PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Masahiko Kimura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JJ Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kimura comes to the cage accompanied by STORM by the Yoshida Brothers. Thomas has chosen Linkin Park - In the End as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Kimura
vs
Thomas

170 cm
26
187 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

184 cm
33
177 lbs
19 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Masahiko Kimura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, JJ Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas lands a body shot.
Kimura thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kimura keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kimura moves into range and connects with a jab.

Thomas looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kimura!
Kimura holds on to Thomas's head and controls the position momentarily.

Thomas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kimura has escaped the position, nice work there.
Thomas works to advance to full mount. Kimura defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Thomas goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kimura is on top in guard.
Kimura missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas keeping full guard, as Kimura tries to pass.
Kimura wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Thomas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kimura not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kimura has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Kimura trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kimura looking to sit in guard and control but Thomas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thomas advances position into side control!
Kimura wants to control but Thomas postures up.
Kimura is not content to let Thomas control the position.

Thomas looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Kimura's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kimura rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Thomas's guard! Nice work there by Kimura!
Kimura is fighting to break Thomas's control of his arms but Thomas is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kimura pushing down on Thomas's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kimura prevents Thomas from standing back up.
Thomas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kimura.
Thomas is trying to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Kimura there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kimura moves nicely into side control.
Kimura wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thomas keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kimura landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Thomas is not content to let Kimura control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thomas manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Thomas dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kimura misses with a hook. Thomas ducked under it nicely.
Thomas changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Thomas connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kimura. Kimura circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Thomas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thomas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kimura throws a big counter combination but Thomas scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Thomas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kimura sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Thomas somewhat.
Kimura drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kimura throws the kick towards the body but Thomas avoids it.
Thomas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kimura.
Kimura throws an off balance right hand
and Thomas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Thomas scores with a takedown into Kimura's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kimura is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Thomas, into his guard.
Kimura wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Thomas wants to control but Kimura passes easily into half guard.
JJ Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.

Thomas has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Kimura is on him like a limpet, forcing Thomas back against the cage.
Kimura holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Thomas drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Masahiko Kimura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of JJ Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
Kimura misses with a hook

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Thomas is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kimura is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kimura has escaped and now he's on top!
Kimura might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Thomas has his foot on Kimura's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kimura works his way back into a safe position though.
Thomas is trying to control the position but Kimura postures up.
Kimura trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kimura has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas working for a triangle but Kimura defends it easily.
Thomas can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kimura controls the pace.
Kimura postures up.

Thomas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kimura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kimura is looking to pass into half guard but Thomas pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Thomas is in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kimura is trying to keep Thomas in close.

Thomas is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kimura is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kimura has escaped and now he's on top!
Kimura tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.

Thomas has his foot on Kimura's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kimura works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kimura advances to half guard.
Thomas trying to control from the bottom.
Thomas is trying to stand up here but Kimura is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kimura fakes the leg kick and cracks Thomas in the body.
Kimura lands a lovely overhand right.
Masahiko Kimura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas throws a hook but Kimura avoids it easily.
Kimura fails to land with a series of punches.

Thomas looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Thomas is looking for submissions but instead, Kimura has regained full guard.

Thomas drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kimura dives on top into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kimura wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kimura trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas looking to control but Kimura passes into half guard.
Kimura wants to control but Thomas is keeping him busy.

Kimura is working for a kimura but Thomas is defending it quite comfortably.

Kimura seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Thomas has recovered full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kimura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Thomas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Thomas looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but Kimura is proving a slippery customer.
Thomas keeping moving, preventing Kimura from controlling successfully.
JJ Thomas 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 avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Thomas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kimura wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Thomas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kimura.

Kimura drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Thomas manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kimura has Thomas in his guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kimura can't keep his opponent in guard - Thomas advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kimura is concentrating on defense, preventing Thomas from advancing position.
Kimura makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kimura.
Kimura keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kimura tries to clinch
and Thomas counters with a nice uppercut.
Kimura stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kimura wants it to stay on the feet.
Masahiko Kimura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A swing and a miss from Kimura.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to JJ Thomas.
I've got Thomas winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JJ Thomas!
After winning the bout, JJ Thomas thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Masahiko Kimura was interviewed post fight and said 'It was a bad night for me. All the credit to my foe but i`ll be back stronger and sharper, you can count with me! Thank you for your support my friends!'.