PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Diego Rios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rios's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Forever. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rios
vs
Thomas

200 cm
26
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

200 cm
22
138 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Diego Rios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Thomas!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas clinches with his opponent.
Rios really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Thomas fails to pull guard.
Rios working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rios with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rios.

Rios has picked Thomas up - he's going for a ride! Rios dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Thomas keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rios lands with a punch from half guard.
Rios lands with a punch from half guard.
Thomas trying to control from the bottom.
Thomas taking some punishment here, with Rios in his half guard.
Thomas on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rios frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Rios connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Thomas tries to reverse the position but Rios maintains control.
Thomas is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rios in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rios with good strikes from the mount here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rios with shots to the head and body - Thomas looks very uncomfortable down there.
Thomas wants to control but Rios is having none of it.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rios cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rios unloading with bombs!
Rios scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Thomas?
Thomas can't escape the position.

Rios is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Thomas to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Thomas shrugs it off.
Thomas is bucking up trying to escape but Rios cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rios lands with some strikes.
A nice elbow there by Rios.
Rios lands a big elbow.

Thomas is rocked!

Rios working for a submission but Thomas is keeping him at bay.
Thomas is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rios in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas is trying desperately to improve position.
Thomas tries to hold on but Rios pushes him away.
The referee warns Thomas that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Thomas in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Thomas is in all sorts of trouble here.
Thomas looks gassed!
The referee warns Thomas that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rios landing strikes from the mount.
Rios unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rios scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Rios goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Thomas is on top in guard.
Rios is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thomas is controlling him.
Thomas makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thomas thows a big elbow that misses.

Rios has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Thomas off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Rios shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rios!
Thomas throws a strike there. Rios manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.

Thomas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rios defends it well.
Thomas is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Rios 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.

Rios misses with a combination

and Thomas counters by clinching up.
A frustrated look appears on Rios's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Thomas drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thomas tries to pull guard but Rios won't allow it.
A hook to the body from Thomas.
Rios wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thomas jumps guard but Rios stands there with Thomas around his waist. Thomas gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Diego Rios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Thomas.
Rios wants to get back to striking at distance but Thomas won't allow it.
Thomas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rios just stands there and leans against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Thomas just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rios's brow.
Rios throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thomas blocks it with crossed arms.
Thomas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rios walks away with a smile on his face. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rios throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
Thomas fails with the takedown.
No joy there for Rios, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Thomas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rios pinned against the cage. Rios gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rios drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Rios decides to stand back up.
Diego Rios seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rios 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.
Rios wants to stand but Thomas has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rios has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rios looking to pass the guard.
Rios cracks Thomas with a solid left hand.
Rios throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thomas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thomas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rios is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rios lands a couple of elbows.
Rios working some strikes from top position.
Rios stands up over Thomas, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Thomas has his foot on Rios's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rios works his way back into a safe position though.
Rios stopping the sweep attempt from Thomas.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rios's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Rios wants to get up but he can't break Thomas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rios won't allow Thomas to get back to his feet.

Rios is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rios lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rios lands a couple of digs.
Thomas has a closed guard, preventing Rios from standing up.
Rios with a nice head shot there.
Rios wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Rios wants to get up but he can't break Thomas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rios postures up.

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 tries to strike from the bottom.
Rios working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thomas's head.
Rios looking to pass the guard.
Thomas has a closed guard, preventing Rios from standing up.
Thomas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rios stopping the sweep attempt from Thomas.
Diego Rios overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rios scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Rios dominated that second round.
That's time! Rios's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Rios drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rios is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Thomas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Rios is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Rios from controlling successfully.
Rios keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thomas's head.
Thomas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thomas trying to control the position.
Rios pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rios in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rios wants to stand but Thomas is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rios thows a big elbow that misses.
Thomas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rios keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Rios avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thomas.
Thomas throwing shots but Rios is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Rios is defending against the submission attempts here by Thomas.
Thomas trying to pass the guard but Rios defending well.
Thomas wants to take a breather but Rios is having none of it.

Rios is defending against the submission attempts here by Thomas.

Rios kicks Thomas off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a left hand

and Rios counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Rios decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Rios is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Thomas's half guard.

Rios stands up and beckons Thomas to join him on the feet.

Thomas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thomas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rios gets through Thomas's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Thomas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rios's efforts to push away.
Thomas fails to pull guard.
Rios gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Thomas.
James Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diego Rios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Thomas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rios gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Thomas regains guard.

Rios stands up and waves to Thomas to follow him.

Rios clinches up against the cage.
Rios tries to break the clinch but Thomas is controlling the position.

Thomas manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
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.
Rios scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rios wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Rios passes Thomas's left leg - he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Diego Rios showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rios has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Suge Night scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Diego Rios!