PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Thomas (ranked 363 p4p, 49 weight class) and Lapu Lapu (ranked 348 p4p, 48 weight class). Thomas comes to the cage accompanied by Shinedown - . Lapu has chosen Don't Stop Believin' as his entrance music. 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.

Thomas
vs
Lapu

191 cm
28
189 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

188 cm
38
205 lbs
30 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Aspire Clothing
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Derrick Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lapu Lapu!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lapu Lapu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lapu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lapu bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Thomas's head backwards.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Lapu keeps it at a distance.
Lapu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Lapu thumps Thomas with a low kick.
Lapu has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Lapu circles away.
Lapu dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Thomas. That did some damage!
Lapu cracks the inside of Thomas's front leg.
Some bone on bone action there as Lapu checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Thomas has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lapu.
Thomas moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Thomas looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas throws a body shot but no joy.
Lapu looks to land a right hand but Thomas moved out of range.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Lapu circles away and keeps his distance.
Crunch! Lapu slams his shin into Thomas's torso.
Lapu moves forwards but Thomas connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Thomas lands with a shot to the body.
Thomas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a low kick.
Thomas looks for the body kick but Lapu saw that one coming.
Lapu throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thomas stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lapu stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thomas.
Nice straight punches there by Thomas. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thomas.
Thomas dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lapu. That did some damage!
Thomas lands a nice hook to Lapu's body. Lapu takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Lapu thuds his shin into the meat of Thomas's side.
Lapu misses with a body kick.
Thomas swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Lapu scores with a nice strike.
Thomas throws a body punch but Lapu moves out of range.
Lapu misses with a low kick.
Thomas lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Thomas.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Lapu.
Thomas getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lapu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomas.
Thomas ducks right into an uppercut from Lapu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas misses with a right hand
and Lapu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Thomas rushes Lapu and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thomas struggles to land a body shot inside as Lapu controls his hands.
Lapu managing to block the knees to the body from Thomas.
Thomas makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lapu managing to block the knees to the body from Thomas.
Thomas lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lapu backwards.
Thomas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Lapu manages to break the clinch.
Thomas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lapu.
Thomas scoring well with a low kick there.
Thomas takes a swing at Lapu's ribcage but misses.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from Lapu.
Lapu jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A counter left hand to the body from Thomas misses its target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lapu.
Thomas needs to keep his hands up - Lapu had a free shot at his head there.
Thomas takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapu bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Thomas throws a sloppy head kick and Lapu moves out of range easily.
Lapu appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Lapu buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lapu is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Thomas had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Thomas fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lapu has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nice defenses there by Thomas.
Thomas lands a head shot.
Lapu connects with a jab.
Lapu throws a body kick that misses.

Thomas clinches.
Thomas gets through Lapu's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Lapu.
Thomas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lapu's elbow.
Lapu digs a right hand underneath Thomas's ribcage. Thomas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lapu creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A short body shot lands from Thomas as the two fighters clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lapu.
Lapu softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thomas controlling the action here for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lapu misses with the head strike.
Lapu lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Thomas misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lapu tries a body shot but Thomas blocks it.
Thomas scores with a hook to the body.

Lapu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lapu scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from Lapu.
Thomas was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Thomas misses with a body shot.
Lapu scores with a jab to the body.
Nice shot lands for Lapu.
Thomas is looking to wear down Lapu with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Thomas takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lapu misses with a body shot.
It looked like Thomas was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Lapu.
Lapu on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lapu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Thomas's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Lapu connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Thomas scrambles back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lapu Lapu dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lapu throws a body punch but Thomas moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Lapu misses the target.
Thomas throws a wild body kick that Lapu sees coming a mile off.
A clash of legs there as Lapu blocks the low kick.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thomas tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Lapu is able to avoid easily.
A big right from Lapu misses.
Lapu looks to land a right hand but Thomas moved out of range.
Thomas fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Lapu checks it well.
Lapu throws a body shot but no joy.
Decent striking displayed by Lapu there.
Thomas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Thomas lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Lapu moves out of range of the body kick from Thomas.
Lapu appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Lapu just misses with a punch to the body.
Thomas was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Lapu.
Thomas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lapu manages to avoid it.
Lapu lands a nice looking kick to the body. Thomas takes a step back to recover.
Lapu checks a leg kick nicely.
Thomas throws a big shot that misses.
Lapu tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lapu makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Thomas really felt that one!
Lapu misses with a hook
and Thomas counters with a leg kick.
Lapu Lapu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thomas looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Thomas moves out of range as Lapu throws a body kick.
Lapu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lapu lunges at Thomas with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Thomas's hand.
Lapu throws a lazy body kick
and Thomas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A cross from Lapu lands.
Thomas chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lapu can pounce on him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thomas scores with a spinning back kick!
A leg kick checked by Lapu.
Lapu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapu closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

It looks like Lapu Lapu has been cut.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Lapu.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Lapu.
A cross from Lapu lands.
Thomas connects with a looping right hand.
Lapu scores with a jab to the body.
Lapu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A bone on bone clash there as Thomas blocks the leg kick.
Lapu scores with a kick to the midsection.
Thomas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Thomas forces Lapu back against the cage and clinches.
Lapu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Derrick Thomas has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Thomas using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Lapu stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Thomas prevents a body shot from Lapu.
Lapu tries a body shot but Thomas blocks it.
Lapu's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A right hook to the body lands for Lapu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas connects with a knee to the head.

Lapu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas lands a nice shot that snaps Lapu's head back.
Thomas lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Thomas will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Nice defenses there by Lapu.
Thomas shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Lapu connects with a nice looking jab.
Lapu misses with the body kick
and Thomas counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Thomas doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
Thomas tries to work over Lapu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A right hook to the body lands for Lapu.
Thomas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Lapu backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thomas lands a left hand.
Thomas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A body shot lands from Lapu.
Lapu prevents a body shot from Thomas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lapu manages to break the clinch.
Thomas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lapu throws a hook but Thomas blocks it.
Lapu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lapu misses with an attempted mid kick.
Lapu lands a nice looking kick to the body. Thomas takes a step back to recover.

Thomas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Thomas.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thomas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lapu misses with a body punch.
Thomas takes a shot to the head.
Thomas controlling the action here for a moment.

Lapu breaks from the clinch.
Thomas walks into a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lapu Lapu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Lapu Lapu's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Lapu lands a nice hook to Thomas's body. Thomas takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Lapu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Lapu keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lapu attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas wants to clinch.
Lapu lands a slapping body shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Lapu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Thomas displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lapu throws out the jab.
Lapu connects with a body shot that sends Thomas's belly button to the back.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lapu swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Thomas defending well as Lapu loads up on a big left hand.
Lapu fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Thomas looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapu blocks a low kick nicely.
Lapu tries to land a front kick but Thomas steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Thomas punishes Lapu's body with a nice straight punch.
Thomas on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
The crowd cheers as Lapu lands an impressive looking overhand right. Thomas doesn't seem phased though.
Thomas throws a body kick that misses.
Nice shot by Lapu.
Lapu throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Thomas throws a low kick but Lapu moves out of range easily.
Lapu has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Thomas finds it's way round the side to connect with Lapu's head.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Lapu circles away.
Thomas keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lapu.
Lapu misses with an attempted mid kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Lapu misses the target.
Lapu connects with a looping right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas looks to clinch
and Lapu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thomas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lapu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lapu ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Thomas tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas misses with a hook. Lapu ducked under it nicely.
Thomas throws the kick towards the body but Lapu avoids it.
Lapu scores with a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Thomas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thomas has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lapu.
Thomas looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lapu lands with a kick to the ribs.
Thomas looks to land a body kick but Lapu moved away.
Lapu throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thomas stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lapu keeps Thomas at a distance using the push kick.
The crowd cheers as Lapu lands an impressive looking overhand right. Thomas doesn't seem phased though.
A solid leg kick lands there for Thomas.
Derrick Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands with a straight right. Lapu didn't see that one coming.
Lapu blocks a head kick by Thomas.
Lapu throws a leg kick
and Thomas counters with a leg kick.
Thomas takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nice body punch from Lapu.
Thomas slips under a jab from Lapu.
Lapu uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Lapu lands a jab to the nose.
Lapu Lapu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Thomas throws a head kick but Lapu moves out of range.
Lapu connects with a single shot there.
Lapu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thomas.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Lapu! But no joy.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Thomas crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Lapu - the referee stops the clock and Thomas gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Lapu. Thomas manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lapu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Thomas tries to land a leg kick but Lapu saw it coming and moves away.
Thomas attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lapu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thomas.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lapu checks a leg kick.
Lapu jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Lapu connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Thomas misses with a looping left.
Lapu takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Lapu bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A big left from Thomas misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Lapu misses.
Thomas throws a wild body kick that Lapu sees coming a mile off.
Lapu now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Lapu moves out of range of the body kick from Thomas.
Lapu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Lapu moves out of range of the body kick from Thomas.
Thomas takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Lapu goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Good leg kick by Lapu there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Lapu displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thomas throws out the jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lapu Lapu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lapu winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lapu Lapu!
A relieved looking Lapu Lapu thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.