PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paul Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zack Pineiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zack Pineiro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thomas
vs
Pineiro

175 cm
37
127 lbs
27 - 40 - 0

160 cm
25
135 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

New World Order Clothing

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 27 - 40 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Paul Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zack Pineiro!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pineiro fails with a takedown attempt.
Pineiro avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thomas pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Pineiro back to the cage. Thomas follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Pineiro scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pineiro looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pineiro looks winded!
Pineiro tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thomas swivels and escapes.
Paul Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zack Pineiro.

Thomas instigates a clinch.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pineiro as he avoids it easily.
Pineiro dives in and grabs Thomas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thomas pushes down on Pineiro's head and hops out.
Pineiro walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas swinging wildly here.

Thomas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Nice strikes from Thomas there.
Thomas not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Thomas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thomas scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Thomas missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pineiro really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thomas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Thomas frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pineiro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pineiro manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Thomas works his way into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas is working Pineiro over with some ground and pound from side control.
Pineiro takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Thomas stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas dives in and scores a takedown into Pineiro's guard.
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 works over Pineiro with some ground and pound from guard.
Thomas will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Thomas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thomas slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Thomas drops back looking for a leg! Pineiro is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pineiro manages to kick Thomas off! Thomas jumps back into Pineiro's guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pineiro trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Thomas working some strikes from top position.
Thomas trying to control but Pineiro is working from the bottom.
Thomas with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thomas throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Pineiro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas stays in close to Pineiro's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Thomas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thomas pushes Pineiro up against the cage in a clinch.
Pineiro is looking to break free of the clinch but Thomas has double underhooks.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Thomas or perhaps it was just good defense by Pineiro which made him look bad.
Pineiro throws a head kick that Thomas semi-blocks.
A thudding body kick lands there by Pineiro!
Nice body kick there by Thomas.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pineiro can't break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Pineiro tries to pull guard but Thomas holds him up against the cage and eventually Pineiro drops back down to his feet.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thomas scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Pineiro throws a head kick but Thomas moves out of range.
Pineiro slips a jab and a cross from Thomas.
Pineiro is looking to clinch but Thomas is avoiding it.
Paul Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas cracks the inside of Pineiro's front leg.
Thomas closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Thomas is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Pineiro's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas prevents Pineiro from improving his position.
Thomas prevents Pineiro from standing back up.
Paul Thomas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thomas winds up and cracks Pineiro with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Pineiro is looking to improve his position.
Thomas slows the pace down in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas working Pineiro over with strikes.
Thomas passes to side control.

Thomas is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pineiro is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Thomas has hold of Pineiro's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Pineiro tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Thomas cranks the arm and Pineiro screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Pineiro, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Paul Thomas!
Paul Thomas made sure to mention his sponsor, Golden Supplements in his post fight interview.