PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lee Struthers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Muse - Knights of Cydonia kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Ryan Thomas is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Struthers
vs
Thomas

186 cm
27
169 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

190 cm
29
166 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lee Struthers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Anthony Taglia and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Struthers.
Thomas throws a jab but it's blocked by Struthers.
Struthers moves out of range as Thomas strikes.
Struthers is looking to clinch but Thomas is avoiding it.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but Struthers shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Struthers takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Thomas shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Thomas thows a body shot but no joy.
Thomas scores with a nice head shot.
Thomas misses with a straight right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Struthers. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Struthers does a little dance to reset his feet.
Struthers slips under a jab.
Struthers throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Struthers throws a leg kick but Thomas moved away.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Struthers but Struthers pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Some wild striking there from Thomas.
Struthers ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Struthers.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Struthers misses with a double jab
and Thomas counters with a straight right hand.

Struthers gets caught flat footed, as Thomas shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Struthers striking off his back.
Struthers is looking to stand up but Thomas isn't so interested in that idea.
Thomas looking to sit in guard and control but Struthers gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thomas looking to control.
Struthers trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas looking to control but Struthers passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struthers wants to get back to his feet.
Thomas is trying to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Struthers tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struthers is taking a breather. Thomas says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Thomas wants to improve his position but Struthers is controlling well.
Struthers is thwarting Thomas's attempts to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Struthers tries to land a front kick but Thomas steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Struthers instigates a clinch.
A short body shot lands from Struthers as the two fighters clinch.
Thomas is trying to break the clinch but Struthers is controlling him.
Struthers misses with a punch on the inside.
Thomas wants to break free but Struthers has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Thomas misses the shot to the body.
Thomas throws a jab but it's blocked by Struthers.
Struthers throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Struthers takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Struthers keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thomas.
Struthers keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Thomas misses the jab.

Thomas shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Struthers is trying to defend but Thomas finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Thomas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Struthers defends it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Thomas wants to work for an arm triangle but Struthers is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ryan Thomas will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Thomas on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Struthers leaves Thomas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Struthers takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Struthers throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thomas walks into a jab.
Thomas has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Struthers finds it's way round the side to connect with Thomas's head.
Thomas connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A slapping leg kick lands for Struthers.
Struthers scores with a hook to the body. Thomas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Struthers sprawls well. Struthers wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet.
Struthers defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thomas.
Lee Struthers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Thomas.
Struthers uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Thomas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Struthers ducks under a wild hook from Thomas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struthers fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Thomas tries to keep at a distance but Struthers has taken the fight into the clinch.
A short right from Struthers.

Struthers manages to break the clinch.
Struthers feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Thomass jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Struthers misses with a body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Struthers. Those never looked like landing.
Thomas has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Thomas there as he acknowledges the shot.
Struthers moves in looking to clinch but Thomas pushes him off.
Lee Struthers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Struthers.
Thomas takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lee Struthers is winning the standup battle so far.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Struthers enables Thomas to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Struthers manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Struthers kicks Thomas off and gets to his feet.
A right-left combo lands from Struthers.

Thomas drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struthers looking for a sweep. Not yet Struthers, not yet.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Struthers keeps moving.
Struthers working a defensive guard but Thomas manages to pass into side control anyway.
Thomas throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Thomas working away.

Thomas is trying to get an arm triangle but Struthers is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Thomas has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Thomas is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Struthers is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Struthers struggling a bit here.

Thomas swings around for an armbar but Struthers sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Thomas's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Struthers tries to stand but Thomas is controlling from the bottom.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thomas looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Struthers puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Thomas wants to control the action here but instead Struthers manages to pass to full mount!
Thomas tries to control Struthers's body but Struthers pushes him off. Thomas squirms to his side and now Struthers has his back!
Thomas trying to control the action but Struthers just sinks the hooks in.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lee Struthers will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Struthers dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas throws a body punch but Struthers moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Struthers. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Struthers lands a right hook to the body.
Struthers tries a head kick but it misses.
Struthers's jab looks to have found its range, popping Thomas under the eye.
Struthers throws a low kick but Thomas avoids it.
A combination from Struthers does no damage.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Struthers rushes Thomas and presses him up against the cage.
Thomas is trying to force a seperation but Struthers has the dominant position.

Struthers breaks the clinch.
Thomas looks to land a left hand but Struthers moved out of range nicely.
Thomas shoots in but no luck this time.
Thomas shoots in but Struthers avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lee Struthers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Thomas.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Struthers lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thomas backs up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Thomas there as he acknowledges the shot.

Struthers closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Struthers breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Struthers wants to clinch.
Thomas thows a body shot but no joy.

Thomas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Thomas seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Struthers does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Thomas working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Struthers's thigh. Struthers counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Struthers keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struthers seems keen to control Thomas's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas trying to move into half guard but instead Struthers has managed to sweep!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Struthers decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Thomas, up you get!

Struthers has managed to clinch.
Thomas struggles to land a body shot inside as Struthers controls his hands.

Struthers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Struthers throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas takes a swing at Struthers's ribcage but misses.
Struthers dips to his left and cracks Thomas with an uppercut!
Struthers changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Struthers scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Thomas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Struthers.
Struthers works over Thomas's head and body with a nice combination.
Struthers misses with a series of wild punches.
Struthers lands a nice hook to Thomas's body. Thomas takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Thomas has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Struthers finds it's way round the side to connect with Thomas's head.
Thomas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Struthers looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Struthers throws a body punch but Thomas moves out of range.
Struthers scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Thomas doesn't seem bothered though.
Nice sprawl there from Struthers as Thomas shoots in.
Struthers scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Thomas doesn't seem bothered though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Struthers rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thomas blocks a head kick by Struthers.
Struthers is looking to clinch.
The fighters circling - Thomas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Struthers ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Struthers misses with a wild body shot.
Thomas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Struthers tries to close the distance and clinch but Thomas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thomas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Struthers sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Struthers works Thomas's body with a nice hook.
Struthers dips to his left and cracks Thomas with an uppercut!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Struthers has closed the distance and engaged Thomas in a clinch.

Struthers pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Struthers takes a jab right on the kisser.
Struthers slaps away a takedown attempt from Thomas, before circling back to the center of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lee Struthers showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Struthers 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lee Struthers!
During a confident post fight interview, Lee Struthers thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.