PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Houston Marley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Marley
vs
Thomas

170 cm
18
156 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Determined

[GTI] Divine Clothing [UP TO 95% MONEY LAUNDRY]

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Houston Marley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marley throws the kick towards the body but Thomas avoids it.
Thomas looks to land a combination but Marley avoids it well.
Thomas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Marley throws a head kick that Thomas semi-blocks.

Marley tries to sprawl but Thomas drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Marley is not content to let Thomas control the position.
Marley moves into full guard.
Marley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thomas is looking to work some ground and pound but Marley has wrist control.

Thomas is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Marley is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Marley has escaped and now he's on top!
Marley being controlled here momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marley wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Thomas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Marley is trying to stand.
Thomas is pressing down on Marley's thigh, looking to free his foot. Marley is holding on for now.
Thomas stops Marley from getting back to his feet.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but Marley is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thomas to get the leverage.
Marley is trying to get back to full guard.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marley blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thomas.

Thomas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Marley defends it well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Thomas in particular looking to stall.
Marley moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Thomas looking to sit in guard and control but Marley gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thomas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Marley.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marley throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Thomas can do anything to dispel that myth.
Marley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Marley is looking to work some ground and pound but Thomas has wrist control.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Marley from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Houston Marley will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thomas tries to clinch but Marley is having none of it.
Thomas thows a body shot but no joy.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thomas.
Marley is trying to improve his position.
Marley sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Thomas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Marley is just riding it out for now. Thomas eventually gives up the hold.
Marley is looking for a sweep. Thomas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Chris Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marley is working hard here to advance position.
Marley wants to get back to full guard but Thomas has mounted him!
Marley gets back to half guard.

Thomas is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Marley has managed to free his arm - good work.
Marley looks like he's trying to stand up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marley tries to get to full guard but Thomas has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marley preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Thomas looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Thomas seems to be looking for submissions.
Marley taking some punishment here, with Thomas in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Marley doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thomas.
Marley is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him

Thomas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Thomas controlling the action here.
Marley is trying to stand up here but Thomas is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Marley keeps working.
Thomas blocks the strikes from Marley.

Thomas seems to be working for a kimura but Marley defends the submission attempt.
Marley wants to get back to full guard.
Marley is looking to control Thomas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Marley avoid being mounted?
Thomas controlling the action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marley is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thomas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thomas's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chris Thomas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thomas tries to clinch up.
Chris Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marley tries to close the distance and clinch but Thomas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Marley enables Thomas to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Marley manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Thomas controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Marley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thomas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Thomasis looking to pass into half guard but Marley pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Marley is in guard.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Marley from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas keeping full guard, as Marley tries to pass.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Marley from controlling successfully.

Houston Marley has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Thomas stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thomas wants it to stay on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Thomas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Marley trying to control but Thomas postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is trying to work for a kimura but Marley is defending well.
Marley is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him
Thomas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Marley's head.
Thomas is trying to control. Marley wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Thomas is looking for a kimura but Marley is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thomas to get the leverage.
Marley is trying to get back to full guard.

Thomas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Marley pushes Thomas off looking to stand but Thomas dives back in and keeps control.
Marley is not content to let Thomas control the position.
Marley is looking to control Thomas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Marley avoid being mounted?

Thomas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Marley is just riding it out for now. Thomas eventually gives up the hold.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Thomas connects with a nice short shot to Marley's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas prevents Marley from improving his position.
Thomas wants to pass to mount but Marley is defending the position.

Marley is defending against the submission attempts here by Thomas.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas trying to control the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Chris Thomas!
Chris Thomas made sure to mention his sponsor, [GTI] Divine Clothing [UP TO 95% MONEY LAUNDRY] in his post fight interview.