PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Barry McLean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ash Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barry McLean has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

McLean
vs
Thomas

175 cm
26
155 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
157 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Barry McLean!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ash Thomas!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Steve Smith and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McLean sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thomas swings for the body but McLean moves out of range.
McLean misses with a body punch
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.
McLean wants to clinch up but Thomas keeps it at a distance.
Thomas jabs McLean right on the nose. McLean blinks but takes it well.
McLean ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McLean takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Barry McLean seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McLean has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Thomas finds it's way round the side to connect with McLean's head.
A shot to the body from McLean misses
and Thomas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thomas scores with a shot to the body.
McLean fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thomas.
McLean lands with a slapping head kick.
Thomas has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McLean.
Good work by Thomas as he checks the leg kick.
McLean connects with a good right hand that stumbles Thomas. Thomas circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLean looks to clinch
and Thomas counters with a right hand to the body.
A slow jab from Thomas misses its intended target.
A shot to the body from Thomas misses
and McLean counters with a right hand to the body.
Thomas throws a series of punches but McLean avoids them all with ease.
McLean throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McLean throws a combination. Thomas tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
McLean misses with a leg kick.
Thomas misses with a double jab
and McLean counters with a nice leg kick.
Thomas throws a hook but McLean avoids it easily.
McLean misses with a low kick.
McLean with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Thomas checks a leg kick.
McLean swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLean looks to land a combination but Thomas avoids it well.
A left lands for McLean.
McLean steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
McLean looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.

McLean moves into the clinch successfully.
Thomas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thomas working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
McLean blocking some punches.
McLean has Thomas pressed against the cage, preventing Thomas from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A right hook to the body lands for Thomas.
Thomas scores with a shoulder strike.
McLean lands a nice shot to the body.
A hook to the body from McLean.
Thomas prevents a body shot from McLean.
McLean misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thomas swings wildly with an uppercut but McLean uses good head movement to avoid it.
McLean digs a right hand underneath Thomas's ribcage. Thomas let out a lung full of air as it connected.
McLean tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.
McLean lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLean lands on the inside with an uppercut.
McLean lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Thomas backwards.
McLean has a couple of punches blocked by Thomas.
McLean is struggling to control the position.
McLean is working Thomas over against the cage.
McLean softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thomas with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thomas struggles to land a body shot inside as McLean controls his hands.
McLean swings wildly with an uppercut but Thomas uses good head movement to avoid it.
McLean swings wildly with an uppercut but Thomas uses good head movement to avoid it.
McLean misses with a punch on the inside.
Thomas misses with a knee strike.
McLean lands a nice uppercut.
Thomas blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thomas.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McLean is looking to wear down Thomas with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McLean.
McLean does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
McLean connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLean displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thomas throws out the jab.
McLean closes the distance but Thomas moves to the side
and Thomas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McLean fails in his attempt to clinch.
McLean lands a nice leg kick that just misses Thomas's sensitive parts.
McLean fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thomas.
McLean defending well as Thomas loads up on a big left hand.
Thomas on the wrong end of a nice jab.
McLean with a nice cross.
McLean lands a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McLean scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thomas displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McLean throws out the jab.
Thomas looks to throw the jab but McLean is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry McLean dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thomas slips under a jab.
Thomas circles away from the clinch attempt.
McLean misses with a jab to the body
and Thomas counters with a nice uppercut.
McLean fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
McLean thows a left - swing and a miss!
A big right from McLean misses.

McLean has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thomas misses with a punch on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Thomas.
Thomas blocking some punches.
McLean makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thomas.
Thomas lands a left hand.
McLean makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas blocks a jab.
McLean with a body punch. A glancing blow.
McLean tries to land a leg kick but Thomas saw it coming and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLean throws a series of strikes that have Thomas backpedaling.
McLean misses with a series of wild punches.
McLean misses with an uppercut. Thomas saw that one coming.
A good leg kick by McLean.
McLean throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Thomas misses with a shot to the body
and McLean counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McLean misses with a hook. Thomas ducked under it nicely.
McLean fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thomas misses with a hook.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.

McLean has managed to clinch.
McLean misses with a hook from the clinch.
McLean lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Thomas blocks an uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for McLean.
McLean can't find room to land a body shot as Thomas controls the action.
McLean fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thomas.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
McLean looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McLean throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thomas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McLean throws a quick inside leg kick.
McLean with a jab.
McLean tries to clinch up.
Thomas misses with an uppercut. McLean saw that one coming.
McLean slips a jab from Thomas.
McLean connects with a jab.
McLean tried to score with a low kick but Thomas checks it.
McLean throws a combination that misses
and Thomas counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLean uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomas.
McLean throws a body punch but Thomas moves out of range.
McLean takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
McLean misses with a straight right.
McLean fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McLean tries to clinch but fails miserably
and McLean takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thomas avoids the body shot from McLean.
McLean darts in trying to clinch
and Thomas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but McLean is just out of range.
Thomas swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barry McLean is winning the standup battle so far.
McLean scores with a three punch combo!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLean misses with an uppercut. Thomas saw that one coming.
A big right from McLean misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
McLean throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A big right from Thomas misses.
The fighters circling - McLean throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McLean misses with a body shot
and Thomas counters with a right hand to the body.
McLean takes a swing at Thomas's ribcage but misses.
McLean misses with a combination
and Thomas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A jab from McLean misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from McLean. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thomas blocks a jab.
McLean pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Barry McLean will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McLean throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thomas stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
McLean throws a body punch but Thomas moves out of range.
McLean clinches but Thomas breaks the clinch
and Thomas counters with a nice uppercut.
Thomas comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
McLean throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
McLean closes the distance but Thomas moves to the side
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.
McLean lands a jab to Thomas's midsection.
Thomas displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McLean throws out the jab.
McLean throws a big shot that misses.
Thomas avoids the body shot from McLean.
Thomas thows a body shot but no joy.
McLean throws a jab when Thomas was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLean lands a nice leg kick that just misses Thomas's sensitive parts.
Thomas misses with a shot to the body
and McLean counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice uppercut lands for Thomas. That snapped McLean's head back.
McLean tries to clinch but Thomas is having none of it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. McLean does a little dance to reset his feet.
McLean throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
McLean misses with a hook to the body
and Thomas counters with a straight right hand.
McLean swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
McLean throws a shot to the body.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from McLean.
Thomas slips under a jab.
Thomas cracks McLean with an open hand slap.
A big right from Thomas misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLean throws a low kick, looking for Thomas's leg but Thomas calmly moves out of range.
McLean throws out a powerful jab.
McLean wants to clinch but Thomas slips to the side
and Thomas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thomas circles away from the clinch attempt.
McLean tries to close the distance and clinch but Thomas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thomas thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.
McLean fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
McLean misses with a hook to the body
and Thomas counters with a left to the body.
McLean fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McLean.
McLean throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thomas just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLean goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Thomas takes one to the chin there.
McLean misses with a jab, cross combination.
McLean gets cracked there but stands up to it.
McLean attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
McLean misses with a jab to the body
and Thomas counters with a left to the body.
McLean chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Thomas, as that shot connected.
McLean thumps Thomas with a low kick.
McLean ducks under a wild hook from Thomas.
McLean tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thomas was well out of range. Poor timing from McLean.
Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McLean.
McLean wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLean wants to clinch
and Thomas counters with a nice uppercut.
McLean looks to score with a jab to the body but Thomas is just out of range.
Thomas throws a big shot that misses.
McLean swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Thomas counters with a nice body shot.
Thomas pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A big left from Thomas misses.
McLean thows a left - swing and a miss!
McLean connects with a body shot.
Thomas defending well as McLean loads up on a big left hand.
McLean swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McLean uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Thomas's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
McLean misses with a combination
and Thomas counters with a left to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ash Thomas really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

McLean throws a leg kick
and Thomas counters with a left to the body.
Thomas avoids the body shot from McLean.
McLean throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
McLean uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thomas.
Thomas misses with an uppercut. McLean saw that one coming.
Thomas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McLean.
Thomas lands with a good body shot.
Thomas throws out a powerful jab.
McLean tries to close the distance and clinch but Thomas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McLean lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by McLean.
Thomas throws a big shot that misses.
McLean works Thomas's body with a nice hook.
Thomas throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McLean sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLean tries to clinch
and Thomas counters with a nice uppercut.
McLean looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
McLean connects with a right hand. Thomas shakes it off.
Thomas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
McLean scores with a nice strike.
Thomas lands a really nice looking cross but McLean seems unphased.
McLean tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
McLean throws a hook but Thomas blocks it.
McLean throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McLean closes the distance looking to clinch
and Thomas counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
McLean dips to his left and cracks Thomas with an uppercut!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas loads up on a big right hand but McLean slips the punch.
McLean looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
McLean throws a nice looking combination but Thomas bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McLean misses with a body kick.
McLean misses with a shot to the body
and Thomas counters with a nice uppercut.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McLean swings away with a body shot that misses
and Thomas counters with a straight right hand.
McLean throws a shot from downtown. Thomas moves away and avoids it.
McLean clinches but Thomas breaks the clinch
and Thomas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McLean wants to clinch but Thomas slips to the side
and Thomas counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Thomas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McLean was well out of range. Poor timing from Thomas.
McLean misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLean throws a leg kick but Thomas sees it coming and moves out of range.
McLean tries to clinch but Thomas is having none of it.
McLean misses with a jab to the body
and Thomas makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
McLean looks to land a right hand but Thomas moved out of range.
McLean misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thomas.
Thomas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McLean takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
McLean tries to clinch
and Thomas counters with a lovely shot to the body.
McLean avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McLean.
McLean attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Thomas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McLean.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a hook but McLean blocks it.
McLean moves away from the strike by Thomas.
Thomas lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McLean circles away quickly and effectively.
A swing and a miss from Thomas.
Thomas throws a hook to the side of McLean's head but McLean sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McLean misses with a looping left.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by McLean.
McLean throws the left hand but Thomas avoids the punch easily.
McLean thows a left - swing and a miss!
McLean thuds a left hand into Thomas's body.
McLean loads up on a big right hand but Thomas slips the punch.
McLean scores with a hook.
McLean tries to clinch but Thomas moves away
and Thomas counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ash Thomas dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McLean throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thomas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thomas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McLean was well out of range. Poor timing from Thomas.
McLean with a jab.
Thomas thows a left - swing and a miss!
McLean lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
McLean falls off balance throwing a combination
and Thomas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
McLean takes a swing at Thomas's ribcage but misses.
McLean throws the left hand but Thomas avoids the punch easily.
McLean wants to clinch
and Thomas counters with a left to the body.
McLean throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Thomas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McLean throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McLean tries to clinch but Thomas moves away
and Thomas counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps McLean thinking.
Thomas misses with a looping right.
McLean looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A big left from Thomas misses.
McLean throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thomas sees it coming and avoids it easily.
McLean digs a good body shot into Thomas's ribs.
Thomas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McLean throws a hook to the side of Thomas's head but Thomas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fighters circling - McLean throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McLean closes the distance but Thomas moves to the side
enabling Thomas to counter with a crisp jab.
McLean misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLean throws a hook but Thomas blocks it.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McLean.
McLean throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thomas counters with a lovely shot to the body.
McLean closes the distance but Thomas moves to the side
and Thomas counters with a nice uppercut.
McLean tries a head kick but it misses.
McLean fails in his attempt to clinch.

McLean has managed to clinch.
McLean misses with a short punch on the inside.
McLean has Thomas pressed against the cage, preventing Thomas from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
McLean leaning his opponent against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
McLean has a couple of punches blocked by Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLean throws a head punch that misses.
McLean tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
McLean tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
McLean working aggressively here.
Thomas gets through McLean's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Thomas lands with a short shot to the head.
McLean lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas throws a hook but McLean avoids it easily.
McLean smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
McLean swings for the body but Thomas moves out of range.
A shot to the liver by Thomas. Beautiful body shot.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
The fighters circling - Thomas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thomas swings away with a body shot that misses
and McLean counters with a nice kick to the body.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from McLean.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a series of strikes that have McLean backpedaling.
Thomas missing with a left hand there. McLean was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thomas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McLean.
McLean throws a sloppy body shot
and Thomas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thomas throws a hook but McLean avoids it easily.
McLean throws a predictable looking body shot
and Thomas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McLean swings for the body but Thomas moves out of range.
McLean tries to clinch but Thomas moves away
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.
Nice cross by Thomas.
Thomas drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Thomas moves out of range of the body kick.
McLean tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ash Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thomas has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Peck scores the fight 47:48
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 47:48
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 47:48

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