PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darius Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tantric Yogi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thomas
vs
Yogi

192 cm
29
205 lbs
18 - 6 - 0

180 cm
27
185 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Darius Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tantric Yogi!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Chris Saunders and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yogi loads up on a big right hand but Thomas slips the punch.

Thomas is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Yogi's 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.
Thomas with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Yogi trying to control from the bottom.
Thomas with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Thomas is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yogi tries to get to full guard but Thomas has control of the leg.
Thomas stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yogi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Yogi.

Yogi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Thomas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thomas seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Thomas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yogi is keeping the position for now.
Thomas looking to sit in guard and control but Yogi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yogi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Yogi throwing strikes but missing.
Yogi won't allow Thomas to sweep him here.
Yogi trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Yogi!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looking to control and managing it successfully.
Yogi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Yogi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Yogi preventing the sweep.
Thomas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Yogi trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yogi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Thomas kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Yogi wants to pass the guard but Thomas is keeping the position.
Yogi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yogi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Thomas is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Yogi is aware though and is defending well.
Yogi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
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.
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 Darius Thomas will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thomas defending well as Yogi loads up on a big left hand.
A leg kick checked by Thomas.
Thomas looks for a takedown but Yogi sprawls well.

Yogi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Thomas working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Yogi has passed into half guard!
Thomas is trying to control but can't.
Yogi passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Yogi.

Yogi moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Thomas has worked his arm free - good work by Thomas!
Thomas tries to improve position but can't.

Yogi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Thomas, who protects the arm well.
Yogi tries to move into full mount but can't pass Thomas's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is looking to reverse the position.
Thomas manages to get back to half guard.
Yogi tries to pass to full mount but Thomas defends it.
Yogi stalling.
Thomas gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yogi throws a big right hand that misses.
Tantric Yogi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Thomas has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Yogi is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Thomas.
The strikes coming from Yogi are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yogi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Yogi works to advance to full mount. Thomas defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Yogi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thomas is looking to escape.
Thomas can't escape the position.
Yogi raining down hammerfists from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yogi lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yogi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tantric Yogi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Thomas throws a hook but Yogi avoids it easily.
Yogi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Yogi manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Thomas on his heels. He'll look to pass Thomas's guard now, I'm sure.

Yogi drops back, looking for a kneebar! Thomas looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Thomas looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Thomas!
Thomas trying to control the position but Yogi is working away.
Yogi gets back to half guard.

Yogi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Yogi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thomas.
Thomas is thwarting Yogi's attempts to control the position.
Thomas is taking a breather. Yogi says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Yogi won't allow Thomas to pass to mount.
Thomas perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Yogi wants to improve his position but Thomas is controlling well.
Yogi trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Yogi lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Thomas throws a series of punches but Yogi avoids them all with ease.
Yogi misses the shot to the body.
Yogi stuffs the takedown.
Thomas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Yogi.

Thomas gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Yogi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Yogi trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Thomas manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Thomas engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yogi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thomas is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Yogi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Yogi is keeping the position.

Darius Thomas has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Thomas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Yogi swivels and escapes.
Thomas looks to land a combination but Yogi avoids it well.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Yogi as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darius Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thomas is defended easily by Yogi.
Thomas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Yogi defends it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas checks the leg kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Yogi.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Darius Thomas.
I think Thomas has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!