PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Magomed Ismailov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas has chosen Ralek Gracie - GINAGI (G-IN-A-GI) as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ismailov
vs
Thomas

185 cm
29
220 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

190 cm
32
215 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Magomed Ismailov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paul Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ismailov drops Thomas with a big left hand and mounts him. Thomas is in big trouble!

It looks like Paul Thomas has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thomas looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Ismailov is trying to stick to Thomas's back but Thomas is turning into Ismailov. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ismailov's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Thomas.
Ismailov working a defensive guard here.
Ismailov tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Thomas has gone for a leg lock! Ismailov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Thomas's guard.
Thomas is controlling Ismailov's posture.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Ismailov controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ismailov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ismailov 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 advances to half guard.
Ismailov is looking for a sweep. Thomas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ismailov is in trouble now - Thomas has advanced to mount!

Thomas goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ismailov is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ismailov looking to pass the guard.
Ismailov trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thomas trying to control the position.

Ismailov stands up and waves to Thomas to follow him.
Thomas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ismailov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Thomas is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ismailov sees it coming and defends easily.
Ismailov trying to get back to full guard but Thomas takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

Ismailov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Thomas.
Ismailov wants to hold on but Thomas pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ismailov can't escape the position.
Thomas landing strikes from the mount.

Thomas goes for an armbar but Ismailov turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Ismailov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thomas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ismailov throws a big right hand that misses.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but Ismailov is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Magomed Ismailov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Paul Thomas's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thomas.
Ismailov scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nice sprawl there from Ismailov as Thomas shoots in.
Ismailov fails with a takedown attempt.
Ismailov fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomas shoots for a takedown but Ismailov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Magomed Ismailov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Thomas.
Thomas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ismailov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Thomas somewhat.
Thomas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Paul Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas misses with a takedown attempt - Ismailov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ismailov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ismailov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thomas keeps working.
Thomas keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thomas is looking for a sweep. Ismailov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Ismailov seems to be working for a kimura but Thomas defends the submission attempt.
Ismailov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thomas keeps working.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ismailov is keen to just control but Thomas is a slippery customer.
Thomas trying to control here.
Thomas tries to get to full guard but Ismailov has control of the leg.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Ismailov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Thomas defends it well.
Thomas moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Paul Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas has his foot on Ismailov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ismailov works his way back into a safe position though.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Ismailov controlling him for the moment.
Ismailov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Thomas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ismailov manages to get himself to full guard.

Thomas is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ismailov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ismailov has escaped and now he's on top!
Ismailov wants to get up but he can't break Thomas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thomas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ismailov's guard.
Ismailov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thomas is one step ahead there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thomas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas slips nicely into half guard.

Thomas seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Ismailov is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Paul Thomas!
A very excited looking Paul Thomas rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.