PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Arteta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arteta has chosen Yall must have Forgot--Roy Jones Jr as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Thomas
vs
Arteta

190 cm
26
181 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Diego Arteta!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Colin Fotheringham and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Arteta trying to control but Thomas postures up.
Thomas wants to free his trapped foot but Arteta is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Thomas is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Thomas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Arteta is just riding it out for now. Thomas eventually gives up the hold.

Thomas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Arteta is just riding it out for now. Thomas eventually gives up the hold.
Thomas is looking to advance position but Arteta won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas thows a huge punch but Arteta dodges it nicely.
Arteta blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thomas.
Arteta trying to control from the bottom.
Thomas not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Thomas seems to be looking for submissions.
Arteta keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Thomas seems to be looking for submissions.

Thomas is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is trying to work for a kimura but Arteta is defending well.
Thomas throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Arteta trying to control from the bottom.

Thomas stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Arteta to get to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Arteta is defended easily by Thomas.
Nice takedown defense from Arteta. No joy for Thomas on that attempt.
Arteta swings widly with a right hand
and Thomas counters with a series of strikes. Arteta will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arteta is looking to clinch.
Arteta wants to clinch.
Arteta lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Mark Thomas has been cut.
Arteta throws a left and a right that both miss

and Thomas counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thomas.
Thomas is looking to work some ground and pound but Arteta has wrist control.
Thomas has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Arteta keeps moving.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thomas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Arteta keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.

Thomas gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Diego Arteta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arteta falls off balance throwing a combination

and Thomas counters with a shoot takedown. Arteta fights it but they end up in guard.

Thomas drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Arteta manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Thomas has Arteta in his guard.
Thomas working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Thomas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mark Thomas's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thomas throws a right and a left that both miss.
Arteta throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Arteta displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thomas.
Arteta misses with a head kick.
Thomas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice defenses there by Thomas.
Arteta throws a series of punches but Thomas avoids them all with ease.
Arteta misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Arteta tried to score with a low kick but Thomas checks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Arteta tries to avoid it but Thomas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Arteta to the ground. Arteta escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arteta throws a push kick but Thomas slaps the foot to one side.
Thomas dips to his left and cracks Arteta with an uppercut!
Thomas displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Diego Arteta has been cut.
Arteta wants to clinch up but Thomas keeps it at a distance.
Thomas slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Arteta tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas is trying hard to land a takedown here. Arteta sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thomas looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Arteta throws a combination that misses
and Thomas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Arteta lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thomas circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Arteta looks to land a body kick but Thomas moved away.

Thomas shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Arteta napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Arteta wants to get back to his feet but Thomas drags him back down.
Thomas misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Thomas looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Thomas looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
An elbow from Thomas crashes against the mat.
Thomas throwing strikes but Arteta manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arteta gets to mount! Thomas was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Thomas is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas is wriggling around trying to escape.
Arteta sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Arteta can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thomas is looking to escape.
Mark Thomas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thomas slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arteta not doing much here.
Arteta is thwarting Thomas's attempts to control the position.
Thomas is not content to let Arteta control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Diego Arteta was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Arteta throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Thomas dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Arteta. Thomas does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thomas moves away from the strike by Arteta.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Arteta as Thomas shoots in.
A left and a right from Thomas both land. Nice combination.

Thomas dives in and scores a takedown into Arteta's guard.

Thomas 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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Arteta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas throws a big right hand that misses.
Thomas throws a big elbow that misses.
Arteta keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Thomas not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Arteta working a defensive guard here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Mark Thomas wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Arteta gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thomas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Arteta pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas has clasped his hands together around Arteta's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Arteta is pushing Thomas's head away, looking to escape. Thomas manages to hold on to the position though.

Thomas is trying to get an arm triangle but Arteta is defending well.
Thomas throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Thomas working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Thomas looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas tries to move to mount but Arteta blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Arteta, who protects the arm well.

Thomas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Thomas scoring with punches and elbows.
Mark Thomas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Arteta wants to get back to his feet but Thomas drags him back down.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Arteta keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Thomas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Thomas scoring with punches and elbows.
Thomas working away.
Diego Arteta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas trying to control the position but Arteta is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Thomas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thomas, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

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