PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Danny Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Szymon Zembala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zembala has chosen Stemm-Face the pain as his entrance music. Szymon Zembala is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Thomas
vs
Zembala

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
199 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

ZSTAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Danny Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Szymon Zembala!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zembala avoids the head kick by Thomas.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but Zembala shows good takedown defense.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Zembala avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zembala tries to avoid it but Thomas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zembala to the ground. Zembala escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danny Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thomas closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Thomas is trying to move to mount but Zembala reverses beautifully and ends up in Thomas's guard.
Thomas is striking from the bottom but Zembala uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zembala trying to mount his opponent but Thomas defends it.
Thomas trying to control here.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Zembala is trying to work for a kimura but Thomas is defending well.
Zembala prevents Thomas from improving his position.
Thomas gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Thomas holds on and takes a little breather.
Zembala passes Thomas's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Zembala tries to pass to full mount but Thomas defends it.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Zembala looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Thomas looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Danny Thomas will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zembala takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Thomas misses with a body shot.

Thomas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Zembala sprawls well initially but Thomas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Zembala is not content to let Thomas control the position.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but Zembala is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thomas to get the leverage.
Zembala is pressing down on Thomas's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zembala looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Zembala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Zembala being controlled here, momentarily.
Thomas wants to stand but Zembala has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas thows a big elbow that misses.
Thomas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Zembala is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Zembala is breathing heavily.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Zembala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thomas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zembala keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thomas is looking to stand up but Zembala won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thomas gets the takedown into side control.
Thomas tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thomas stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Thomas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thomas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zembala.
Thomas tries to clinch there but Zembala circles away.

Thomas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Thomas lands in his opponent's guard.
Thomas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zembala has his foot on Thomas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thomas works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas trying to control but Zembala is working from the bottom.

Thomas has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Zembala to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Thomas is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Zembala pulls down on the head and he's put Thomas to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Szymon Zembala!