PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nick Shamrock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shamrock comes to the cage accompanied by Kanye West 's Stronger . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shamrock
vs
Thomas

178 cm
32
141 lbs
25 - 17 - 1

175 cm
35
127 lbs
25 - 37 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Good knees
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Golden Supplements [O.R.G]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 17 - 1, fighting out of London, Nick Shamrock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 37 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shamrock lands with an overhand left.
Thomas tries to clinch
and Shamrock cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Shamrock moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Thomas throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Thomas closes the distance but Shamrock moves to the side
and Thomas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thomas throws a looping overhand right but Shamrock ducks down to avoid it.
Shamrock misses with a wild body shot.
Shamrock just misses with a punch to the body.
Thomas has his takedown stuffed
and Shamrock connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Shamrock avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thomas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shamrock circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shamrock getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Thomas misses with a few strikes there.
Thomas throws a combination that misses
and Shamrock counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shamrock connects with a body shot.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch but Shamrock swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nick Shamrock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Shamrock circles away.
Shamrock blocks a head kick by Thomas.
Shamrock digs a good hook to Thomas's body.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
No joy there for Thomas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a double jab
and Shamrock counters with a series of strikes. Thomas will be more careful next time no doubt.
Horrible takedown by Thomas or perhaps it was just good defense by Shamrock which made him look bad.
Nick Shamrock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Thomas.
Thomas looks for a takedown but Shamrock sprawls well.
Paul Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shamrock displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thomas.
A swing and a miss from Thomas.
Shamrock ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thomas moves away.
Shamrock really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas darts in trying to clinch
and Shamrock counters with a series of strikes. Thomas will be more careful next time no doubt.
Good exchange - Thomas coming out on top.
Shamrock swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
Thomas fails to land with a series of punches.
Thomas misses with a lunging right hand
and Shamrock counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Thomas moves to clinch but Shamrock breaks away
and Shamrock counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thomas moves to clinch but Shamrock breaks away
and Shamrock counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to clinch but Shamrock is having none of it.
Thomas throws a body punch but Shamrock moves out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Shamrock enables Thomas to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Shamrock manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Shamrock trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.
Shamrock wants to sweep but no luck.
Thomas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shamrock is keeping the position for now.

Shamrock is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shamrock wants to sweep here but Thomas controlling him for the moment.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Shamrock is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Paul Thomas will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thomas moves to clinch but Shamrock breaks away
and Shamrock connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thomas throws a lazy uppercut
and Shamrock counters with a good low kick that Thomas was not able to check.
Thomas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shamrock blocks a jab.
Thomas misses with a wild combination.
Thomas shoots in and drives through. Shamrock sprawls well.
Thomas throws a body kick that misses.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Nick Shamrock has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Thomas.
Thomas shoots and misses
and Shamrock counters with an outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Thomas looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Thomas fails with the takedown
and Shamrock connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt
and Shamrock counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Shamrock avoids the head kick by Thomas.
Thomas misses the jab.
Thomas tries to clinch but Shamrock moves out of range.
Thomas tries to clinch but Shamrock moves out of range.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Shamrock circles away easily
and Shamrock counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Thomas thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Shamrock to counter with a crisp jab.
Thomas looks to land a combination but Shamrock avoids it well.
Thomas tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Shamrock counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thomas throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shamrock counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thomas shoots and misses
and Shamrock cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thomas tries to bum rush Shamrock with a series of wild strikes but Shamrock uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shamrock has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Thomas doesn't manage to clinch there - Shamrock circles away.
Thomas has his takedown stuffed
and Shamrock counters with a nice uppercut.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Thomas. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Shamrock cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thomas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shamrock cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Shamrock circles away easily
and Shamrock counters with a two punch combo.
Thomas tries to bum rush Shamrock with a series of wild strikes but Shamrock uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thomas misses the jab.
Shamrock works the jab nicely.
The fighters circle momentarily. Shamrock darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock moves into range and connects with a jab.
Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Shamrock counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Shamrock moves into the clinch.
Thomas has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Shamrock throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shamrock tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thomas takes an elbow to the temple.
Shamrock tries to land knees in the clinch but Thomas avoids the damage to the body.

Thomas manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shamrock throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shamrock pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.
Thomas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nick Shamrock will probably get the nod.
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!

Shamrock showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thomas.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shamrock misses with a knee strike.
Shamrock is working Thomas over against the cage.
Shamrock landing knees to the head.
Shamrock missing with knees to the body.
Thomas misses with an elbow over the top.
Shamrock with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shamrock creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Shamrock.
Shamrock scores with a knee to the head.
Shamrock using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thomas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thomas looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas pulls guard.
Shamrock trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shamrock postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thomas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shamrock.
Thomas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shamrock 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 has momentary wrist control but Shamrock slips an elbow through the middle.
Shamrock won't allow Thomas to get back to his feet.
Shamrock stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shamrock accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thomas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shamrock is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock throws a big elbow that misses.
Shamrock throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shamrock stands and steps away. Thomas gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Thomas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Shamrock closes the distance and clinches.
Shamrock tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Shamrock blocks an elbow strike from Thomas.
Thomas blocks an elbow strike.
Shamrock lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Shamrock lands an elbow inside that Thomas shrugs off.
Shamrock putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Thomas in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Thomas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shamrock with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thomas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shamrock tries to land knees in the clinch but Thomas avoids the damage to the body.
Thomas can't break the clinch.
Shamrock tries a knee to the head but Thomas blocks it.
Shamrock misses with a knee to the head.
Thomas tries to work over Shamrock's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thomas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shamrock with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thomas takes a knee to the side of the body.
Shamrock with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shamrock makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Shamrock misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thomas.
Thomas blocks an elbow strike from Shamrock.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shamrock misses with a knee strike.
Thomas creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Shamrock's defenses.
Shamrock with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shamrock wants to clinch.
Thomas throws a right hand that Shamrock ducks under and follows up with a left that Shamrock also avoids with ease.
Shamrock throws a hook but Thomas blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas misses with a two punch combination.
Thomas throws a right hand that Shamrock ducks under and follows up with a left that Shamrock also avoids with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Shamrock showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shamrock 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Shamrock!
After the fight, Nick Shamrock was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.