PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Hughs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas has chosen Muse - Knights of Cydonia as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hughs
vs
Thomas

178 cm
27
167 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

190 cm
28
166 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Cobra Pharmaceuticals (159++ Stamina)

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 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Hughs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Thomas!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jonathan Paton and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hughs avoids it really well and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hughs looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thomas throws a body punch but Hughs moves out of range.
Joe Hughs seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hughs swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hughs won't be happy with that.
Thomas fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Thomas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hughs has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hughs tries to bench press Thomas off him but Thomas keeps the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hughs rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Thomas's guard! Nice work there by Hughs!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thomas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Thomas working for a triangle but Hughs defends it easily.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hughs might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughs wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.

Hughs gets to his feet. Thomas looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Hughs tries to clinch
and Thomas counters with a stiff right hand.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hughs. That's going to slow Thomas down.
Hughs throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Thomas dives in and grabs Hughs's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hughs pushes down on Thomas's head and hops out.

Hughs gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thomas postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hughs looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hughs looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hughs!
Hughs is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Hughs'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.
Thomas looks to move to half guard but instead Hughs has passed into mount! Damn!
Thomas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Thomas is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hughs tries to control but Thomas wriggling away.
Hughs prevents Thomas from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hughs doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Hughs tries a low kick but Thomas avoids it.
Hughs is looking to clinch but Thomas is avoiding it.
Hughs tries to clinch
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.
Hughs tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thomas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A punch combination from Hughs misses.
Thomas works Hughs's body with a nice hook.
Thomas moves out of range of the body kick.
Hughs tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thomas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hughs gets a clinch.
Thomas lands a shoulder strike.
Thomas is looking to break free of the clinch but Hughs has double underhooks.
Hughs scores with a hook to the body.
Thomas misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thomas wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hughs has him pressed against the cage.
Thomas is trying to push Hughs away but Hughs has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Thomas is trying to break the clinch but Hughs has him pressed against the cage.
Hughs tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thomas avoids it.
Thomas wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hughs has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Thomas's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
Hughs slaps away a takedown attempt from Thomas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hughs throws a head kick that Thomas semi-blocks.

Thomas is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hughs tries to clinch but Thomas is having none of it.
Hughs avoids the body shot from Thomas.
Thomas swats away the attempt to clinch by Hughs.
Hughs moves in looking to clinch but Thomas pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughs uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomas.
Joe Hughs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hughs tries to clinch up but Thomas circles away and keeps his distance.
Thomas is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hughs moves to clinch but Thomas breaks away
and Thomas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hughs is looking to slow Thomas down with leg kicks.
Hughs misses with a body kick.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but Hughs is just out of range.
Hughs attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughs closes the distance but Thomas moves to the side
and Thomas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Hughs closes the distance and pushes Thomas back into the cage.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hughs fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Hughs. Those never looked like landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hughs fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hughs dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thomas. That did some damage!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Hughs dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A leg kick checked by Thomas.
Thomas takes a swing at Hughs's ribcage but misses.
Thomas scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Thomas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hughs wants to clinch.

Hughs fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Thomas, pushing him back against the cage.
Thomas wants to break free but Hughs has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Hughs - that landed with a thud.
Hughs blocks an uppercut.
Hughs keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thomas's efforts to push away.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hughs tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Thomas counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Thomas looking to sit in guard and control but Hughs gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Thomas looking for a guillotine here but Hughs defends easily.

Thomas has an active guard here but Hughs has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hughs pulls his head out easily.
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!
Hughs is pressing down on Thomas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thomas is holding on for now.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.

Thomas actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hughs pulls his head out easily.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Thomas has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Hughs escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Hughs!
Thomas takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Thomas manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hughs trying to control here.

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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hughs doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thomas.
Thomas not landing any meaningful shots this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thomas has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

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