PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eino Leino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mathias Thomason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomason has chosen Eminem - Like Toy Soldiers as his entrance music. Eino Leino has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Leino
vs
Thomason

182 cm
22
192 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

191 cm
20
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eino Leino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mathias Thomason!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Leino closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomason wants to get back to full guard.
Leino missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Leino is thwarting Thomason's attempts to control the position.
Leino thows a huge punch but Thomason dodges it nicely.
Leino has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Leino is trying to work for a kimura but Thomason is defending well.
Thomason throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Leino is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Thomason wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Thomason 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.
Leino keeping moving, preventing Thomason from controlling successfully.

Leino escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thomason gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thomason is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Leino avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thomason trying to control but Leino is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomason is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Leino throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Leino escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thomason gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Leino is breathing heavily.
Thomason wants to control from the top but Leino keeps moving.

Thomason drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thomason jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Thomason with a nice head shot there.
Thomason looking to pass the guard.
Thomason lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Leino bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thomason's guard.
Leino wants to pass the guard but Thomason is keeping the position.

Thomason had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Leino is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Thomason Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Leino's back instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomason doesn't have the hooks in and Leino manages to turn into his guard.
Leino pushes down on Thomason's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Leino is working for a submission of some sort.
Thomason desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Thomason gets back to full guard.
Thomason controls Leino momentarily but Leino frees himself.
Leino stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomason swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thomason working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leino wants to control from the top but Thomason keeps moving.
Leino postures up.
Thomason can't keep his opponent in guard - Leino advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Thomason is trying to control but can't.
Leino looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Thomason is trying to get back to full guard.
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. Leino connects with a nice short shot to Thomason's temple.
Thomason keeping control of the position.
Thomason has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Leino is working away from the top position though.
Thomason tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Thomason is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Leino's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Leino's back!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Thomason trying to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Mathias Thomason just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thomason swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Thomason closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Thomason is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Leino tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thomason scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Leino?
Thomason with good strikes from the mount here!
Leino is trying to escape the mount.
Thomason takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Thomason lands with some strikes.
Thomason tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thomason misses with a takedown

and Leino counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Leino moves into full mount! Thomason won't be happy about that!
Thomason is desperately trying to improve his position but Leino has a good base and remains in mount.
Leino landing strikes from the mount and Thomason is in trouble!
Leino working Thomason over with strikes here.
Thomason is trying desperately to improve position.
Leino can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thomason is looking to escape.

Leino looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Thomason sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Leino prevents Thomason from improving his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomason regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomason trying to keep a closed guard but Leino is proving a slippery customer.
Leino connects with a couple of short punches.
Leino stands up over Thomason, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Leino scoring with punches to the head and body.
Thomason has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Leino with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thomason looking to hit a scissor sweep but Leino is one step ahead there.
Leino passes Thomason's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Thomason missing with punches from the bottom.
Thomason is trying is best to control the position here.
Leino working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Leino takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Thomason wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomason keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Leino is looking for a kimura here.
Leino tries to stand but can't do so whilst Thomason controls his leg.
Thomason is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Leino wants to advance to full mount but Thomason doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Leino wants to pass the guard but Thomason is keeping the position.
Thomason pulls Leino in close to his closed guard and prevents Leino from doing any damage or advancing position.

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

and Leino counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Thomason is trying to keep Leino in close.
Leino pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomason is keeping the position for now.
Thomason looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leino advances to half guard.
Thomason is trying to get back to full guard.

Leino is looking for a kimura here.
Thomason wants to get back to full guard.
Leino trying to pass the guard but Thomason defending well.
Leino prevents Thomason from improving his position.
Eino Leino overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Leino scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Leino frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Thomason takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leino moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Thomason has worked his arm free - good work by Thomason!

Leino is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Thomason knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Thomason takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Leino wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Thomason, who protects the arm well.

Leino tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Leino cracks Thomason with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Leino is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Thomason is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Thomason is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eino Leino dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Leino with a poor takedown

and Thomason counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Leino wants to improve his position but Thomason is controlling well.
Leino throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Leino throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Thomason prevents Leino from improving his position.
Leino manages to get to full guard.
Leino looking for a sweep. Not yet Leino, not yet.
Leino lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thomason!
Thomason is bucking up trying to escape but Leino cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Leino working for a guillotine from mount but Thomason is in no mood to give up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Leino landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leino working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Leino goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Thomason turns into him and now he's in Leino's guard.

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

Leino working for a triangle but Thomason defends it easily.

Leino has his foot on Thomason's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thomason works his way back into a safe position though.

Leino looking for a guillotine here but Thomason defends easily.

Leino working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thomason doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thomason manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Leino bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thomason's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leino drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Leino jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Thomason lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Leino!
Leino keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Thomason misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Thomason with the ground and pound from mount.
Leino is wriggling around trying to escape.
Thomason looking to control but Leino is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Leino is in all sorts of trouble here.
Leino is in a horrible position here. Thomason smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Leino is looking to improve his position but Thomason isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leino manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Leino trying to control from the bottom.
Leino gets back to full guard.

Leino is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Thomason rolls with it to try and escape but Leino cranks on the arm and Thomason is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Eino Leino!