PBP Commentary

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

Thomas
vs
Gatti

190 cm
29
181 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

176 cm
30
175 lbs
10 - 17 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Mark Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Arturo Gatti!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gatti misses with a double jab.
Gatti fails with the takedown.
Thomas throws a nice looking combination but Gatti bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thomas misses with a wild combination.
Gatti tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thomas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gatti swivels and escapes.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but Gatti shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gatti darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
No joy there for Thomas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatti misses with a double jab.

Thomas feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Thomas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thomas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Thomas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thomas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Thomas is working hard here to advance position.
Thomas trying to control but Gatti is working from the bottom.
Thomas throws a big elbow that misses.

Thomas decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gatti, up you get!
Thomas thows a body shot but no joy.
Gatti misses with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a leg kick that misses.
Thomas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gatti avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gatti throws a one two combo.
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gatti.
Thomas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Arturo Gatti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Thomas manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gatti on his heels. He'll look to pass Gatti's guard now, I'm sure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatti is looking to stand up but Thomas isn't so interested in that idea.
Gatti trying to control the position.
Gatti is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Thomas dives into side control.
Gatti looks gassed!
Thomas working away.
Thomas is chipping away with strikes.

Thomas wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gatti, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Gatti's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Thomas looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Thomas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatti pushes Thomas away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Thomas gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Thomas working the ground and pound from side control.
Thomas staying calm.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas cracks Gatti with a big elbow.

Thomas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gatti has escaped the position, nice work there.
Thomas working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gatti is looking to regain half guard here but Thomas keeps moving and retains side control.
Thomas in side control lands a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Thomas dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Gatti has his takedown stuffed

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Gatti is retaining full guard.
Thomas has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Thomas throwing strikes from guard but Gatti blocks nicely.
Thomas keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gatti's head.
Thomas working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Thomas drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gatti looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gatti looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gatti!
Thomas manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gatti's best efforts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Thomas wants to control but Gatti is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gatti's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gatti's back!

Gatti preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Thomas.
I really don't envy Gatti right now.

Thomas looking for the RNC.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Gatti preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Thomas.
Gatti controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Gatti is breathing heavily.

Thomas is looking for the choke from the back position but Gatti is controlling his hands well.
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!
Gatti just trying to survive but Thomas is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Gatti looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Thomas.

Thomas working for the choke.

Thomas patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Thomas is not going to allow Gatti to sit and survive in this position.

Thomas working for the choke.

Thomas is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Gatti has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Thomas is persistently looking for the submission but Gatti is defending it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas looking for the choke but no joy.

Thomas is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Gatti is in bad spot here.
Mark Thomas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gatti is trying to stand back up.

Thomas is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Gatti has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Thomas looking to break Gatti's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Gatti remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Thomas will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatti wants to get back to his feet.
Gatti trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Thomas has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Gatti has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas avoiding Gatti 's attempts to control his hands.
The referee is taking a good look at Gatti as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Thomas!
Thomas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gatti can do to turn this around?

Thomas working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Gatti is doing well to defend. Thomas seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Gatti is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mark Thomas!