PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Curtis Tate Jr (ranked 5644 p4p, 669 weight class) and Will Thomas (ranked 25271 p4p, 839 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tate Jr
vs
Thomas

180 cm
25
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
212 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Curtis Tate Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Will Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tate Jr wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Tate Jr fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thomas avoids it really well and circles away.
Tate Jr could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Tate Jr swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
Thomas lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Tate Jr moves out of range of the body kick.
Thomas defending well as Tate Jr loads up on a big left hand.
Tate Jr scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown but Tate Jr manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thomas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tate Jr 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 Tate Jr off to one side.
Thomas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tate Jr.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Curtis Tate Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate Jr falls off balance throwing a combination

and Thomas counters by clinching up.
Tate Jr drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thomas pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tate Jr throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Tate Jr moves into the clinch successfully.
Thomas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Tate Jr shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tate Jr is breathing heavily.
Thomas is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tate Jr sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Tate Jr fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Thomas to the ground. Tate Jr is now in Thomas's guard.
Thomas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thomas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tate Jr is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate Jr trying to stand up but can't free himself from Thomas's guard.

Thomas has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the ropes to get back to his feet. Tate Jr has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the ropes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas is pressed up against the ropes. Tate Jr has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Thomas down to the mat. Thomas avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tate Jr throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Thomas shoots for a double leg takedown but Tate Jr sprawls well. He's pushed Thomas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tate Jr.
Thomas shoots for a takedown but Tate Jr saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas closes the distance and pushes Tate Jr back into the ropes.
Tate Jr trying to control the position but instead, Thomas has worked for underhooks and has pushed Tate Jr into the ropes.

Tate Jr pulls guard successfully.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Tate Jr is keeping the position.
Thomas stopping the sweep attempt from Tate Jr.
Tate Jr can't keep his opponent in guard - Thomas advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Thomas wants to stand up but Tate Jr manages to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Tate Jr throws his legs up looking for a submission but Thomas uses it to pass to side control.

Thomas stands up and beckons Tate Jr to his feet.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tate Jr.
Tate Jr avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tate Jr swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Curtis Tate Jr will probably get the nod.
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 closes the distance and pushes Tate Jr back into the ropes.
Tate Jr lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tate Jr can't get the takedown.
Thomas trying to control the position but instead, Tate Jr has worked for underhooks and has pushed Thomas into the ropes.
Tate Jr drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thomas pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tate Jr tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Thomas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Curtis Tate Jr is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Tate Jr, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thomas is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Tate Jr gets tackled into the ropes by Thomas. Thomas maintains the clinch.
Thomas is trying to break the clinch but Tate Jr has him pressed against the ropes.

Tate Jr breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Curtis Tate Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thomas wants it to stay on the feet.
Thomas lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Tate Jr looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thomas goes for a double leg but Tate Jr avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Tate Jr continues to drive forward.
Thomas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thomas steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Tate Jr.
Thomas keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Thomas tries to clinch there but Tate Jr circles away.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate Jr takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tate Jr keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thomas stalks Tate Jr and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tate Jr's face. Tate Jr staggers backwards, shaken.
Tate Jr avoids the body shot from Thomas.
Tate Jr tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thomas is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Thomas shoots for a double leg takedown but Tate Jr sprawls well. He's pushed Thomas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tate Jr tries to counter by clinching up but Thomas breaks away and moves out of range.
Tate Jr shoots in looking for a takedown. Thomas tries to sprawl out of it but Tate Jr keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Thomas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thomas slaps away a takedown attempt from Tate Jr, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A nice side step and Thomas releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate Jr avoids the head kick by Thomas.
Thomas looks for a takedown but Tate Jr sprawls well.
A big right from Thomas misses.
Thomas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown. Tate Jr tries to sprawl out of it but Thomas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Tate Jr manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tate Jr appears to be looking for a big counter.
A punch combination from Tate Jr misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas shoots in and drives through. Tate Jr sprawls well.
Tate Jr shoots in looking for a takedown but Thomas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tate Jr's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tate Jr wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomas tries to counter with a clinch but Tate Jr shakes him off and moves away.
Tate Jr shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thomas but Thomas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thomas wants to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thomas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tate Jr is fending him off so far but Thomas persists. Nope, Tate Jr circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Will Thomas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tate Jr has a takedown stuffed.
Tate Jr wants to clinch but Thomas slips to the side
and Thomas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tate Jr stuns Thomas with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tate Jr looks for a takedown but Thomas sprawls well.
Tate Jr is looking to wear down Thomas with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thomas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tate Jr swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tate Jr connects with a body shot that sends Thomas's belly button to the back.
Tate Jr shoots for a takedown but Thomas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Curtis Tate Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas throws a nice looking combination but Tate Jr bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas has a takedown stuffed.
Tate Jr shoots for a takedown but Thomas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thomas dives in for a single leg takedown but Tate Jr sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Tate Jr fails with the takedown.

Tate Jr rushes Thomas and presses him up against the ropes.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Thomas moves out of range of the body kick.
Tate Jr fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Curtis Tate Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tate Jr circles away.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tate Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tate Jr keeps the fight on the outside.
Tate Jr throws a big counter combination but Thomas scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Thomas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tate Jr shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thomas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tate Jr pinned against the ropes. Tate Jr gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Thomas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tate Jr.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas closes the distance and pushes Tate Jr back into the ropes.
Tate Jr wants to take the fight to the mat but Thomas manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Thomas is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tate Jr is defending well.
Tate Jr stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Tate Jr avoids a wild elbow strike from Thomas.

Tate Jr pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tate Jr stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tate Jr wants it to stay on the feet.
Tate Jr shoots in for a double leg but Thomas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tate Jr looks for a takedown but Thomas sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas dives in and grabs Tate Jr's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tate Jr pushes down on Thomas's head and hops out.
Tate Jr scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Tate Jr dives in and grabs Thomas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thomas pushes down on Tate Jr's head and hops out.
Tate Jr misses with a kick to the body.

Thomas forces Tate Jr back against the ropes and clinches.
Thomas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tate Jr just stands there and leans against the ropes.

Tate Jr gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
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!
Thomas has a closed guard, preventing Tate Jr from standing up.
Will Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tate Jr trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Curtis Tate Jr.
I think Tate Jr 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!