PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between ray thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustaw Jelen (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
Jelen

180 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
172 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, ray thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gustaw Jelen!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
thomas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
thomas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
thomas misses with a wild combination.
thomas throws a series of punches but Jelen moves out of range.
thomas moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Some wild striking there from thomas.
Jelen should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Jelen moves in looking to clinch but thomas pushes him off.
thomas misses with a two punch combination.
A right-left combo lands from thomas.
thomas misses with the combination.
thomas scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
thomas misses with a double jab.
thomas tries to bum rush Jelen with a series of wild strikes but Jelen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jelen is defended easily by thomas.
thomas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
thomas fails to land with a series of punches.
thomas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
thomas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jelen dodges the punch combination from thomas.

thomas gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Jelen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
thomas keeping moving, preventing Jelen from controlling successfully.

thomas working for a triangle but Jelen defends it easily.
Jelen tries to free his leg and advance position but thomas is retaining full guard.
thomas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Jelen on the ground.
Jelen's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

thomas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

thomas is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Jelen defends well.
thomas is breathing heavily.

thomas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jelen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Jelen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Jelen tries to stand but thomas is controlling from the bottom.
Jelen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

thomas looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Jelen passes into half guard.

thomas looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jelen is controlling the pace.
thomas is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Jelen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Well, if Jelen is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Jelen is keen to just control but thomas is a slippery customer.
Jelen is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Nice strikes from Jelen there.
Jelen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
thomas tries to get to full guard but Jelen has control of the leg.

thomas with the active half guard here but Jelen passes nicely into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jelen connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused thomas some visible discomfort.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
thomas is looking to regain half guard here but Jelen keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gustaw Jelen will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

thomas throws a nice looking combination but Jelen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
thomas looks to land a combination. Jelen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A combination from thomas does no damage.
thomas lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Jelen moves in looking to clinch but thomas pushes him off.
Some wild striking there from thomas.
thomas swinging wildly here.
A punch combination from thomas misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
thomas on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A combination from thomas does no damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jelen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Jelen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. thomas manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

thomas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jelen wants to stand but thomas is controlling his posture from full guard.

thomas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jelen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jelen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

thomas working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Jelen has passed into half guard!
thomas works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jelen wants to stand but thomas has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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

thomas looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Jelen has picked thomas up and slammed him! thomas can't keep hold of the triangle and Jelen manages to pass to side control!
Jelen looks up at the clock and then as thomas takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Jelen smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Jelen is looking to take a break and control but thomas is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jelen scoring with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jelen creates some space and throws a big elbow, but thomas sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
thomas sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

thomas looking for submissions off his back.

thomas actively working from the bottom here.

thomas looking for submissions off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
thomas throws a series of punches but Jelen avoids them all with ease.
ray thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jelen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
thomas scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

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.
thomas throws a combination that misses

and Jelen counters with a takedown into side control.
thomas is looking for a sweep.
thomas gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

thomas looking for submissions off his back.
Jelen is pressing down on thomas's thigh, looking to free his foot. thomas is holding on for now.
Jelen prevents thomas from improving his position.
thomas is pressing down on Jelen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jelen trying to control but thomas is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustaw Jelen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jelen shoots for a takedown but thomas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
thomas misses with a double jab

and Jelen counters with a single leg into guard. thomas didn't expect that.

thomas working for a triangle but Jelen defends it easily.

thomas throws his legs up looking for a submission but Jelen uses it to pass to side control.
Jelen passes to full mount! That's big trouble for thomas!
thomas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jelen manages to capitalize on a mistake by thomas to take his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
thomas tries to break free.

Jelen tightening his grip on thomas, looking for the choke.
thomas tries to roll but Jelen sticks to his back.
Jelen scores with punches from the back.
Gustaw Jelen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jelen trying to control momentarily.

thomas preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Jelen.
thomas manages to reverse the position and now he's in Jelen's guard. Nice work there by thomas.
ray thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
thomas wants to stand and escape but instead Jelen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
thomas looking for a sweep. Not yet thomas, not yet.

thomas working for a triangle but Jelen defends it easily.

thomas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jelen wants to control from the top but thomas keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

thomas working for submissions but it's allowed Jelen to get to half guard.

thomas looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
thomas is looking for a sweep. Jelen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jelen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but thomas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

thomas actively working from the bottom here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jelen dodges the punch combination from thomas.
thomas throws a combination that misses

and Jelen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jelen.

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.
Jelen missing with knees to the body.
Jelen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. thomas gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jelen pressing his opponent against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Jelen's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
A body shot lands from Jelen.
Jelen pushes thomas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Gustaw Jelen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for thomas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gustaw Jelen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jelen 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gustaw Jelen!