PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frederick Gallagher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Thomas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gallagher
vs
Thomas

161 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight 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, Frederick Gallagher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Chad Campbell and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gallagher avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Thomas darts in and clinches Gallagher up against the cage.
Gallagher wants a takedown.

Gallagher ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gallagher no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Gallagher not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thomas stays in close to Gallagher's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mark Thomas was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Thomas tries to clinch but Gallagher moves out of range.
Thomas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas tries to clinch there but Gallagher circles away.
Mark Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Thomas tries to clinch up.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gallagher but Gallagher pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gallagher could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nice takedown defense from Gallagher. No joy for Thomas on that attempt.
Frederick Gallagher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Thomas.
Nice body punch from Thomas.
Thomas goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Frederick Gallagher has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but Gallagher shows good takedown defense.
Gallagher stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gallagher wants it to stay on the feet.
Thomas looks winded!

Thomas drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gallagher trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.
Gallagher wants to sweep but no luck.

Gallagher is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thomas is aware though and is defending well.
Thomas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher is pulling down on Thomas's head to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Frederick Gallagher just wasn't active enough.

Thomas closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gallagher struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Gallagher is trying to control Thomas's posture but Thomas avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas throws an elbow but Gallagher slips to the side and avoids it well.
Thomas happy to just control the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Thomas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frederick Gallagher'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.

Thomas shoots for a double leg takedown but Gallagher sprawls well. He's pushed Thomas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Thomas shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gallagher's guard.
Thomas trying to control but Gallagher is working from the bottom.
Thomas postures up.
Thomas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thomas throws an elbow that misses. Gallagher uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thomas's guard. Nice move by Gallagher!
Gallagher trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Gallagher pushing down on Thomas's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is looking to improve his position.
Thomas is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Thomas is defending against the submission attempts here by Gallagher.
Thomas is trying to maintain the position but Gallagher is very close to passing his half guard.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Gallagher wants to take a breather but Thomas is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas trying to control here.
Thomas is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thomas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thomas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gallagher's waist but Gallagher gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thomas off to one side.
Thomas is looking to clinch but Gallagher is avoiding it.

Gallagher shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Thomas manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher looking to pass the guard.
Gallagher showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gallagher trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Gallagher tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
Gallagher slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Frederick Gallagher has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Gallagher. No joy for Thomas on that attempt.
Frederick Gallagher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Thomas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas shoots for a double leg takedown but Gallagher sprawls well. He's pushed Thomas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gallagher shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gallagher fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gallagher counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Thomas is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Thomas gets tackled into the cage by Gallagher. Gallagher maintains the clinch.

Gallagher has Thomas pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Gallagher pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Thomas tumbling to the mat - Gallagher dives into Thomas's guard.
Thomas throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Gallagher from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frederick Gallagher dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Frederick Gallagher's cut.
That's time! Gallagher's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas looks to land a combination. Gallagher sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Gallagher keeps the fight on the outside.

Thomas looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gallagher is looking to improve his position.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gallagher trying to hold on to Thomas's head to control him but Thomas postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallagher manages to get to full guard.

Thomas stands up and waves to Gallagher to follow him.
Thomas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gallagher defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas closes the distance and clinches up with Gallagher, looking for a takedown. Thomas pushes Gallagher against the cage but Gallagher circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Gallagher decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gallagher content to control rather than advance.
Gallagher stalling away here and it's allowed Thomas to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Gallagher is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gallagher wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Thomas striking off his back but it's not causing Gallagher any problems.
Thomas being controlled here, momentarily.

We're going to have a standup here because Frederick Gallagher wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Thomas dives in and grabs Gallagher's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gallagher pushes down on Thomas's head and hops out.
Frederick Gallagher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Thomas.
Thomas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gallagher.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Gallagher or perhaps it was just good defense by Thomas, which made it look bad.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Gallagher keeps it at a distance.
Gallagher moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gallagher paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas tries to clinch
and Gallagher counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown. Gallagher tries to sprawl out of it but Thomas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gallagher manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mark 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Thomas!