PBP Commentary

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

Wheeler
vs
Thomas

153 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
275 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lazaro Wheeler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Evan Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wheeler tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Wheeler defends it well.
Wheeler really is a fat lump.

Wheeler closes the distance and clinches.
Thomas is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Wheeler is defending well.
Thomas wants to take the fight to the mat but Wheeler manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Thomas lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Wheeler makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Thomas tries to keep at a distance but Wheeler has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thomas letting Wheeler take a breather here.
Wheeler is trying to pull guard but Thomas turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lazaro Wheeler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evan Thomas.

Wheeler jumps guard and drags Thomas to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Thomas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Wheeler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler misses with a head kick.
And Thomas tries to counter it with a takedown but Wheeler pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Wheeler doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Wheeler tries a head kick but it misses.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown but Wheeler manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thomas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Wheeler misses with a double jab

and Thomas counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thomas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wheeler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thomas can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Thomas looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Thomas decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Wheeler throws a sloppy head kick and Thomas moves out of range easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Thomas shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Wheeler's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lazaro Wheeler dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thomas has managed to clinch.
Wheeler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wheeler prevents the takedown attempt.
Wheeler wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thomas has him pressed against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Wheeler obliges.
Thomas drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Wheeler gets the underhooks and prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wheeler is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lazaro Wheeler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evan Thomas.
Wheeler wants to get back to striking at distance but Thomas won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Wheeler's efforts to push away.
Wheeler wants to get back to striking at distance but Thomas won't allow it.
Thomas blocks an elbow strike from Wheeler.
Wheeler is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Thomas to keep the fight standing.

Thomas lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Thomas is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Thomas is working for a submission of some sort.
Still in half guard, Thomas seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wheeler actively working from the bottom here.
Wheeler is looking to improve his position.

Thomas is working for a kimura but Wheeler is defending it quite comfortably.
Wheeler missing with punches from the bottom.
Thomas perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Thomas lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Thomas slows the pace down in half guard.
Wheeler is looking for a sweep. Thomas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thomas slows the pace down in half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Let's hope that Thomas has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evan Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Thomas blocks a head kick by Wheeler.
Thomas tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Wheeler throws a lazy head kick

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wheeler won't be happy with that.
Thomas is staying tight to Wheeler's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Wheeler is trying to improve his position.
Wheeler being controlled for a moment.
Wheeler is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas controls the position.
Thomas landing a few strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheeler seems a little lost for a moment, as Thomas dominates the positioning.
Thomas connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Wheeler some visible discomfort.
Thomas is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Wheeler will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Thomas is continuing to stall.
Wheeler prevents Thomas from moving into mount.

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.
Wheeler trying to remain calm as Thomas controls from the top position.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Thomas.
Thomas lands a decent elbow from side control.
Wheeler takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wheeler pushes Thomas away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Thomas gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Thomas shoots for a takedown but Wheeler saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Wheeler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thomas is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Wheeler is looking to score with low kicks.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A head kick by Wheeler misses

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Thomas controls from within his opponent's guard.
Wheeler might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Wheeler 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.
Thomas is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thomas's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evan Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evan Thomas!
Evan Thomas thanked the fans post fight for their support.