Lehto there as he acknowledges the shot.
A big right from Thomas misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Lehto misses its target.
A punch combination from Thomas misses.
Sloppy strikes from Lehto. Those never looked like landing.
Thomas chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Thomas throws a hook but Lehto avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas lands a head kick!

It looks like Charon Lehto has been cut.
Lehto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lehto bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Thomas 's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas throws a hook to the side of Lehto's head but Lehto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lehto is looking to counter the offense by Thomas and move into the clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Lehto.
Lehto throws a push kick but Thomas slaps the foot to one side.
Lehto ducks under a wild hook from Thomas .
Lehto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.
Thomas pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A quick step to the side and Lehto tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A chopping leg kick lands by Thomas .
Thomas lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Thomas swings widly with a right hand
and Lehto counters with a stiff right hand.
Thomas fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lehto on the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lehto on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thomas . Thomas obviously looking to wear him down.
Thomas throws a hook but Lehto avoids it easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lehto. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thomas is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Lehto with a body shot.
Thomas throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Thomas changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Lehto.
Lehto throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Lehto slips under a jab.
Charon Lehto is winning the standup battle so far.
Thomas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lehto lands with a cross.
An inside leg kick lands from Lehto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Thomas throws a hook but Lehto avoids it easily.
Lehto lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Thomas lands with an uppercut that bounces Lehto off the cage and back into range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lehto. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thomas appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Thomas throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lehto counters with a good, hard body kick but Thomas shrugs it off.
A big right from Thomas misses.
Lehto slips a straight right by Thomas .
Thomas lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Thomas throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
It looked like Lehto wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands with a right hand.
Thomas misses with a straight left.
Lehto on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Lehto has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas loads up on a big right hand but Lehto slips the punch.
Thomas connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Thomas tries to bum rush Lehto with a series of wild strikes but Lehto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lehto seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Lehto on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nice defenses there by Lehto.
A nice leg kick lands there from Thomas .
Lehto takes a swing at Thomas 's ribcage but misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nice uppercut lands for Lehto. That snapped Thomas 's head back.
Lehto looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Lehto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thomas was well out of range. Poor timing from Lehto.
Lehto tries to clinch up.
Thomas misses with a looping left.
An attempted straight right counter from Lehto misses the target.
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lehto.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Thomas ! But no joy.

Thomas feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Lehto sprawling to the canvas! Lehto rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Thomas finish him?!
Lehto lands with a shot to the body.
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!
Thomas tries a low kick but Lehto avoids it.
It looked like Lehto wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lehto swings for the body but Thomas moves out of range.
Lehto lets loose with a powerful body kick. Thomas will feel that in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Lehto.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lehto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.
Lehto avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lehto tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Thomas is able to avoid easily.
Lehto avoids the head kick by Thomas .
Lehto throws a body punch but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas avoids the body shot from Lehto.
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lehto.
Lehto scores with a hook to the body. Thomas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lehto throws a counter high kick but Thomas was just alert enough to avoid it.
Lehto throws a leg kick but Thomas sees it coming and moves out of range.
Thomas misses with a low kick.
A quick step to the side and Lehto tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lehto connects with a body shot.
Thomas tries to land a body kick
and Lehto counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Lehto.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lehto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lehto connects with a body shot.
Lehto thuds a left hand into Thomas 's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehto scores with a hook to the body. Thomas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Thomas crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Lehto - the referee stops the clock and Thomas gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Lehto. Thomas manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Lehto explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Thomas drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Lehto connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Thomas throws a push kick but Lehto slaps the foot to one side.
Lehto slips a straight right by Thomas .
Lehto slips a jab and a cross from Thomas .
Lehto throwing a counter right hand but Thomas manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lehto scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Thomas misses the shot to the body.
An inside leg kick from Thomas misses.
And Lehto counters with a quick kick to the body but Thomas blocks it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lehto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas .
Thomas is trying to counter with his kicks.
Thomas loads up on a big right hand but Lehto slips the punch.
Lehto with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nice cross by Lehto.
Thomas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lehto was well out of range. Poor timing from Thomas .
Thomas lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Lehto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charon Lehto showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lehto 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charon Lehto!
Charon Lehto spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.