PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Diogo Pontes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Din Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Two Steps from Hell. Din Thomas acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Pontes
vs
Thomas

188 cm
24
200 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

186 cm
26
190 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

ANABOLIC Nutrition 160Q and LAUNDRY 85%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diogo Pontes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Din Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Edson Gomes and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pontes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Thomas looks to land a left hand but Pontes moved out of range nicely.
Pontes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thomas misses with an uppercut.
Thomas misses with a hook. Pontes ducked under it nicely.
Pontes slips under a jab.
Thomas changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pontes.

Pontes feints and as Thomas raises his hands in defense, Pontes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pontes looking to sit in guard and control but Thomas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thomas postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thomas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Pontes looking for a guillotine here but Thomas defends easily.
Thomas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pontes keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is looking to work some ground and pound but Pontes has wrist control.
Pontes keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.

Pontes has his foot on Thomas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thomas works his way back into a safe position though.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Pontes keeps moving.
Thomas scoring with punches to the head and body.
Thomas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pontes is keeping the position for now.
Pontes keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Thomas is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Pontes has his foot on Thomas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thomas works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas stands up over Pontes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Thomas passes Pontes's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Pontes tries to get to full guard but Thomas has control of the leg.
Pontes trying to control but Thomas postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pontes manages to get to full guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pontes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thomas defends well.
Thomas is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pontes is looking for a triangle but Thomas pushes his legs off easily.
Thomas trying to control but Pontes is working from the bottom.
Pontes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Pontes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Pontes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pontes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thomas defends it easily.
Pontes looking for a sweep. Not yet Pontes, not yet.

Pontes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thomas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thomas manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Pontes keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pontes wants to sweep but no luck.
Thomas content to stall in guard here.

Pontes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thomas is aware though and is defending well.

Pontes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thomas defends well.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Pontes keeps moving.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Thomas avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Pontes working for a triangle but Thomas defends it easily.
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 Diogo Pontes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Pontes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thomas misses with an uppercut.
Thomas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pontes manages to avoid it.
Pontes fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thomas avoids it really well and circles away.
Pontes thows a body shot but no joy.
Thomas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pontes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pontes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thomas is defended easily by Pontes.
Pontes dodges the punch combination from Thomas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pontes fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diogo Pontes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas works the jab nicely.
Pontes shoots in looking for a takedown. Thomas tries to sprawl out of it but Pontes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thomas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pontes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thomas.
Pontes shoots and misses
and Thomas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thomas looks to score with a jab to the body but Pontes is just out of range.
Pontes on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Pontes throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Thomas was covering up waiting for the punch and Pontes finishes the takedown easily into guard.
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!
Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pontes slips nicely into half guard.
Thomas won't allow Pontes to pass to mount.
Thomas is staying active underneath Pontes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thomas gets full guard.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Pontes from controlling successfully.
Pontes 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 tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pontes slips nicely into half guard.

Pontes is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Diogo Pontes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pontes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thomas keeps working.
Thomas is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pontes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pontes's back!
Pontes is in bad spot here.
Thomas lands strikes to the head.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Thomas. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Thomas is not going to allow Pontes to sit and survive in this position.
Thomas is hanging on to Pontes's back as he tries to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thomas trying to control momentarily.
Pontes tries to escape the position.
Thomas has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Pontes's body.
Pontes trying to control the action but Thomas just sinks the hooks in.

Thomas looking for the choke but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas lands strikes to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Din Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomas throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pontes stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Thomas gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pontes fails to pull guard.
Thomas is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Thomas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pontes pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Thomas has Pontes pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Thomas pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Pontes tumbling to the mat - Thomas dives into Pontes's guard.

Pontes looking for a guillotine here but Thomas defends easily.
Thomas lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pontes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Pontes keeps moving.
Pontes working a defensive guard but Thomas passes into half guard.
Pontes is trying to get back to full guard.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pontes keeps working.
Pontes trying to control here.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pontes keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Din Thomas was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thomas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pontes was well out of range. Poor timing from Thomas.
Thomas just misses with a punch to the body.
Pontes defending well as Thomas loads up on a big left hand.
Pontes misses with a takedown attempt - Thomas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Diogo Pontes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pontes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thomas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pontes.
Thomas misses with a body shot.
The fighters circling - Thomas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pontes takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pontes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thomas misses with a hook.
Thomas scores with a jab. Pontes acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Thomas stuffs the takedown.
Pontes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thomas as he jumps to the side.
Pontes on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Thomas throws a jab but it's blocked by Pontes.
Thomas stuns Pontes with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A big right from Thomas misses.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pontes as he jumps to the side.

Pontes gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thomas to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Pontes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thomas defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Pontes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thomas defends it easily.

Pontes working for a triangle but Thomas defends it easily.

Pontes is looking for a triangle here but Thomas uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pontes stops Thomas from passing to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Din Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thomas has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Din Thomas!
Din Thomas bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.