PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Vieira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leo Vieira will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Thomas
vs
Vieira

190 cm
29
215 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

183 cm
31
194 lbs
11 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Paul Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Leo Vieira!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.

Vieira moves into the clinch.
Thomas tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nice elbow from Vieira.

Vieira jumps guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Vieira wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Thomas prevents Vieira from getting back to his feet.

Thomas drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Vieira dives on top into guard.
Vieira forces his way into half guard.

Vieira is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Vieira is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thomas is just riding it out for now. Vieira eventually gives up the hold.
Thomas gets back to full guard.
Thomas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vieira tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
Thomas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vieira is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vieira trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vieira trying to move into half guard but instead Thomas has managed to sweep!
Thomas won't allow Vieira to get back to his feet.

Thomas has gone for a leg lock! Vieira slips out almost immediately though and dives into Thomas's guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Vieira wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.

Thomas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vieira defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vieira tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas managing to control the position.
Vieira forces his way into half guard.
Thomas is pressing down on Vieira's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Vieira postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Thomas scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Vieira displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thomas.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vieira lands with a kick to the temple. Thomas shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
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!
Vieira tries to clinch but Thomas is having none of it.
Thomas tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Vieira defends well and Thomas ends up having to push Vieira into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vieira prevents a takedown attempt there.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vieira.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vieira.
Knees to the body from Vieira.

Vieira breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vieira is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vieira tries to clinch up but Thomas circles away and keeps his distance.
Vieira fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vieira is looking to clinch.

Vieira moves into the clinch.
Thomas is trying to drag Vieira to the mat but Vieira just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thomas is trying to drag Vieira to the mat but Vieira just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Vieira has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Thomas uses from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Vieira dominated that round.
That's time! Thomas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Vieira throws a series of strikes that have Thomas backpedaling.
Vieira closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Vieira scores with a nice body kick.
Nice sprawl there from Vieira as Thomas shoots in.
Vieira's coach down at Brick Brawlers MMA (13 Coaches) was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Vieira's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Leo Vieira seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Vieira has managed to clinch.
Vieira using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vieira utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Vieira jumps guard and drags Thomas to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Vieira not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thomas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thomas prevents Vieira from getting back to his feet.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Vieira looking for a sweep. Not yet Vieira, not yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Leo Vieira was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Vieira tries to clinch up.
Vieira rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Vieira tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vieira scores with a head kick. Thomas tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Vieira slaps away a takedown attempt from Thomas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vieira stuffs the takedown.
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Vieira gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Vieira breaks from the clinch.
Vieira tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomas paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vieira clinches with his opponent.

Vieira breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas swats away the attempt to clinch by Vieira.

Vieira closes the distance and clinches.
Vieira utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Vieira escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vieira looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vieira tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.
Vieira scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Vieira works Thomas's body with a nice hook.
Vieira lands a head kick!
Vieira throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Thomas's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vieira clinches up with Thomas and pushes him back against the cage.
Vieira putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Thomas in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Vieira lands a good knee to the midsection. Thomas won't want to take too many of those.
Vieira working Thomas over with knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Vieira's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vieira has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vieira connects with a crisp jab.
Vieira throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Thomas's head.
Vieira tries to clinch up but Thomas circles away and keeps his distance.
Vieira throws a one two combo.
Vieira stalks Thomas and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Thomas's face. Thomas staggers backwards, shaken.
Thomas walks into a straight right hand from Vieira.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Thomas. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Vieira tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomas paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Vieira darts in and clinches Thomas up against the cage.
Vieira landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vieira lands a knee to the body.
Leo Vieira seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Thomas drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vieira pulls his leg out and moves away.

Vieira has taken the fight to the clinch.

Vieira breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vieira wants to clinch.
Vieira tries to clinch but Thomas is having none of it.

Vieira fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Thomas, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vieira gets underhooks to prevent Thomas's takedown attempt.
Vieira is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Vieira landing knees to the body.
Vieira is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Vieira 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. And we move into the final round!

Vieira throws a series of strikes that have Thomas backpedaling.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt - Vieira sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thomas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Vieira counters with a shoot takedown. Thomas fights it but they end up in guard.
Vieira trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Vieira stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vieira throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thomas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vieira stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Vieira controlling him for the moment.
Vieira trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vieira slips nicely into half guard.
Thomas is looking for a sweep. Vieira is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Thomas looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thomas is staying active underneath Vieira, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Thomas is defending against the submission attempts here by Vieira.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vieira is looking for a kimura but Thomas is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vieira to get the leverage.
Thomas is looking to control Vieira's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thomas avoid being mounted?

Thomas is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vieira pulls his head out easily.

Vieira is looking for a kimura but Thomas is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vieira to get the leverage.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back.

Vieira is looking for a kimura but Thomas is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vieira to get the leverage.
Leo Vieira is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to improve his position but Vieira is controlling well.
Vieira is trying to control the action in half guard but Thomas is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Thomas is looking for a sweep. Vieira is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Thomas is not content to let Vieira control the position.
Vieira is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Thomas is staying active underneath Vieira, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Leo Vieira wasn't active enough on the ground.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Vieira sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas throws a low kick but Vieira avoids it.

Vieira clinches with his opponent.
Thomas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vieira prevents it.

Vieira's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas throws out a leg kick but Vieira moves out of range and Thomas only half commits.
Vieira tries to clinch there but Thomas circles away.
Thomas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vieira is fending him off so far but Thomas persists. Nope, Vieira circles away and we're back to standing.

Vieira drives through and clinches with Thomas against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas takes a knee right on the jaw!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vieira working Thomas over with knees to the body.
Paul Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vieira blocking some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Vieira comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vieira 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 26:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Vieira!
A relieved looking Leo Vieira thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.