PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Thomas (ranked 891 p4p, 315 weight class) and Billy Blank (ranked 100 p4p, 44 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Derrick Thomas has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Derrick Thomas seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Thomas
vs
Blank

200 cm
27
265
16 - 9 - 0

225 cm
33
265
23 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conviction
© Trap House

Gatoroids
Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Derrick Thomas !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Blank!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas misses with a hook to the body
and Blank counters with a stiff right hand.
Thomas looks to clinch
and Blank cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Derrick Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but Blank is just out of range.
Blank throws out a counter right but Thomas avoids it with no problem.
Thomas takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A lazy left from Thomas finds it's target.
Thomas throws a head kick but Blank moves out of range.
Blank swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Blank has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Thomas looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Blank connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Blank has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Blank ducks under a wild hook from Thomas .
Thomas falls off balance throwing a combination
and Blank counters with a nice body shot.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Blank has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blank lands a jab to the nose.

It looks like Derrick Thomas has been cut.
Thomas lands a nice shot that snaps Blank's head back.
Blank slips a straight right by Thomas .
Blank is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Thomas with a body shot.
Thomas thuds his right hand into Blank's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Thomas misses with a body shot.
Thomas throws a leg kick that misses.
Blank is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Thomas with a body shot.
Thomas digs a good body shot into Blank's ribs.
Thomas scores with a crisp jab that stopped Blank in his tracks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Thomas
and Blank counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thomas swings away with a body shot that misses
and Blank counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blank walks into a straight right hand from Thomas .
Thomas works the jab nicely.
Thomas throws a right hand that misses
and Blank counters with a stiff right hand.
A head kick misses from Thomas .

Thomas feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Blank sprawling to the canvas! Blank rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Thomas finish him?!

Blank is rocked!
A shot to the liver by Blank. Beautiful body shot.

Thomas cracks Blank with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Thomas has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Blank to stand back up!
Blank is still on wobbly legs! Can Thomas finish him?
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Blank circles away.
Blank seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Blank.
Thomas throws an off balance right hand
and Blank counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Blank uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomas .
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Blank! But no joy.
Thomas misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Blank counters with a nice uppercut.
Thomas takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Blank ducks under a wild hook from Thomas .
Blank throws out a counter right but Thomas avoids it with no problem.
Thomas throws a low kick but Blank moves out of range easily.
Nice jab there from Thomas .
Thomas misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Blank counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Blank might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blank lands an overhand right.
Donk. Blank catches Thomas right on the button with a cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thomas closes the distance and pushes Blank back into the cage.

Blank manages to break the clinch.
Blank is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
Blank looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Thomas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blank manages to avoid it.
Blank let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Thomas throws a leg kick but Blank sees it coming and moves out of range.

Blank closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Blank lands in his opponent's guard.
Thomas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Blank on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blank trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Thomas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Derrick Thomas 's cut.
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 throws a hook but Blank avoids it easily.
Thomas throws a body kick that misses
and Blank connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thomas misses with a body shot.
Thomas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Blank misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas .
Thomas tries a low kick but Blank avoids it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas . Blank does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blank takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Thomas is looking to score with low kicks.
Blank appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Thomas lands a nice leg kick that just misses Blank's sensitive parts.
Derrick Thomas is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Thomas misses.
Nice sprawl there from Thomas as Blank shoots in.
Thomas throws a right hand that misses
and Thomas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Blank takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Blank steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thomas .
Blank keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thomas connects with a leg kick.
Thomas lands a nice hook to Blank's body. Blank takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Thomas throws a low kick but Blank moves out of range easily.
Blank throws out a counter right but Thomas avoids it with no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a straight right.
Blank appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Blank thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thomas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blank can do to turn this around?
Blank ducks under a wild hook from Thomas .
Thomas misses with a body shot
and Blank counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thomas throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Blank counters with a right hand to the body.
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!
Blank chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Thomas can pounce on him.
A head kick by Thomas misses
and Blank counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Blank ducks under a wild hook from Thomas .
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Blank! But no joy.
Thomas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blank moves out of range as Thomas throws a body kick.

Thomas clinches up with Blank and pushes him back against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Thomas .
Thomas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Blank backwards.
Blank goes for a takedown in the clinch but Thomas prevents it.
Thomas will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Blank up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Thomas .
Blank's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Thomas working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Thomas pushes Blank back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thomas working aggressively here.
Thomas prevents a takedown attempt there.
Derrick Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billy Blank.
Thomas lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Blank.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blank wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thomas has him pressed against the cage.
A short right from Thomas .
Blank is looking for a takedown.
Blank is breathing heavily.
Blank blocks a body shot from Thomas .
Thomas prevents the takedown attempt.
Blank goes for a takedown attempt but Thomas pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thomas throws a head kick but Blank moves out of range.
It seemed like Blank was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Thomas fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Thomas lands a glancing blow to the side of Blank's head.
Thomas ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thomas swings widly with a right hand
and Blank counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Blank circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Thomas dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Derrick Thomas 's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Thomas just misses with a punch to the body.
Thomas throws an off balance right hand
and Blank counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A low kick from Thomas misses
and Blank counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Thomas thinking.
Thomas closes the distance looking to clinch
and Blank counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thomas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a body shot
and Blank counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
Blank is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Blank's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Blank pushes him off.
Nice straight punches there by Blank. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Blank.
Thomas misses with a shot to the body
and Blank counters with a straight right hand.
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.
Nice body punch from Blank.
Thomas darts in trying to clinch
and Blank cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Blank circles away and keeps his distance.
Blank looks to throw the jab but Thomas is out of range.
Blank takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Thomas misses the body punch
and Blank counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas connects with a leg kick.
Blank tries to move into range but Thomas moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Thomas misses with a low kick.
Blank now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Thomas thows a leg kick but Blank checks it
and Blank counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Blank.
Thomas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Blank.
A countering left hand to the body from Blank misses.
A slapping leg kick lands for Thomas .
Thomas fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Blank has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Good work by Blank as he checks the leg kick.
Blank swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas .
Blank looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Blank looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Thomas misses the target.
Thomas with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a low kick.
Thomas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Blank manages to avoid it.
Thomas throws a lazy uppercut
and Blank counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Blank counter with a right hand.
Thomas throws a low kick but Blank moves out of range easily.
A nice side step and Blank releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A slow jab from Thomas misses its intended target.
Thomas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Billy Blank has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blank tries to move into range but Thomas moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Blank comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thomas 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derrick Thomas !
Derrick Thomas thanked the fans post fight for their support.
The defeated Billy Blank had this to say: 'I lost focus and i paid for it. it was a great fight and i am coming back much better.'.