PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Royce Grazies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Grazies
vs
Thomas

186 cm
22
197 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Royce Grazies!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Grazies is squirming around, avoiding Thomas's attempts to control the action.
Grazies wants to control but Thomas is having none of it.
Thomas throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Grazies because Thomas loaded up on that one.
Thomas lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Thomas has control of Grazies's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Grazies regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Thomas working for a guillotine from mount but Grazies is in no mood to give up.
Thomas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Grazies. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Thomas prevents Grazies from getting the reversal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grazies slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Grazies is staying active underneath Thomas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Thomas is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Grazies doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thomas.
Grazies wants to control but Thomas is keeping busy.
Grazies manages to get to full guard.
Grazies looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thomas would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Thomas looks gassed!
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Grazies is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Thomas scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Grazies manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Grazies is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thomas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Grazies.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Grazies stands up from half guard.
Grazies shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Thomas moves into the clinch.
Thomas tries to pull guard but Grazies holds him up against the cage and eventually Thomas drops back down to his feet.
Grazies tries to pull guard but Thomas holds him up against the cage and eventually Grazies drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grazies tries to pull guard but Thomas won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royce Grazies. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Grazies fails to pull guard.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thomas tries to clinch but Grazies moves out of range.
Grazies misses with a takedown

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into side control. Grazies won't be happy with that.
Grazies is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Thomas is controlling him well.
Grazies is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Thomas's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Thomas tries to pass to full mount but Grazies defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grazies is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thomas's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thomas's back!
Grazies not allowing Thomas to control his hands.

Grazies has got his arm under Thomas's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Thomas has spun round into Grazies's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Thomas stands and throws Grazies's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Grazies isn't going anywhere.

Thomas decides to take the fight back to the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Grazies clinches up with Thomas and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Thomas dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Grazies doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Thomas counters with a takedown into side control.
Grazies manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thomas's best efforts.

Grazies is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Thomas pulls his head out easily.
Grazies gets back to full guard.
Grazies keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Grazies 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. Oh but Grazies is tightening it up a little... Thomas has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Thomas reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Thomas taps out! nice BJJ there by Grazies!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Royce Grazies!