PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roman Reigns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roman Reigns has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Reigns
vs
Thomas

200 cm
27
185 lbs
4 - 7 - 1

185 cm
25
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

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 4 - 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sam Thomas!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reigns connects with a nice looking jab.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Reigns pushes him off.
Reigns misses with a head kick.
Thomas wants to clinch.
Thomas shoots in but Reigns avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Reigns throws a shot to the body.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown but Reigns manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thomas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A head kick misses from Reigns.
Reigns connects with a leg kick. Thomas looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Reigns avoids the head kick by Thomas.
Reigns looks for a takedown but Thomas sprawls well.
Thomas scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reigns slips a jab and a cross from Thomas.

Reigns closes the distance and pushes Thomas back into the cage.

Reigns gets control of Thomas's arms and successfully pulls guard. Reigns will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Reigns is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thomas trying to control but Reigns is working from the bottom.

Reigns working for a triangle but Thomas defends it easily.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Reigns keeps moving.
Thomas looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reigns lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thomas!
Reigns scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Reigns putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Thomas tries to hold on but Reigns postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Reigns pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Thomas looks winded!
Thomas wants to control but Reigns is having none of it.
Thomas can't escape the position.
Thomas wants to hold on but Reigns pushes him away.
Reigns looking to control but Thomas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Reigns controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thomas is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reigns lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Reigns controlling the pace for now.

Reigns is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Reigns gets a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Reigns dominated that round.
That's time! Reigns's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thomas tries to clinch up but Reigns circles away and keeps his distance.
Thomas cracks Reigns with a right hand to the side of the head.

Reigns shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Reigns was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Reigns decides to stand up, so the ref orders Thomas to his feet.
Reigns leaves Thomas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Thomas blocks a low kick nicely.

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

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Reigns counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Reigns.
Thomas is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reigns wants a takedown.
Reigns has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Reigns decides to pull guard.
Reigns is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Reigns is pulling down on Thomas's head. It's preventing any offense from Thomas, at least for the moment.
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.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Reigns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reigns knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thomas on the ground.
Reigns is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thomas is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reigns is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Reigns circles away easily
and Reigns counters with a nice body shot.
Roman Reigns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam Thomas.
Reigns tries for a takedown but Thomas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Reigns scores with a hook to the body. Thomas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown. Reigns tries to sprawl out of it but Thomas 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 throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns stuffs the takedown attempt from Thomas. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet.
Reigns will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown. Reigns tries to sprawl out of it but Thomas 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 high and shoots in for a takedown but Thomas avoids it really well and circles away.
Thomas takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Reigns throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Thomas tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Reigns is in Thomas's guard.
Thomas is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looking to control.
Reigns passes Thomas's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Reigns moves nicely into side control.
Reigns working the ground and pound.
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!
Thomas is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Reigns is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reigns controlling from mount.
A nice elbow there by Reigns.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Reigns dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thomas gets tackled into the cage by Reigns. Reigns maintains the clinch.
Reigns is trying to pull guard but Thomas has him pressed against the cage.

Reigns jumps into guard, dragging Thomas to the mat.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Reigns is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas wanted to stand there but Reigns had control of the position.
Reigns seems keen to control Thomas's posture.

Thomas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Reigns has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thomas has managed to get both his arms back between Reigns's legs - danger averted.

Thomas drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Reigns dives on top into guard.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Reigns escapes and throws Thomas's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Reigns taking a break here but Thomas is having none of it and regains half guard.
Roman Reigns overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Reigns looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Thomas is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reigns seems to be working for a kimura but Thomas defends the submission attempt.
Thomas is looking to escape.
Thomas is trying to maintain the position but Reigns is very close to passing his half guard.
Reigns takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Thomas trying to hold on to Reigns's head to control him but Reigns postures up.
Reigns looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reigns is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Reigns tries to stand and escape but Thomas is controlling the position.
Thomas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Reigns.
Reigns throws a strike but Thomas avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Thomas can't keep his opponent in guard - Reigns advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Reigns is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is looking to control Reigns's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thomas avoid being mounted?

Thomas looking for a kimura from the bottom but Reigns passes into side control!
Thomas is looking for a sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas trying to remain calm as Reigns controls from the top position.

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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

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