PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hal Horne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Horne
vs
Thomas

206 cm
24
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hal Horne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Thomas!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Horne pushes him off.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thomas is defended easily by Horne.
Thomas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Horne avoids it really well and circles away.
Horne slaps away a takedown attempt from Thomas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hal Horne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Thomas.

Thomas tries to keep at a distance but Horne has taken the fight into the clinch.
Horne really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Thomas goes for a takedown attempt but Horne pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Horne doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Thomas decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Horne's guard.
Thomas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Horne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Horne looking for a sweep. Not yet Horne, not yet.
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.
Horne has Thomas pulled in close to control his posture.
Horne looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thomas is one step ahead there.
Horne is pulling down on Thomas's head to control his posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Horne is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Horne gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Horne breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horne has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Thomas.
Horne fails in his attempt to clinch.
Horne looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thomas is fending him off so far but Horne persists. Nope, Thomas circles away and we're back to standing.
Thomas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Horne is fending him off so far but Thomas persists. Nope, Horne circles away and we're back to standing.

Horne closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Horne tries to pull guard but Thomas holds him up against the cage and eventually Horne drops back down to his feet.
Horne is working for takedown but Thomas is calmly controlling the position for now.
Horne jumps guard but Thomas turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Horne is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thomas pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Horne is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Horne breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas moves to clinch but Horne breaks away
and Horne counters with a one-two to the body.
Thomas scores with a jab to the head.
Thomas shoots for a double leg takedown but Horne sprawls well. He's pushed Thomas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Thomas changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Horne looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Horne keeps working.
Thomas wants to stand but Horne has his arm trapped.
Thomas is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horne is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Thomas off and has taken his back!
Horne controlling the position well here. Thomas rolled but Horne kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Horne doesn't have the hooks in and Thomas manages to turn into his guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Horne lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thomas!
Horne avoids the attempt from Thomas to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horne throwing strikes here but Thomas is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sam Thomas will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Horne tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but Horne shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Horne closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thomas is trying to break free.
Thomas gets underhooks to prevent Horne's takedown attempt.
Thomas changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Horne fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Thomas shoots and misses

and Horne holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hal Horne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Thomas.
Thomas is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Horne is defending well.

Horne jumps guard.
Thomas is looking to stand up but Horne won't let him.
Thomas is fighting to break Horne's control of his arms but Horne is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Hal Horne wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Horne looks for a takedown but Thomas sprawls well.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but Horne shows good takedown defense.
Horne has a takedown stuffed.
Thomas throws a right hand that Horne ducks under and follows up with a left that Horne also avoids with ease.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Thomas misses with a body kick.
Thomas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horne shoots in looking for a takedown. Thomas tries to sprawl out of it but Horne keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thomas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Horne fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thomas avoids it really well and circles away.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.

Horne clinches up with Thomas and pushes him back against the cage.
Horne is stalling here.
Thomas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Horne.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looking to stall.
A hook to the body from Horne.
Thomas is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Thomas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Horne walks away with a smile on his face. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Thomas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Horne.
Horne swinging wildly here.
Thomas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Horne swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands a head kick!
Thomas is looking to clinch but Horne is avoiding it.
Horne checks a leg kick.
Horne throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Horne tries to keep at a distance but Thomas has taken the fight into the clinch.

Horne escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horne fails with a takedown attempt.
Horne stuffs the takedown.
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 Hal Horne will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

No luck for Horne with that takedown attempt.
Thomas dives in for a single leg takedown but Horne sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Horne tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thomas just stands there and leans against the cage.
Horne taking a breather.

Horne breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Horne avoids a kick to the body.
Horne misses with a head kick.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Horne.
Hal Horne is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Horrible takedown by Horne or perhaps it was just good defense by Thomas which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hal Horne. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Horne.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horne shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thomas but Thomas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thomas slips a jab and a cross from Horne.

Thomas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thomas looking to slow down the pace here.
Thomas with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Horne avoids it really well and circles away.
Horne is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas closes the distance looking to clinch

and Horne counters by moving into the clinch.

Horne manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Thomas has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Horne is proving hard to escape from.
Horne wants to stand but Thomas is controlling the position.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Horne keeps moving.
Thomas sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Horne's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horne is refusing to be controlled, as Thomas sits in half guard.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Horne is defending well.

Horne makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Thomas lands with a kick to the ribs.
Thomas has a takedown stuffed.
Sam Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Horne circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Horne as he avoids it easily.
Horne darts in looking for a takedown but Thomas gets double underhooks and turns Horne into the cage.
Horne has Thomas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Thomas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Horne breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas stuffs the takedown attempt from Horne. Horne gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thomas.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but Horne shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horne leaves Thomas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sam Thomas.
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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Sam Thomas!