PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dreiko Lao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lao comes to the cage accompanied by Drowning Pool - Let The Bodies Hit The Floor. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Lao
vs
Thomas

187 cm
25
212 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

187 cm
21
220 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dreiko Lao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lee Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lao throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thomas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Thomas.
Lao avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice sprawl there from Lao as Thomas shoots in.
Lao takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Lao is breathing heavily.
Thomas looks for a takedown but Lao sprawls well.
Dreiko Lao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Thomas.
Thomas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thomas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thomas throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lao counters with a three punch combo that has Thomas backing up. Thomas nods at Lao to acknowledge the strikes.
Thomas falls off balance throwing a combination
and Lao counters with a three punch combo that has Thomas backing up. Thomas nods at Lao to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lao counters with a series of strikes. Thomas will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lao displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Lao circles away easily
and Lao counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lao goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Thomas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lao counters with a one-two to the body.
Lao misses with a combination

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lao wants to stand and escape but Thomas is having none of it.
Thomas throws a big right hand that misses.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Lao is keeping the position.
Lao wants to stand and escape but Thomas is having none of it.

Lao manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Thomas fails with the takedown
and Lao counters with a three punch combo that has Thomas backing up. Thomas nods at Lao to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas rushes Lao and presses him up against the cage.

Lao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lao throws a series of strikes that have Thomas backpedaling.
Lee Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas fails with the takedown
and Lao counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lao tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lao counters with a series of strikes. Thomas will be more careful next time no doubt.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.

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 has his takedown stuffed
and Lao counters with a two punch combo.
Lao throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
Lao throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Thomas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lao counters with a two punch combo.
Thomas throws a hook but Lao blocks it.
Lao tries to bum rush Thomas with a series of wild strikes but Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dreiko Lao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lao throws a combination that misses

and Thomas counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Thomas dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thomas shoots and misses
and Lao counters with a three punch combo that has Thomas backing up. Thomas nods at Lao to acknowledge the strikes.
Lao throws a series of strikes that have Thomas backpedaling.
Lao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lao.
Lao misses with a two punch combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lao scores with a three punch combo!
Lao throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lao won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lao is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Thomas decides to stand back up.
Lao throws a combination that misses
and Thomas makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Lao really felt that one!
Dreiko Lao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas misses with a takedown
and Lao counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lao.
Lao circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lao counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thomas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thomas has his takedown stuffed
and Lao counters with a two punch combo.
Dreiko Lao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Thomas.
Thomas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lao counters with a series of strikes. Thomas will be more careful next time no doubt.
Thomas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lao counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lao throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thomas counters with a left and a right that stings Lao.
Thomas tries to clinch
and Lao counters with a one-two to the body.
Lao circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lao counters with a three punch combo that has Thomas backing up. Thomas nods at Lao to acknowledge the strikes.

Thomas rushes Lao and presses him up against the cage.

Lao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lao circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thomas has his takedown stuffed
and Lao counters with a one-two to the body.
Lao is working the combinations to good effect here.

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.
Lao lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thomas circles away quickly and effectively.
Lao throws a series of punches but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas closes the distance but Lao moves to the side
and Lao counters with a series of strikes. Thomas will be more careful next time no doubt.
Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lao counters with a series of strikes. Thomas will be more careful next time no doubt.
Thomas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lao counters with a one-two to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Lao circles away easily
and Lao counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Thomas closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lao counters with a three punch combo that has Thomas backing up. Thomas nods at Lao to acknowledge the strikes.
Thomas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lao scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Lao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lao counters with a left and a right that stings Thomas.
Lao scores with a push kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lao throws a nice looking combination but Thomas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Thomas not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Lao kicks off Thomas and gets to his feet.
Lao lands a jab-cross combination.
Lao throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Thomas fails with the takedown
and Lao counters with a three punch combo that has Thomas backing up. Thomas nods at Lao to acknowledge the strikes.
Lao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lao lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Thomas has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Thomas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Thomas shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lao's guard.

Lao pushes Thomas off and gets back to his feet.
Lao goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Lao rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Lao misses with a double jab.
No joy there for Lao, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lao falls off balance throwing a combination

and Thomas counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Lao keeps moving.
Lao wants to stand but Thomas is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to stand and escape but instead Lao has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Thomas wants to sweep but no luck.
Thomas controls Lao momentarily but Lao frees himself.
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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lee Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thomas 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

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