PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ash Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ash Thomas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gracie
vs
Thomas

183 cm
32
185 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

182 cm
30
178 lbs
19 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps
Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

Gesundheit Designs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vitor Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ash Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown but Thomas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gracie's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Thomas throws a low kick but Gracie moves out of range easily.
Gracie on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gracie throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Thomas misses with a head kick.

Thomas tries to sprawl but Gracie drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Gracie seems to be looking for submissions.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura but Thomas is defending well.
Thomas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.
Thomas is controlling Gracie's trapped leg to prevent Gracie from advancing to side control.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Thomas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.

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

Thomas is defending against the submission attempts here by Gracie.
Thomas moves into full guard.
Thomas looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Thomas is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Thomas manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Thomas's guard.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Thomas is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Thomas manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Thomas's guard.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Thomas defends it.
Thomas is looking for a sweep. Gracie is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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

Gracie seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Thomas has recovered full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Gracie drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gracie jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

Gracie drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Thomas manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gracie has Thomas in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense.
Gracie walks forward, straight into a front kick from Thomas.
Gracie wants to clinch.
Gracie avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Thomas tries to move into range but Gracie moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gracie throws a poor cross that misses
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.
Thomas catches Gracie with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Thomas throws a leg kick that misses.
Thomas tries to land a front kick but Gracie steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gracie slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Gracie keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Thomas walks into a straight right hand from Gracie.
Thomas tries to land a front kick but Gracie steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ash Thomas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a low kick as Gracie jumps back.
Gracie cracks Thomas with a good jab.
Thomas listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gracie stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thomas.
Gracie throws a hook but Thomas blocks it.
Thomas needs to keep his hands up - Gracie had a free shot at his head there.
Gracie needs to keep his hands up - Thomas had a free shot at his head there.
Thomas misses with a head kick.
Gracie cracks Thomas with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A punch combination from Thomas misses.
Ash Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thomas throws a nice outside leg kick.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but Gracie is just out of range.
Gracie slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Gracie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Thomas. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
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!
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Thomas lands a jab to the nose.
Gracie takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thomas is looking to land body kicks.
Thomas swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gracie takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Vitor Gracie has been cut.
Vitor Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gracie moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gracie fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.
Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
Thomas cracks Gracie with a right hand to the side of the head.
Thomas misses with a straight left.
Gracie looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thomas bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Gracie lands with an uppercut that bounces Thomas off the cage and back into range.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a front kick that sends Gracie stumbling back into the cage.
Gracie walks forward, straight into a front kick from Thomas.
Thomas comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Thomas throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gracie stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gracie misses with a right hand
and Thomas makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Gracie really felt that one!
A head kick misses from Thomas.
Gracie takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas connects with a leg kick. Gracie looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Gracie's corner calls for a 1-2. Gracie obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gracie is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Thomas looks for the body kick but Gracie saw that one coming.
Thomas ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gracie will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gracie misses with an uppercut.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Thomas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thomas staying out of range there.
Thomas with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Thomas keeps it at a distance.
Gracie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thomas throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Gracie throws a big shot that misses.
Gracie moves out of range of the body kick.
Thomas fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gracie.
Thomas throws a jab but it's blocked by Gracie.

Gracie looking to score a takedown here. Thomas is defending well but Gracie drives through and ends up in Thomas's guard.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Thomas trying to control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie looking to sit in guard and control but Thomas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ash Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vitor Gracie's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.
Gracie tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thomas swivels and escapes.
Gracie moves out of range as Thomas strikes.
Gracie lands with a nice body punch.
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomas throws a looping overhand right but Gracie ducks down to avoid it.
Thomas shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Thomas throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Thomas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas misses the jab.
Gracie gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Thomas.
Gracie misses with a wild body shot.
Thomas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gracie was well out of range. Poor timing from Thomas.
Thomas misses with a body kick.
Gracie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gracie misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a head kick.
Thomas wants to land a leg kick but Gracie is out of range.
The fighters circling - Gracie throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A clash of legs there as Gracie blocks the low kick.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gracie.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gracie, as that shot connected.
Thomas thumps Gracie with a low kick.
Thomas takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gracie is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thomas wants to slow Gracie down by chopping away at his legs.
Gracie scores with a jab to the head.
Thomas lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gracie uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Thomas connects with a solid leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Thomas.
A shot to the liver by Gracie. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to land a leg kick but Gracie is out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gracie lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nice takedown defense from Thomas. No joy for Gracie on that attempt.
Gracie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Gracie looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Thomas tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Thomas is trying to maintain the position but Gracie is very close to passing his half guard.
Thomas controlling the position well.

Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thomas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to pass to full mount but Thomas defends it.
Gracie moves into full mount! Thomas won't be happy about that!

Gracie looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Thomas is in no mood to give up.
Thomas is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie controlling his opponent.

Gracie working for a submission but Thomas is keeping him at bay.
Thomas tries to hold on but Gracie postures up.
Thomas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas tries to hold on but Gracie pushes him away.
Thomas can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vitor Gracie.
I think Gracie 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vitor Gracie!