PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vaimaa Fatu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tj Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fatu comes to the cage accompanied by So Close Now. Tj Thomas acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Fatu
vs
Thomas

193 cm
29
239 lbs
19 - 14 - 0

225 cm
43
255 lbs
25 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vaimaa Fatu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tj Thomas!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big right from Fatu misses.
Thomas throws a right hand that misses
and Fatu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fatu takes one to the chin there.

It looks like Vaimaa Fatu has been cut.
Fatu takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Oooooh!!! Fatu has knocked Thomas down with a huge combo! Fatu steps away and waves a wobbly Thomas back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Thomas is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fatu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomas's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Thomas duly obliges.
Thomas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Thomas misses with a wild body shot.
Thomas misses with an uppercut. Fatu saw that one coming.
Thomas scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A telegraphed right hand from Thomas misses the target.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch but Fatu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fatu misses with a double jab.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Fatu circles away and keeps his distance.
A little feinted left hand from Fatu on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas clinches up with Fatu and pushes him back against the cage.

Fatu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Fatu keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thomas misses with a body shot.
Fatu ducks right into an uppercut from Thomas.
Thomas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Thomas tries to clinch up.
Vaimaa Fatu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas throws a body punch but Fatu moves out of range.
Fatu throwing a counter right hand but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Fatu keeps it at a distance.
Fatu scores with the left hand. Thomas knows he should have avoided that one.
Fatu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fatu circles away from the clinch attempt

and Fatu decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thomas's guard.
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 the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Fatu is trying to control but can't.
Fatu tries to kick Thomas off but Thomas keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Fatu is refusing to be controlled, as Thomas sits in half guard.
Fatu on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Fatu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Thomas working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Vaimaa Fatu's cut is getting worse.
Thomas throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thomas scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Thomas wants to work for an arm triangle but Fatu is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fatu pushes Thomas off looking to stand but Thomas dives back in and keeps control.
Thomas is stalling here. Fatu is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Thomas seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Fatu has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Thomas is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Fatu is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Fatu wants to get back to his feet but Thomas is holding on tight.

Fatu goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Thomas is on top in guard.
Fatu keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Thomas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fatu is looking for a triangle but Thomas pushes his legs off easily.
Fatu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Fatu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thomas sitting in guard here, content to control.
Thomas looking to pass the guard.

Thomas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fatu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thomas has managed to get both his arms back between Fatu's legs - danger averted.
Thomas throwing strikes but missing.
Thomas throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tj Thomas will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vaimaa Fatu's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thomas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Fatu tries to avoid it but Thomas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Fatu to the ground. Fatu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
A jab from Thomas misses.
Thomas shoots in but no luck this time.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fatu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thomas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fatu.
Fatu swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
Fatu throws a low kick but Thomas avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fatu misses the shot to the body.
A countering left hand to the body from Thomas misses.

Thomas gets a clinch.
Thomas takes a shot to the head.
Thomas swings wildly with an uppercut but Fatu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thomas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fatu is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Fatu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thomas is defending well for now.
Thomas has had enough of the clinch but Fatu keeps him there for the moment.
Fatu missing with knees to the body.
Fatu stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Thomas content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fatu blocks a jab.
Vaimaa Fatu is winning the standup battle so far.
Thomas throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Fatu counters with a nice uppercut.
Fatu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Thomas slips a jab and a cross from Fatu.
Vaimaa Fatu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas cracks Fatu with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Fatu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Thomas lands with a straight right. Fatu didn't see that one coming.

Vaimaa Fatu's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Thomas is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
Fatu is trying to break free.
Thomas misses with a hook to the ribs.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fatu lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Fatu steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Thomas tries to bum rush Fatu with a series of wild strikes but Fatu uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A punch combination from Fatu misses.
A left lands for Thomas.
Fatu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fatu takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Jeez, Vaimaa Fatu's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Thomas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Fatu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Vaimaa Fatu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tj Thomas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fatu scores with a nice right hand.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Fatu circles away and keeps his distance.
Thomas throws out a loose jab but Fatu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thomas connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Fatu fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thomas.
Fatu swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
Fatu jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Fatu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thomas lands a jab.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Vaimaa Fatu's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Tj Thomas!