PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kelly Heath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Heath
vs
Thomas

164 cm
24
151 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

170 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kelly Heath!
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, Christian Thomas!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Lou da Vinci and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas closes the distance and pushes Heath back into the cage.
Heath is trying to break the clinch but Thomas has him pressed against the cage.
Heath is trying to pull guard but Thomas turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Heath escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thomas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thomas shoots and misses
and Heath counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Heath moves into the clinch.
Heath is looking to break free of the clinch but Thomas has double underhooks.
Thomas slows down the pace here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heath misses with a punch to the body.
Thomas keeps control of Heath as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Heath decides to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas stays in close to Heath's body and controls the position.
Thomas stopping the sweep attempt from Heath.

Thomas has gone for a leg lock! Heath slips out almost immediately though and dives into Thomas's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas is trying to control the position but Heath postures up.
Thomas pulls Heath in close to prevent any damage.
Heath with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Heath is controlling him.
Thomas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Heath is one step ahead there.
Heath being controlled here momentarily.
Thomas striking off his back but it's not causing Heath any problems.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Heath is now in half guard.
Heath is thwarting Thomas's attempts to control the position.
Thomas is positioning himself well to prevent Heath advancing to mount.
Thomas wants to control but Heath is keeping busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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.

Thomas gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Thomas jumps guard but Heath stands there with Thomas around his waist. Thomas gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kelly Heath has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christian Thomas.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Thomas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thomas trying to stall but Heath improves his position.
Thomas tries to pull guard but Heath won't allow it.
Heath tries to break free but Thomas pushes him back against the cage.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Thomas has managed to clinch.
Heath tries to break free but Thomas pushes him back against the cage.

Heath pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thomas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Heath tries to avoid it but Thomas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Heath to the ground. Heath escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Heath lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kelly Heath dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Heath moves out of range of the leg kick from Thomas.
Thomas has his takedown stuffed

and Heath holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Thomas's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Heath pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Heath is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thomas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Heath is fending him off so far but Thomas persists. Nope, Heath circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas misses with a takedown
and Heath counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kelly Heath has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christian Thomas.
Thomas tries to clinch but Heath is having none of it.
Heath tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Thomas manages to circle out of the way.
Thomas shoots for a double leg takedown but Heath sprawls well. He's pushed Thomas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Heath throws a quick counter head kick but Thomas was just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomas steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Heath.
Christian Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Thomas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A body shot lands from Thomas.
Heath tries to break free but Thomas pushes him back against the cage.
Heath is trying to pull guard but Thomas has him pressed against the cage.
Thomas can't get the takedown.
Heath tries to throw a body punch but Thomas avoids it by throwing Heath back against the cage.
Heath jumps guard but Thomas stands there with Heath around his waist. Heath gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Heath tries to stall but Thomas uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Thomas dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Thomas has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Thomas has a takedown stuffed.
Heath looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

Heath closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
Thomas wants to clinch.
Heath shoots for a takedown but Thomas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thomas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Heath counters with a nice uppercut.
Thomas tries to clinch
and Heath counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Heath throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thomas's waist but Thomas gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Heath off to one side.
Heath fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Heath is out of range.
Heath wants to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Heath looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A chopping leg kick lands by Thomas.
Thomas with a poor takedown
and Heath counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
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 Kelly Heath will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Heath is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thomas closes the distance but Heath moves to the side
and Heath connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt

and Heath counters by moving into the clinch.
Heath is trying to push Thomas away but Thomas has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Heath manages to break the clinch.
Thomas misses with a body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt - Heath sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Heath sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kelly Heath has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christian Thomas.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Heath fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thomas sprawls well initially but Heath persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thomas looks like he's trying to stand up.
Heath 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.
Thomas wants to improve his position but Heath is controlling well.
Heath thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thomas's head.
Thomas is trying to stand up here but Heath is controlling him well.
Heath prevents Thomas from improving his position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas has hold of Heath's hands but Heath slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Thomas is trying to control but Heath manages to pass to mount!
Thomas is desperately trying to improve his position but Heath has a good base and remains in mount.
Heath controlling the pace for now.
Thomas taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heath lands a nice shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Heath prevents Thomas from getting the reversal.

Heath is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Thomas is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kelly Heath!