PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leon Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ariel Bonar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thomas
vs
Bonar

196 cm
19
226 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leon Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ariel Bonar!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Damien Edna and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bonar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bonar stuffs the takedown attempt from Thomas. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet.
Bonar stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bonar wants it to stay on the feet.
Thomas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bonar avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leon Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bonar slaps away a takedown attempt from Thomas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bonar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bonar defends it nicely.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonar wanted to stand there but Thomas had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bonar is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bonar stopping the sweep attempt from Thomas.

Thomas manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Bonar shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Thomas can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonar controlling the position easily from mount.
Thomas is just holding on here. Bonar manages to take his back.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
You can see the frustration on Thomas's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Thomas is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thomas trying to control the hands but Bonar won't let him.
Thomas is in bad spot here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Bonar dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bonar lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thomas circles away quickly and effectively.
Thomas shoots and misses

and Bonar counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Thomas is looking to improve his position.
Thomas wants to control but Bonar passes into side.

Bonar has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Bonar counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thomas's guard now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bonar prevents Thomas from getting back to his feet.
Bonar trying to stand up but can't free himself from Thomas's guard.

Thomas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Bonar stands up and waves to Thomas to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch but Bonar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Bonar darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Thomas is looking to control Bonar's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thomas avoid being mounted?
Thomas works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thomas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bonar's guard.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Bonar is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thomas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bonar looking for a sweep. Not yet Bonar, not yet.

That's four 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 trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thomas trying to control but Bonar is working from the bottom.
Thomas is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bonar is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ariel Bonar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bonar counters with a three punch combo that has Thomas backing up. Thomas nods at Bonar to acknowledge the strikes.
Bonar misses with a few strikes there.
Bonar takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Some wild striking there from Bonar.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas misses with a combination

and Bonar decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thomas's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Thomas misses with a head shot.
Thomas controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thomas trying to control but Bonar is having none of it.
Thomas throws some wild stikes that Bonar manages to avoid easily.
Ariel Bonar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bonar is squirming around, avoiding Thomas's attempts to control the action.
Thomas unloads with some shots from mount but Bonar bucks and avoids them well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Thomas manages to capitalize on a mistake by Bonar to take his back!

Bonar won't enjoy being in this position. Thomas looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Bonar is tapping - it's over boys! Thomas picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Leon Thomas!