PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ieuan Thomas (ranked 3971 p4p, 7012 weight class) and Warran Peace (ranked 345 p4p, 469 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Thomas
vs
Peace

172 cm
28
146
5 - 6 - 0

170 cm
28
153
7 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Ieuan Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Warran Peace!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Thomas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Peace throwing strikes but missing.
Peace connects with a couple of short punches.
Peace stops Thomas from standing up.
Peace distracts Thomas with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Peace is looking to work some ground and pound but Thomas has wrist control.
Thomas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Peace is controlling him.
Peace trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas striking off his back but it's not causing Peace any problems.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Peace trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Peace works over Thomas with some ground and pound from guard.
Thomas is trying to keep Peace in close.
Thomas wants to stand but Peace is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peace cracks Thomas with a solid left hand.
Peace keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thomas's head.
Peace trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Peace lands a couple of elbows.
Peace landing with the ground and pound.
Thomas working a defensive guard here.

Thomas has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Peace has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Thomas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Peace pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Peace is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Thomas has clasped his hands together around Peace's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Peace struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peace parries the strikes from Thomas easily there. Thomas is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Peace to escape.

Thomas has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Thomas misses with a body kick.
Peace shoots for a takedown but Thomas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thomas throws a series of punches but Peace moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas misses with a wild combination.
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Peace checks a leg kick nicely.
Peace shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ieuan Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Warran Peace.
Thomas throws a hook but Peace avoids it easily.
Peace misses with a takedown attempt - Thomas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tests Peace's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Thomas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Thomas. No joy for Peace on that attempt.
Peace slips a straight right by Thomas.
And Peace tries to counter it with a takedown but Thomas pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Thomas misses with a two punch combination.
Peace dodges the punch combination from Thomas.
Thomas lands a body shot.
Peace shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomas defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peace fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A punch lands to the side of Peace 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Thomas lands a glancing blow to the side of Peace's head.
Peace has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Thomas getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas scores with a nice strike.
Thomas misses with a body kick.
Peace showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thomas.
Peace shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomas defends it nicely.

Peace closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Thomas quickly recovers to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ieuan Thomas dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thomas looks to land a combination but Peace avoids it well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Peace tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Thomas defends well and Peace ends up having to push Thomas into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ieuan Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Peace avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thomas misses with a two punch combination.
Peace shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomas defends it nicely.
Thomas misses with a body kick.
Thomas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ieuan Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Warran Peace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Thomas. No joy for Peace on that attempt.
Thomas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Peace avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thomas misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've been told by Thomas's head coaches at JAG Battle Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Peace avoids a punch combination nicely.
Warran Peace seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Peace goes for a double leg but Thomas avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Thomas continues to drive forward.
Thomas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thomas throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A left and a right from Thomas both land. Nice combination.
Thomas throws a sloppy head kick and Peace moves out of range easily.
A punch combination from Thomas misses.
Peace shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thomas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ieuan Thomas is winning the standup battle so far.

Peace looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Peace is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas manages to get to full guard.
Warran Peace has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thomas wants to stand and escape but Peace is having none of it.
Peace with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Peace trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Peace postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Peace prevents Thomas from getting back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Peace accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Peace working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet but Peace is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Peace throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Peace is controlling him.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Thomas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Peace's guard.

Thomas wants to stand but Peace has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thomas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thomas throwing strikes but missing.
Peace working a defensive guard here.
Thomas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Peace works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thomas wants to stand and escape but instead Peace has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Peace chips away with some ground and pound.
Peace wants to pass the guard but Thomas is keeping the position.
Thomas wants to stand and escape but Peace is having none of it.
Peace content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Peace makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Peace working some strikes from top position.
Thomas wants to stand but Peace is controlling the position.

Thomas scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Peace is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ieuan Thomas dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Peace ducks right into an uppercut from Thomas.
Left hook, right uppercut from Thomas.
Peace shoots in but no luck this time.
Peace shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thomas but Thomas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
It looked like Thomas wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
No luck for Peace with that takedown attempt.
As Peace looks to move away, Thomas throws a big counter combo but Peace just gets out of the way.
Ieuan Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Warran Peace.
Thomas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thomas appears to be looking for a big counter.
Thomas leaves Peace with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Thomas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Peace can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Peace was well out of range. Poor timing from Thomas.
Peace takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Peace tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thomas swivels and escapes.
Thomas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thomas throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peace has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Peace shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense.
A punch combination from Thomas misses.

Peace fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Thomas to the ground. Peace is now in Thomas's guard.
Thomas wants to stand up but Peace is controlling him.

Thomas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Peace has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thomas wants to stand but Peace is controlling the position.
Thomas looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Thomas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Peace is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peace keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thomas's head.
Thomas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Peace is controlling him.
Thomas is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ieuan Thomas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Peace throwing strikes from guard but Thomas blocks nicely.
Thomas is adopting a defensive guard.
Peace loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peace prevents Thomas from getting back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Peace shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thomas pinned against the cage. Thomas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Warran Peace has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Peace avoids a punch combination nicely.
Peace fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thomas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thomas looks to land a body kick but Peace moved away.
Peace gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thomas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thomas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Peace tries to score a power double leg takedown but Thomas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Peace somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thomas looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Peace fails with a takedown attempt.
Peace misses with a takedown
and Thomas counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Nice sprawl there from Thomas as Peace shoots in.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
No joy there for Thomas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Peace drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thomas defends it well.
Thomas throws a left and a right that both miss

and Peace counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Thomas!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The strikes coming from Peace are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ieuan Thomas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thomas, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ieuan Thomas!