PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nishan Zeroun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Nishan Zeroun has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Zeroun
vs
Thomas

178 cm
19
166 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

174 cm
19
171 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nishan Zeroun!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jack Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, William Peck and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zeroun uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Thomas throws the kick towards the body but Zeroun avoids it.
Zeroun lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Zeroun throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zeroun looks to land a combination but Thomas avoids it well.
Zeroun tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zeroun swinging wilding here.
Zeroun misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zeroun goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Some wild striking there from Zeroun.
A combination from Zeroun does no damage.
Zeroun throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Thomas tries to clinch but Zeroun is having none of it.
Zeroun scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Zeroun throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thomas dives in and grabs Zeroun's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zeroun pushes down on Thomas's head and hops out.

Thomas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Zeroun wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas trying to mount his opponent but Zeroun defends it.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Thomas trying to mount his opponent but Zeroun defends it.
Thomas prevents Zeroun from standing back up.
Zeroun knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thomas on the ground.
Thomas tries to pass to full mount but Zeroun defends it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thomas is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Thomas is looking for a kimura here.
Thomas looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thomas thows a huge punch but Zeroun dodges it nicely.
Thomas trying to pass the guard but Zeroun defending well.
Zeroun is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zeroun lands the left hand.
Thomas looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Zeroun circles away and keeps his distance.
Thomas walks into a left hand.
Nice sprawl there from Zeroun as Thomas shoots in.
Zeroun buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zeroun scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Thomas shoots in and drives through. Zeroun sprawls well.
Nishan Zeroun has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Thomas.
Zeroun ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zeroun throws a leg kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeroun swinging wilding here.
Zeroun lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Thomas takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nice body punch from Zeroun.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Zeroun.
Zeroun lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Zeroun lands with a nice body punch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Zeroun throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
Zeroun lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Zeroun lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Zeroun fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Thomas on the side of the head.
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!
Good leg kick by Zeroun there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Thomas slips a jab and a cross from Zeroun.
Zeroun scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Thomas is rocked!
Zeroun throws out a powerful jab.
Thomas is still on wobbly legs! Can Zeroun finish him?
Zeroun throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zeroun lands a with a good body shot.
Thomas seems to have recovered his senses.
Zeroun swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeroun throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zeroun lands a head shot.
Thomas takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Zeroun throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nishan Zeroun is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Zeroun.
Thomas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zeroun cracks a nice hook into Thomas's ribs.
Zeroun misses with a few strikes there.
Thomas has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A jab lands there for Zeroun.
Zeroun throws a series of punches but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas thows a body shot but no joy.
Thomas takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas tries to clinch but Zeroun moves out of range.
Zeroun stuns Thomas with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Zeroun lands a nice looking body shot.
Thomas gets cracked there but stands up to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nishan Zeroun dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thomas takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Thomas fails to land the takedown.
Zeroun tests Thomas's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zeroun lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thomas circles away quickly and effectively.
Zeroun lands a nice shot to the body.
Zeroun lands a two punch combo.
Zeroun lands a nice looking body shot.
Thomas misses with a wild body shot.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zeroun lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thomas backs up against the cage.
Thomas throws a push kick but Zeroun slaps the foot to one side.
Nishan Zeroun is winning the standup battle so far.
Zeroun connects with a body shot.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Zeroun misses with a wild combination.
Thomas is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zeroun sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zeroun throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeroun misses with a few strikes there.
Zeroun works over Thomas's head and body with a nice combination.
Zeroun lands a two punch combo.
Zeroun lands a slapping body shot.
Zeroun is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thomas can do to turn this around?
Zeroun stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Zeroun lands a glancing blow to the side of Thomas's head.
Thomas drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Zeroun lands a jab to the nose.
Decent striking displayed by Zeroun there.
Nishan Zeroun is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zeroun misses with a series of wild punches.

Thomas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Thomas lands in his opponent's guard.

Thomas postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Zeroun is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Thomas, into his guard.

Thomas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zeroun can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zeroun gets to his feet - Thomas follows without any prompting.
Zeroun is working the combinations to good effect here.
Zeroun throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zeroun misses with a double jab.
Zeroun scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Thomas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Zeroun circles away.
Zeroun with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas takes one on the button.
Zeroun scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Zeroun connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Thomas's hands.
Thomas avoids a kick to the body.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Nishan Zeroun has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Zeroun scores with a four punch combination!
Thomas steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Zeroun. That one must have hurt.
Zeroun fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zeroun throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zeroun throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
Zeroun scores with the left hand. Thomas knows he should have avoided that one.
Zeroun misses with a jab, cross combination.

Thomas shoots in and bounces Zeroun off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Thomas is pushing down on Zeroun's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zeroun is fighting to maintain full guard but Thomas has managed to sneak the leg through.

Thomas is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zeroun wants to get back to his feet.

Thomas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas seems to be working for a kimura but Zeroun defends the submission attempt.

Thomas looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zeroun is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Thomas is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Thomas seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nishan Zeroun dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nice straight punches there by Zeroun. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zeroun.
Zeroun throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
Zeroun catches Thomas with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Thomas tries to clinch up but Zeroun circles away and keeps his distance.
Zeroun takes a swing at Thomas's ribcage but misses.
Zeroun throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Thomas blocks the body kick.
Zeroun misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas.
Zeroun tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thomas was well out of range. Poor timing from Zeroun.
Thomas slips a jab and a cross from Zeroun.
Zeroun throws a right and a left that both miss.
No luck for Thomas with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Zeroun pushes him off.
Zeroun fails to land with a series of punches.
Thomas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zeroun swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Zeroun scores with a three punch combo!
Zeroun throws a nice looking combination but Thomas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Zeroun.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thomas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Zeroun walks away with a smile on his face. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nishan Zeroun has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Thomas.
Zeroun throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
A shot to the body from Thomas misses
and Zeroun counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thomas scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zeroun paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thomas takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Thomas closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Zeroun did well to prevent Thomas getting side control.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Thomas stops Zeroun from getting back to his feet.
Jack Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Thomas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zeroun defending well though.
Zeroun won't allow Thomas to pass to mount.

Thomas is working for a kimura but Zeroun is defending it quite comfortably.

Zeroun is defending against the submission attempts here by Thomas.
Zeroun is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zeroun throws a right hand that Thomas ducks under and follows up with a left that Thomas also avoids with ease.
Thomas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zeroun moves away.
Zeroun lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thomas circles away quickly and effectively.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Zeroun circles away and keeps his distance.
Zeroun avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zeroun moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Thomas has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Nice sprawl there from Zeroun as Thomas shoots in.
Zeroun throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Zeroun pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zeroun misses with a looping right.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zeroun swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zeroun will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zeroun throws a right hand that Thomas ducks under and follows up with a left that Thomas also avoids with ease.

Thomas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Thomas showed some decent athleticism there.
Thomas working Zeroun over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeroun is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him

Zeroun is defending against the submission attempts here by Thomas.
Zeroun is looking to escape.
Thomas scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Thomas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zeroun is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him

Thomas is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zeroun sees it coming and defends easily.
Thomas throwing shots but Zeroun is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jack Thomas.
I think Zeroun 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nishan Zeroun!