PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Steve Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fred Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jones
vs
Thomas

185 cm
18
141 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

150 cm
22
133 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Steve Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Fred Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Atkins and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas misses with a head kick.
Thomas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jones.

Jones shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Thomas napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Jones really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Jones takes a little break here. Thomas wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Jones's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Jones will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Jones tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jones has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas tries to escape but Jones is in control.
Jones trying to control the action but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas is trying to get back to his feet.
Jones controls the position.
Thomas wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Jones trying to control the position but Thomas is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Thomas wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Jones looking to control and managing it successfully.
Thomas squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Jones moves to take his opponent's back.
Jones trying to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Steve Jones just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Jones looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jones takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Thomas has eaten all the pies!
Jones is breathing heavily.
Thomas scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Thomas throws a right hand that Jones ducks under and follows up with a left that Jones also avoids with ease.
Fred Thomas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas thumps Jones with a low kick.
Thomas misses with a looping right.
Jones showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thomas.
Thomas's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Thomas duly obliges.

It looks like Steve Jones has been cut.
Thomas works over Jones's head and body with a nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Jones is rocked!
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
Jones avoids the head kick by Thomas.
Thomas scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Jones avoids a punch combination nicely.
A head kick misses from Thomas.
Steve Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Jones. That did some damage!
Thomas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thomas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jones slips a jab and a cross from Thomas.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Thomas.
Thomas lunges at Jones with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Jones's hand.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jones.
Thomas throws a sloppy head kick and Jones moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas swinging wilding here.
Thomas fails to land with a series of punches.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Thomas!
Jones moves out of range of the body kick from Thomas.
Thomas lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jones.
Thomas lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Jones at a distance.
Thomas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thomas misses with a two punch combination.
Thomas throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones walks forward, straight into a front kick from Thomas.
Thomas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thomas ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Thomas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Jones's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jones fails to land the takedown.
Jones shoots for a takedown but Thomas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jones looks for a takedown but Thomas sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Thomas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Jones shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Jones looking to control but Thomas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thomas wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Jones trying to control but Thomas is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones wants to control the pace but Thomas is squirming around nicely.
Thomas is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Jones tries to control but Thomas wriggling away.
Thomas tries to buck Jones off but he can't manage it.
Jones trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thomas wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Jones tries to control but Thomas wriggling away.

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.
Jones fails to advance to Thomas's back.

Jones working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Thomas really wants to buck Jones off and get back to his feet.
Jones takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Thomas is squirming around, avoiding Jones's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Jones looking to control but Thomas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Jones wants to finish this one by submission but Thomas is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Jones.
Thomas wants to try and get back to his feet.
Jones tries to control but Thomas wriggling away.
Thomas trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Jones takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Thomas is trying to stand up.
Jones can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thomas is looking to escape.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Steve Jones just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Jones shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thomas as he avoids it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thomas buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Thomas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thomas throws a body punch but Jones moves out of range.
Thomas is looking to slow Jones down with leg kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fred Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steve Jones's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thomas displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Thomas lands a front kick.
Jones tries to score a power double leg takedown but Thomas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jones somewhat.
Thomas connects with a single shot there.
Thomas lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Jones shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Thomas wants to stand and escape but Jones is having none of it.
Jones wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Thomas wants to stand up but Jones is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jones trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas wants to stand and escape but Jones is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jones blocks a jab.
Fred Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thomas stuffs the takedown attempt from Jones. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.
Thomas moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Thomas throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Thomas fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jones.
Thomas lands a right hook to the body.
Jones avoids a kick to the body.
Thomas throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A good leg kick by Thomas.
Thomas lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Thomas misses the shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Thomas.
Thomas works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Fred Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.

Jones closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Jones seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thomas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jones is really struggling to control Thomas but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Thomas is trying to stand up here but Jones is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Well, if Jones 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.
Jones is pressing down on Thomas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thomas is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones is working hard here to advance position.
Thomas is trying to stand back up but Jones is controlling him
Jones trying to pass the guard but Thomas defending well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Thomas lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Thomas connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Jones's hands.
Steve Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
No joy there for Thomas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jones tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but Jones is just out of range.

Jones closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Jones is looking to take a break and control but Thomas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fred Thomas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thomas is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Jones asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Jones is trying to get an arm triangle but Thomas is defending well.
Jones prevents Thomas from escaping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fred Thomas.
I've got Thomas winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fred Thomas!