PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tim Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dante Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jones has chosen Genesis 12a as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thomas
vs
Jones

188 cm
20
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 New York, Tim Thomas!
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, Dante Jones!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Eddie Farnsworth and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thomas.
Horrible takedown by Jones or perhaps it was just good defense by Thomas which made him look bad.
Jones looks to land a right hand but Thomas moved out of range.
Jones doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Jones scores with a jab.
Jones scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Tim Thomas has been cut.
Jones looks to land a right hand but Thomas moved out of range.
Jones cracks Thomas with an uppercut from hell and Thomas crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Jones's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

Thomas is rocked!
Jones really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thomas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas has a closed guard, preventing Jones from standing up.
Thomas has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Thomas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jones is one step ahead there.

Thomas pushes Jones off and scrambles back to his feet.
Thomas looks for a takedown but Jones sprawls well.
Thomas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jones's waist but Jones gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thomas off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones misses with an uppercut.
Jones keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Tim Thomas's cut is getting worse.
Thomas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jones misses with a straight right.
Jones throws a hook but Thomas blocks it.

Thomas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Thomas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Jones pushes Thomas off looking to stand but Thomas dives back in and keeps control.
Jones scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Thomas manages to mount him!
BOOM! Thomas connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Jones really wants to buck Thomas off and get back to his feet.
Thomas working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Thomas cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Thomas is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Jones wants to try and get back to his feet.
Jones throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Jones tries to reverse the position but Thomas maintains control.
Jones is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Jones is wriggling around trying to escape.
The referee warns Jones that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jones can do anything to dispel that myth.
Thomas lands a big elbow.
Thomas landing strikes from the mount.
Jones working to try and regain half guard.
Thomas working the ground and pound effectively.
Thomas landing strikes from the mount and Jones is in trouble!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Jones looks a forlorn figure.
Jones is looking to get to half guard.
Jones's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Thomas has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Jones's face.
Jones tries to buck Thomas off but he can't manage it.
Thomas lands a big elbow.
Thomas raining down shots from the mount!
Thomas breaks from Jones's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Jones is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Thomas has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Jones is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jones trying desperately to get to his feet.
Thomas controlling from the full mount.
Thomas landing strikes, looking to finish!
Thomas looking to control but Jones is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Jones dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tim Thomas's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Thomas wants to take a breather but Jones is having none of it.
Thomas is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Jones is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Jones is trying to stand.
Thomas lands strikes from half guard.
Jones tries to kick Thomas off but Thomas keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Thomas is nestled in close to Jones, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Thomas connects with a nice short shot to Jones's temple.
Thomas scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thomas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jones tries to land a front kick but Thomas steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jones misses with a straight left.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Thomas drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Jones tries to strike from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones wants to get back to his feet but Thomas is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Jones keeps moving.
Thomas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jones tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thomas was well out of range. Poor timing from Jones.
Jones pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Thomas scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is nestled in close to Jones, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Thomas missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him
Jones tries to roll over but Thomas keeps him under control.
Thomas wants to take a breather but Jones is having none of it.
Thomas is thwarting Jones's attempts to control the position.
Jones tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
The fighters circling - Jones throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Jones gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Thomas content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones is looking to stand up but Thomas isn't so interested in that idea.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Thomas won't allow Jones to get back to his feet.
Thomas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thomas trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Thomas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thomas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jones.
Jones throws a hook but Thomas avoids it easily.
Dante Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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 fails to land the takedown.
Thomas avoids a kick to the body.
Jones throws a big shot that misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thomas.
Thomas wants to control but Jones is keeping him busy.
Thomas lands an elbow.
Thomas lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Jones is pushing Thomas's head away, looking to escape. Thomas manages to hold on to the position though.
Jones can't do much from the bottom here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jones misses with a low kick as Thomas jumps back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Thomas dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tim Thomas's cut.
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 misses with a takedown
and Jones cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thomas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Jones moves into range and clinches up with Thomas.
Thomas prevents Jones from breaking the clinch.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas with a poor takedown
and Jones counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice jab there from Jones.
Jones lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thomas circles away quickly and effectively.
Jones loads up on a big right hand but Thomas slips the punch.
Jones jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thomas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Jones.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Jones throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thomas sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thomas on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jones moves in looking to clinch but Thomas pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Jones!
Jones is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
BOOM! Thomas connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Thomas is landing with some decent strikes but Jones is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Jones really wants to buck Thomas off and get back to his feet.
Jones tries to hold on but Thomas postures up.
Thomas cracks Jones with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Jones wants to try and get back to his feet.
Thomas lands with some strikes.
Thomas landing punches.
Thomas scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Jones is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jones regains half guard.
Jones on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Jones is looking to escape.
Thomas controlling the action here.
Jones wants to get back to his feet.
Thomas lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thomas.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jones as he jumps to the side.
Jones is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thomas.
Thomas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thomas with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Jones to score with a decent uppercut.
Thomas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jones is fending him off so far but Thomas persists. Nope, Jones circles away and we're back to standing.
Jones throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
Jones is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thomas.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
Jones tries to break the clinch but Thomas is controlling the position.
Jones wants to break free but Thomas has control.
Jones is pressed up against the cage. Thomas has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jones down to the mat. Jones avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Thomas drops his hands momentarily and Jones takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Nice defenses there by Thomas.
Thomas shoots in and drives through. Jones sprawls well.
Dante Jones seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thomas displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jones throws out the jab.
Jones throws out a powerful jab.

Thomas changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Jones looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Thomas in side control lands a decent elbow.
Jones is trying to buck Thomas off.
Jones is working to avoid the ground and pound but Thomas connects with a decent elbow.
Jones takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Jones is trying to buck Thomas off.
Jones taking a bit of punishment here - Thomas scoring with strikes.
Jones wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Thomas works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dante Jones.
I think Jones 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!