PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Virgil Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Josh Thomas will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Gonzalez
vs
Thomas

151 cm
24
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
26
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Virgil Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Thomas!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Columbo Gatti and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Thomas showed some decent athleticism there.
Gonzalez is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him
Gonzalez keeping control of the position.
Thomas stops Gonzalez from getting back to his feet.

Gonzalez kicks off Thomas and gets to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Horrible takedown by Gonzalez or perhaps it was just good defense by Thomas which made him look bad.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt
and Gonzalez counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Thomas darts in looking for a takedown but Gonzalez gets double underhooks and turns Thomas into the cage.
Thomas has Gonzalez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gonzalez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Virgil Gonzalez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Thomas.
Thomas throws an elbow that misses.

Gonzalez gets control of Thomas's arms and successfully pulls guard. Gonzalez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thomas is controlling him.
Gonzalez wants to get back to his feet but Thomas passes into half guard.
Thomas is thwarting Gonzalez's attempts to control the position.

Gonzalez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thomas pulls his head out easily.

Gonzalez is defending against the submission attempts here by Thomas.
Gonzalez tries to get to full guard but Thomas has control of the leg.
Gonzalez is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is trying to maintain the position but Thomas is very close to passing his half guard.
Thomas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gonzalez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Gonzalez makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Nice takedown defense from Gonzalez. No joy for Thomas on that attempt.
Thomas chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Thomas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gonzalez's waist but Gonzalez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thomas off to one side.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gonzalez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A thudding body kick lands there by Thomas!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas cracks Gonzalez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Thomas clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez tries to pull guard but Thomas holds him up against the cage and eventually Gonzalez drops back down to his feet.
Gonzalez trying to control the position but instead, Thomas has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gonzalez into the cage.
Gonzalez misses with some punches.

Gonzalez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Thomas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Thomas wants to free his trapped foot but Gonzalez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gonzalez is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gonzalez does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Thomas tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Gonzalez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gonzalez is trying to stand.
Thomas prevents Gonzalez from improving his position.
Gonzalez is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him
Gonzalez is breathing heavily.
Gonzalez is looking to control Thomas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gonzalez avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thomas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gonzalez.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gonzalez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thomas punishes Gonzalez's body with a nice straight punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josh Thomas will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gonzalez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thomas counters with a head kick.
Thomas lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gonzalez backs up against the cage.

It looks like Virgil Gonzalez has been cut.

Gonzalez shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Gonzalez was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gonzalez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gonzalez misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Thomas tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez has control of an arm but Thomas manages to advance to Gonzalez's back!
Gonzalez trying to control but not successfully.
Gonzalez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gonzalez looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Gonzalez defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Thomas avoiding Gonzalez 's attempts to control his hands.
Gonzalez is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gonzalez defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Thomas's arms.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Thomas wants to control but Gonzalez is keeping busy.
Gonzalez holding both Thomas 's hands and preventing any damage.
Thomas gets his hands free as Gonzalez looks to control.

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

Thomas looking for the RNC.
Thomas gets his hands free as Gonzalez looks to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez holding both Thomas 's hands and preventing any damage.

Thomas looking for the choke from the back.
Thomas doesn't have the hooks in and Gonzalez manages to turn into his guard.
Virgil Gonzalez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thomas doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Thomas looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Gonzalez has picked Thomas up and slammed him! Thomas can't keep hold of the triangle and Gonzalez manages to pass to side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gonzalez landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Gonzalez working away.
Gonzalez working the body and head with strikes.
Gonzalez landing a few strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas tries to control but Gonzalez manages to take his back.
Gonzalez lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Gonzalez lands punches and elbows.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gonzalez looking for the choke but no joy.
Gonzalez lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Gonzalez.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Virgil Gonzalez dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Virgil Gonzalez'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. This is the final round!

Thomas is looking to clinch.
Gonzalez fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gonzalez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thomas counters with a series of strikes. Gonzalez will be more careful next time no doubt.
Josh Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gonzalez tries for a takedown but Thomas circles away easily
and Thomas counters with a series of strikes. Gonzalez will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Virgil Gonzalez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas shoots in but Gonzalez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gonzalez stuffs the takedown attempt from Thomas. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Gonzalez crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Thomas - the referee stops the clock and Gonzalez gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Thomas. Gonzalez manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Thomas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thomas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gonzalez counters with a body kick.

Thomas gets caught flat footed, as Gonzalez shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Thomas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gonzalez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gonzalez landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is looking to sweep but instead, Gonzalez has passed into half guard.
Thomas on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Gonzalez working over Thomas with some ground and pound. Thomas looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas trying to hold on to Gonzalez's head to control him but Gonzalez postures up.
Gonzalez is nestled in close to Thomas, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gonzalez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thomas tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Gonzalez working Thomas over with strikes.
Thomas looks like he's trying to stand up.
Thomas wants to sweep but Gonzalez has passed to side control!
Gonzalez 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.
Gonzalez working the head with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Thomas taking punishment in the form of punches.
Thomas tries to buck Gonzalez off but Gonzalez is having none of it.
Check out the look on Gonzalez's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Thomas is looking to regain half guard here but Gonzalez keeps moving and retains side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gonzalez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gonzalez scoring with punches from side control.

Gonzalez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Thomas knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Virgil Gonzalez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gonzalez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Virgil Gonzalez!