PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roman Reigns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cameron Thomaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Roman Reigns has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Roman Reigns seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Reigns
vs
Thomaz

200 cm
26
185 lbs
2 - 7 - 1

170 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 1, fighting out of London, Roman Reigns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Cameron Thomaz!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Glass and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomaz tries a head kick but it misses.
A nice inside leg kick there by Thomaz. That's going to slow Reigns down.
Reigns throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thomaz's waist but Thomaz gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Reigns off to one side.
Thomaz misses with a leg kick.

Reigns takes the fight into the clinch.

Reigns ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Reigns no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Reigns controlling Thomaz's posture.
Thomaz with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thomaz postures up in Reigns's guard and throws a big left but Reigns blocks it.
Thomaz has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thomaz trying to control but Reigns is working from the bottom.
Thomaz postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomaz passes Reigns's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Thomaz stalling.
Reigns is not content to let Thomaz control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomaz is looking to advance position but Reigns won't allow it.
Reigns trying to hold on to Thomaz's head to control him but Thomaz postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Thomaz misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomaz shoots in looking for a takedown. Reigns tries to sprawl out of it but Thomaz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Reigns manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Reigns fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Thomaz to the ground. Reigns is now in Thomaz's guard.
Reigns loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Reigns controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Thomaz is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Thomaz is looking for a triangle but Reigns pushes his legs off easily.
Thomaz is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns content to stall in guard here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Thomaz trying 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.
Reigns lands a high kick!

It looks like Cameron Thomaz has been cut.
Reigns throws a head kick but Thomaz moves out of range.
Reigns really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Thomaz gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Thomaz has Reigns pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Reigns manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thomaz should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Reigns slaps away a takedown attempt from Thomaz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Roman Reigns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cameron Thomaz.
Thomaz looks winded!

Reigns throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Thomaz tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Reigns is in Thomaz's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Reigns trying to stand up but can't free himself from Thomaz's guard.
Reigns has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Reigns trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thomaz has a closed guard, preventing Reigns from standing up.

Thomaz is looking for a triangle here but Reigns uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reigns is looking to take a break and control but Thomaz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Reigns dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cameron Thomaz's cut.
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.

Thomaz misses with a kick to the body.
Reigns wants to clinch up but Thomaz keeps it at a distance.
Thomaz misses with a combination
and Reigns counters with a two punch combo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomaz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Reigns shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Thomaz doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Thomaz manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Reigns manages to get himself to full guard.

Thomaz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reigns working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thomaz.
Thomaz passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Thomaz throws an elbow but Reigns slips to the side and avoids it well.
Reigns managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Thomaz.

Thomaz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Reigns is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Reigns tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomaz decides to stand back up. Thomaz steps back and let's Reigns get back to his feet.

Thomaz gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Reigns being controlled against the cage.

Thomaz manages to break the clinch.
Thomaz is breathing heavily.
Thomaz throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reigns's waist but Reigns gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thomaz off to one side.
Thomaz is looking to clinch but Reigns is avoiding it.

Reigns feints and as Thomaz raises his hands in defense, Reigns changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomaz is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Reigns is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Reigns wants to control from the top but Thomaz keeps moving.
Thomaz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Roman Reigns just wasn't active enough.
Reigns circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thomaz defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Reigns.
Thomaz on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomaz lands a head kick!
Thomaz shoots and misses
and Reigns counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Reigns fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Reigns works over Thomaz's head and body with a nice combination.

Reigns has Thomaz up against the cage in a clinch.

Reigns has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Thomaz is trying to keep an underhook but Reigns manages to get the takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomaz controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomaz tries to kick Reigns off but Reigns keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
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 Roman Reigns will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Cameron Thomaz's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Reigns clinches up against the cage.
Reigns looking for a takedown.
Thomaz is looking for a takedown.
A shot in the inside from Reigns.
Reigns tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thomaz avoids it.
Reigns has Thomaz pressed against the cage, preventing Thomaz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A frustrated look appears on Thomaz's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Thomaz tries to pull guard but Reigns won't allow it.
Thomaz misses with the head strike.
Reigns wants to break the clinch but can't.
Reigns tries to land knees in the clinch but Thomaz avoids the damage to the body.
Reigns prevents the takedown attempt.
Roman Reigns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cameron Thomaz.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Reigns successfully pulls guard.
Reigns has his hands on Thomaz's head, controlling the position.
Thomaz tries to free his leg and advance position but Reigns is retaining full guard.
Thomaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thomaz sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Some wild striking there from Thomaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reigns pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thomaz tries to clinch up but Reigns circles away and keeps his distance.
Reigns checks the leg kick nicely there.
Thomaz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Reigns misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thomaz shoots for a takedown but Reigns saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Reigns lands a two punch combo.

Reigns darts in and clinches Thomaz up against the cage.
Reigns wants a takedown but no success here.
Thomaz leaning against his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Reigns as Thomaz tries to tie him up.
Reigns prevents Thomaz from breaking the clinch.

Reigns turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Thomaz tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Reigns wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reigns scoring with punches and elbows.
Reigns is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Thomaz will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Thomaz bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reigns shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thomaz pushes Reigns off looking to stand but Reigns dives back in and keeps control.
Thomaz trying to control from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reigns trying to control from half guard but Thomaz is working away.
Thomaz trying to control but Reigns postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roman Reigns showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Reigns has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roman Reigns!