PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jon Tharis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Gomez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tharis
vs
Gomez

188 cm
21
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
19
265 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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, Jon Tharis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Juan Gomez!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Damien Edna and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gomez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tharis is trying to control Gomez's posture but Gomez avoids it.
Gomez works to advance to full mount. Tharis defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Tharis taking shots to the head.
Tharis wants to control but Gomez is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gomez wants to control the pace but Tharis is squirming around nicely.
Tharis is trying desperately to improve position.
Tharis wants to hold on but Gomez pushes him away.
Gomez putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tharis is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Gomez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tharis wants to hold on but Gomez pushes him away.
Gomez lands a nice shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tharis wants to control but Gomez is having none of it.
Gomez controlling the pace for now.
Gomez 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.
Tharis controls the position.
Gomez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Gomez has eaten all the pies!

Gomez is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Tharis to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Tharis shrugs it off.
Tharis wants to control but Gomez is having none of it.
Tharis regains half guard.
Tharis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tharis has his foot on Gomez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gomez works his way back into a safe position though.
Gomez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tharis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gomez trying to control the position from guard on top but Tharis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Tharis looking for a guillotine here but Gomez defends easily.
Gomez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gomez with a flurry of punches that miss.

Tharis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gomez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gomez trying to control the position from guard on top but Tharis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomez stays in close to Tharis's body and controls the position.

Tharis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gomez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Gomez stands and steps away. Tharis gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Gomez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tharis was covering up waiting for the punch and Gomez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Tharis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gomez decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tharis, up you get!

Gomez feints and as Tharis raises his hands in defense, Gomez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Gomez controlling from the top position.
Tharis trying to strike off his back.
Tharis is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Gomez wants to get up but he can't break Tharis's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Gomez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tharis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gomez has managed to get both his arms back between Tharis's legs - danger averted.
Gomez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Tharis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gomez defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Gomez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tharis tries for a takedown but Gomez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Gomez takes the fight into the clinch.
Gomez wants to break free but Tharis has control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gomez turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Gomez manages to end up in side control.
Tharis manages to get back to half guard.
Tharis keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomez stalling.
Gomez is breathing heavily.
Tharis trying to control from the bottom.
Gomez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gomez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tharis controlling the position for now.
Juan Gomez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tharis trying to control here.
Gomez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Gomez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tharis's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomez trying to control the position from guard on top but Tharis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tharis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gomez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Tharis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gomez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gomez tries to stand but Tharis is controlling from the bottom.
Tharis trying to keep a closed guard but Gomez is proving a slippery customer.
Tharis managing to control the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tharis 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.
Gomez lands a couple of digs.
Gomez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gomez is fighting to break Tharis's control of his arms but Tharis is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Gomez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tharis pulls Gomez in close to his closed guard and prevents Gomez from doing any damage or advancing position.
Gomez preventing the sweep.

That's four 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.
Gomez is in close to Tharis's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Tharis is looking for a triangle but Gomez pushes his legs off easily.
Tharis keeping moving, preventing Gomez from controlling successfully.
Gomez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tharis is proving hard to escape from.
Tharis pulls Gomez in close to his closed guard and prevents Gomez from doing any damage or advancing position.
Gomez wants to control from the top but Tharis keeps moving.
Tharis is trying to control the position but Gomez postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Gomez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tharis lands with a slapping head kick.

Gomez gets a takedown into half guard.
Gomez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tharis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tharis trying to hold on to Gomez's head to control him but Gomez postures up.
Tharis is staying active underneath Gomez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tharis works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gomez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gomez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tharis is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Gomez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tharis is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Tharis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gomez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tharis is trying to keep Gomez in close.
Gomez is in close to Tharis's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Tharis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gomez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Gomez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tharis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gomez has managed to get both his arms back between Tharis's legs - danger averted.
Tharis trying to control the position.
Gomez throwing strikes but missing.
Gomez lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gomez controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tharis is trying to control the position but Gomez postures up.

Tharis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gomez is aware though and is defending well.
Gomez trying to control but Tharis is working from the bottom.

Tharis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gomez defends it easily.
Gomez not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Tharis looking to control.
Tharis is really struggling to control Gomez but he's trying to hold on to the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Juan Gomez hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Gomez gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gomez lands a takedown into guard.
Gomez throwing strikes from guard but Tharis blocks nicely.

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

Tharis working for a triangle but Gomez defends it easily.
Gomez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gomez wants to control from the top but Tharis keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gomez stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Tharis shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gomez defends it nicely.
Gomez misses with a jab, cross combination.

Tharis closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gomez did well to prevent Tharis getting side control.
Tharis is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Jon Tharis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Juan Gomez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gomez is trying to stand up here but Tharis is controlling him well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Juan Gomez.
I've got Gomez 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Gomez!