PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gordon Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke English (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thomas
vs
English

225 cm
19
300 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

190 cm
20
289 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Cage Wars: Rocha Nutrition

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gordon Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Luke English!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Thomas or perhaps it was just good defense by English which made him look bad.
English misses with a takedown attempt

and Thomas counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thomas.
Thomas trying to control but English is working from the bottom.
English lands a decent punch to the body there.
English looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Thomas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thomas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now English is on top in guard.
Thomas has momentary wrist control but English slips an elbow through the middle.
English landing some decent shots from guard.

Thomas is looking for a triangle but English pushes his legs off easily.

English got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thomas has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, English has managed to get both his arms back between Thomas's legs - danger averted.
English works over Thomas with some ground and pound from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells English's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
English has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
English postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Thomas on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Thomas tries to get out of the position.
Thomas is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
English working some strikes from top position.
English is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Thomas looking for a sweep. Not yet Thomas, not yet.
English lands a couple of elbows.
English stands and throws Thomas's legs to the side, diving into side control.
English in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Thomas struggling a bit here.
English in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
English scores with a couple of short elbows.
Check out the look on English's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Thomas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for English on the ground.
English lands a few punches from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
English lands a nice forearm strike.
English cracks Thomas with a big right hand but Thomas just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Thomas takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Thomas tries to escape but English is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
English lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
English working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Thomas tries to buck English off but English is having none of it.
English lands a decent elbow from side control.
English working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Check out the look on English's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Thomas is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
English landing a few strikes.
English scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Thomas to see if he's OK.
English cracks Thomas with an elbow. That is naaassty.
English working the head with strikes.
English in side control lands a decent elbow.
English lands a few punches from side control.
English lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on English's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
English landing strikes.
English working the ground and pound.
English landing a few strikes.
English works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
English working the ground and pound.
English working away.
English looks up at the clock and then as Thomas takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, English smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
English scoring with punches and elbows.
English is working Thomas over with some ground and pound from side control.
English is working Thomas over with some ground and pound from side control.
English landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
English lands a few punches from side control.
English landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
English scores with punches from side control.
English working the body and head with strikes.
Thomas tries to improve position but can't.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
English with a poor takedown
and Thomas counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps English thinking.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from English is defended easily by Thomas.
Gordon Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke English.
Thomas with a poor takedown

and English counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
English content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
English scoring with some ground and pound.
English lands a couple of decent looking shots.
English connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Thomas is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and English defends well.
English lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke English dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thomas clinches but English breaks the clinch

and English counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by English.
English stops Thomas from standing up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells English's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Thomas has momentary wrist control but English slips an elbow through the middle.
English lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Thomas controls English momentarily but English frees himself.
English makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
English working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thomas's head.
English working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thomas's head.
English connects with a couple of short punches.

Thomas had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. English is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Thomas Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take English's back instead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
English breaks Thomas's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
English working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
English landing with the ground and pound.
English is in close to Thomas's body, working some short punches and elbows.
English working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thomas's head.
English with a nice head shot there.
Thomas has momentary wrist control but English slips an elbow through the middle.
English is in close to Thomas's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Thomas looking to hit a scissor sweep but English is one step ahead there.
English makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
English working some strikes from top position.
English lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
English scoring with punches to the head and body.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

English avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Thomas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. English gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

English closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Thomas to the mat! Thomas manages to get full guard.
English has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thomas is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
English postures up and lands a big shot to Thomas's brow.
English postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
English scoring with punches to the head and body.
English landing with the ground and pound.
English works over Thomas with some ground and pound from guard.
English with a nice head shot there.
English scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
English is working Thomas over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
English works over Thomas with some ground and pound from guard.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

English avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
English scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
English chips away with some ground and pound.
English landing some decent shots from guard.
English working some strikes from top position.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
English makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Thomas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. English gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
English postures up and lands a big shot to Thomas's brow.
English works over Thomas with some ground and pound from guard.
English cracks Thomas with a solid left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke English showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

English closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Thomas did well to prevent English getting side control.
English working over Thomas with some ground and pound. Thomas looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
English looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet.
Thomas landing strikes from the bottom.
English lands with a punch from half guard.
Thomas wants to improve his position but English is controlling well.
English drops an elbow to the side of Thomas's head.
Thomas is trying to defend against the ground and pound but English scores with a couple of nice shots.
Thomas has hold of English's hands but English slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
English winds up and cracks Thomas with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
English lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Thomas taking some punishment here, with English in his half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas wants to improve his position but English is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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. English connects with a nice short shot to Thomas's temple.
English is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
English fails with the takedown

and Thomas counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
English trying to strike off his back.
English tries to strike from the bottom.
English throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
English striking off his back but it's not causing Thomas any problems.
English tries to land a sweep but no joy.
English throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
English striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Thomas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas takes a decent strike to the side of the head.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
English just misses with a punch to the body.
English circles away from the clinch attempt.
English shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thomas defends it nicely.
English shoots in but no luck this time.
Gordon Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke English.
English has his takedown stuffed

and Thomas counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for English!
English flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Thomas connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thomas jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but English manages to avoid the submission attempt.
English throws an elbow that doesn't really do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is trying to get an arm triangle but English is defending well.
English manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thomas's best efforts.
Thomas blocks the strikes from English.
English missing with punches from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thomas tries to clinch but English moves out of range.

English throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Thomas was covering up waiting for the punch and English finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Thomas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Luke English is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
English lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
English chips away with some ground and pound.
English postures up.
English forces his way into half guard.
English is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Luke English has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thomas tries to roll over but English keeps him under control.
English controlling the action here.
Gordon Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Luke English.
I've got English winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Luke English!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Luke English!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Luke English!

Luke English wins by unanimous decision!