PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Ganja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sam Ganja will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Thomas
vs
Ganja

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
19
300 lbs
1 - 3 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sam Ganja!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ganja fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ganja looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Ganja tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Thomas is able to avoid easily.
Thomas closes the distance and clinches up with Ganja, looking for a takedown. Thomas pushes Ganja against the cage but Ganja circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Thomas decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ganja, up you get!

Ganja gets caught flat footed, as Thomas shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Thomas gets to his feet - Ganja follows without any prompting.

Thomas gets the takedown into side control.

Thomas stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Thomas closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Thomas stands up and beckons Ganja to join him on the feet.

Thomas clinches up with Ganja and pushes him back against the cage.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thomas swings for the body but Ganja moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thomas.

Thomas stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Thomas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thomas effectively controlling the action here.
Thomas scores a nice knee to the body.
Thomas lands a hook that snaps the head of Ganja backwards.
A shot in the inside from Thomas.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas shoots and misses
and Ganja counters with a one-two to the body.
Ganja misses with a takedown

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas decides to return to a standing position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ganja misses with a body shot.

Thomas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ganja has a couple of punches blocked by Thomas.
Thomas landing knees to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Ganja.
Thomas tries to land knees in the clinch but Ganja avoids the damage to the body.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thomas dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ganja. That did some damage!

Thomas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Thomas manages to break the clinch.

Thomas gets a takedown into half guard.
Ganja wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet.

Thomas stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Ganja to get to his feet.
Ganja throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thomas.
Ganja keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ganja misses with a series of wild punches.
Ganja misses with the combination.

That's four 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.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Ganja is working an open guard so Thomas takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Ganja closes the distance and clinches.
Ganja tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ganja misses with a two punch combination.
Thomas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ganja pinned against the cage. Ganja gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ganja clinches but Thomas breaks the clinch

and Thomas counters with a takedown into side control.
Ganja is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Thomas dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ganja fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Thomas is out of range.
Thomas shoots in but Ganja avoids the takedown attempt easily.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Thomas gets a takedown into half guard.
Ganja tries to get to full guard but Thomas has control of the leg.

Thomas escapes and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Thomas feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Thomas gets to his feet - Ganja follows without any prompting.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ganja doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ganja throws a nice looking combination but Thomas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ganja.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ganja counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ganja throws a leg kick that is checked

and Thomas counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thomas.
Thomas slows down the pace here.
Thomas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ganja can do to turn this around?
Thomas misses with a knee strike.
Thomas digs a right hand underneath Ganja's ribcage. Ganja let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ganja misses with some punches.
Nice body punch from Thomas - that landed with a thud.
Thomas landing knees to the body.

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.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
John Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Thomas has closed the distance and engaged Ganja in a clinch.
Thomas lands an elbow just above Ganja 's eye.
Thomas wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thomas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thomas displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ganja up against the cage.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Thomas stands up from Ganja's guard - Thomas perhaps looking for a knockout.
Thomas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ganja pinned against the cage. Ganja gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ganja darts in trying to clinch

and Thomas counters with a takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas decides to stand back up. Thomas steps back and let's Ganja get back to his feet.
Ganja closes the distance but Thomas moves to the side

and Thomas counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Thomas decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Thomas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ganja throws a combination that misses

and Thomas counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ganja!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Thomas stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Ganja misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ganja keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thomas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Ganja.
Thomas takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Thomas takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ganja swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
A combination from Ganja does no damage.
Ganja scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Thomas has taken the fight to the clinch.

Thomas manages to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ganja stuffs the takedown.
Ganja looks to land a right hand but Thomas moved out of range.
Ganja lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thomas backs up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Thomas dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Ganja throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Thomas drives through with a takedown into guard.

Thomas stands up and waves to Ganja to follow him.

Thomas moves into the clinch successfully.
Thomas is struggling to control the position.
Ganja misses with a short punch on the inside.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Thomas instigates a clinch.
Thomas lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ganja misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thomas has Ganja pressed against the cage.
Ganja swings wildly with an uppercut but Thomas uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Ganja does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ganja tries to clinch up

and Thomas holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ganja tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.
Thomas leaning against his opponent.
Ganja taking a breather.
Thomas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Thomas holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ganja misses with a hook to the ribs.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ganja throws a left and a right that both miss

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ganja won't be happy with that.
John Thomas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Thomas decides to stand up, so the ref orders Ganja to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Thomas as he checks the leg kick.
Thomas closes the distance and clinches up with Ganja, looking for a takedown. Thomas pushes Ganja against the cage but Ganja circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ganja scores with a three punch combo!
Thomas circles away from the clinch attempt
and Thomas makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Ganja really felt that one!

Thomas scores a takedown into full mount!

Thomas stands up from mount. Strange move.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Thomas closes the distance and pushes Ganja back into the cage.
Ganja misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ganja misses with a body punch.
Thomas lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ganja.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ganja looks to clinch

and Thomas counters with a single leg into guard. Ganja didn't expect that.

Thomas stands up from Ganja's guard - Thomas perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ganja listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Thomas tries to bum rush Ganja with a series of wild strikes but Ganja uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A big right from Ganja misses.
Ganja looks to clinch

and Thomas moves into the clinch.
Ganja is trying to stall.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
Ganja closes the distance but Thomas moves to the side

and Thomas holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A good leg kick by Thomas.
Ganja tries for a takedown but Thomas circles away easily

and Thomas decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ganja's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Thomas gets to his feet - Ganja follows without any prompting.

Thomas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ganja misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thomas.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas shoots in for a double leg but Ganja sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ganja throws a leg kick but Thomas sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sam Ganja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Thomas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ganja counters with a series of strikes. Thomas will be more careful next time no doubt.

And that's the end of the fight!
John 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:25
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

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