PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Owen Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Catipay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Thomas
vs
Catipay

194 cm
19
194 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

191 cm
25
199 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Owen Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Christian Catipay!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Ackerman and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Catipay moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Catipay is trying to counter with his kicks.
Catipay connects with a solid leg kick.
Thomas throws a series of punches but Catipay moves out of range.
Catipay has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Thomas is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Thomas swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Catipay.

Catipay closes the distance and pushes Thomas back into the cage.
Catipay is looking to take this one to the mat.
Catipay throws a head punch that misses.
Catipay lands a damaging elbow.
Catipay with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Catipay unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Catipay throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thomas blocks it with crossed arms.
Catipay lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Thomas takes an elbow to the forehead.
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!
Catipay throws an elbow but it misses.
Catipay lands a right hand that snaps the head of Thomas backwards.
Thomas blocks a body shot from Catipay.
Catipay tries a knee to the head but Thomas blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Catipay goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Catipay tries to land knees in the clinch but Thomas avoids the damage to the body.
Catipay misses with a punch to the body.
Catipay lands a good knee to the midsection. Thomas won't want to take too many of those.
Catipay drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thomas pulls his leg out and moves away.
Thomas fails with a takedown attempt.
Catipay is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Catipay avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Thomas.

Catipay looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Catipay working Thomas over with strikes.
Thomas on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Catipay scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Catipay throwing shots but Thomas is blocking nicely.
Catipay seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Catipay missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Catipay lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Catipay throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Catipay is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Catipay lands strikes from half guard.
Catipay throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Catipay throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Thomas to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Catipay missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Catipay is working Thomas over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Catipay stands up over Thomas, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet but Catipay is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Catipay throwing strikes but missing.
Thomas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Catipay working some strikes from top position.
Catipay throws a strike but Thomas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Catipay tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thomas is fighting to break Catipay's control of his arms but Catipay is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Catipay keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Catipay looking for a sweep. Not yet Catipay, not yet.
Catipay pulls Thomas in close to his closed guard and prevents Thomas from doing any damage or advancing position.
Catipay controls Thomas momentarily but Thomas frees himself.
Catipay has control of Thomas's left arm, preventing Thomas from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Thomas shoots in but Catipay avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Catipay tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Catipay dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Thomas doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Catipay avoids the body shot from Thomas.

Catipay drives through and clinches with Thomas against the cage.
Catipay misses with a knee to the head.
Catipay misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thomas is trying to force a seperation but Catipay has the dominant position.
Thomas scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Catipay scores a nice knee to the body.
Catipay tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thomas avoids it.
Christian Catipay seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Catipay misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thomas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Catipay has Thomas pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Catipay pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Thomas tumbling to the mat - Catipay dives into Thomas's guard.
Catipay working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Catipay lands a couple of elbows.
Catipay with a flurry of punches that miss.
Catipay throws a big right hand that misses.
Catipay throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thomas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Catipay trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Catipay wants to pass the guard but Thomas is keeping the position.
Catipay is still trying to improve position.
Catipay throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thomas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thomas is looking to stand up but Catipay isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Catipay with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Catipay slips a jab and a cross from Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands a really nice looking cross but Catipay seems unphased.

Thomas gets caught napping as Catipay dives in and scores a takedown. Thomas manages to retain guard.
Catipay pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.
Catipay is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Catipay throws a big right hand that misses.

Thomas is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Catipay tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Thomas avoids it.
Catipay throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thomas blocks it with crossed arms.
Catipay wants to take the fight to the mat but Thomas manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Thomas is trying to force a seperation but Catipay has the dominant position.
Thomas is trying to break the clinch but Catipay is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is pressed up against the cage. Catipay has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Thomas down to the mat. Thomas avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Donk. Catipay catches Thomas right on the button with a cross.
Thomas with a poor takedown

and Catipay counters by moving into the clinch.
Catipay misses with a knee to the head.
Catipay is breathing heavily.
Catipay is looking for a takedown.
Owen Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christian Catipay.
Thomas takes an elbow to the forehead.
Catipay struggles to land a body shot inside as Thomas controls his hands.
Thomas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Catipay tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.
Thomas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Catipay misses with some punches.
Catipay keeps control of Thomas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Catipay tries to work over Thomas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Catipay scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Catipay tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Catipay throws an elbow but misses.
Catipay tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.
Catipay throws an elbow but it misses.
Thomas managing to block the knees to the body from Catipay.
Thomas tries to break the clinch but Catipay is controlling the position.
Thomas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Catipay drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thomas pulls his leg out and moves away.
Catipay tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thomas was well out of range. Poor timing from Catipay.
Catipay moves out of range as Thomas throws a body kick.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but Catipay shows good takedown defense.
Catipay throws a wild body kick that Thomas sees coming a mile off.

Catipay feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas trying to control the position.
Catipay missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Catipay showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Thomas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Thomas throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Catipay fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Thomas is out of range.
Catipay walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Catipay steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Thomas.
Thomas throws a sloppy head kick and Catipay moves out of range easily.
Thomas throws a nice looking combination but Catipay bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Owen Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Catipay showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thomas.
Catipay feints the counter takedown.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Catipay connects with a body shot that sends Thomas's belly button to the back.
Owen Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thomas tries to clinch there but Catipay circles away.
A swing and a miss from Catipay.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Catipay.
Thomas drops down looking for a counter takedown but Catipay sprawls and moves away.
Owen Thomas is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Catipay pushes him off.

Catipay moves into the clinch successfully.
Catipay tries a knee to the head but Thomas blocks it.

Catipay gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Catipay takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thomas regains full guard. Nicely done.
Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Catipay is in close to Thomas's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Catipay lands a couple of digs.
Catipay distracts Thomas with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Catipay working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Catipay landing some decent shots from guard.
Christian Catipay has got the better of the ground game so far.
Catipay throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Catipay distracts Thomas with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Catipay is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Catipay postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Catipay working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thomas throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Catipay defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thomas.
Thomas throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Thomas gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Catipay to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Catipay content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Catipay works over Thomas with some ground and pound from guard.
Catipay with a flurry of punches that miss.
Catipay throws a strike but Thomas rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Owen Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Catipay trying to control the position here.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Catipay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Catipay tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Catipay is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Catipay can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Catipay keeps trying to improve his position.
Catipay looking to control but Thomas passes into half guard.
Thomas trying to control from half guard but Catipay is working away.
Catipay is trying to control but can't.
Catipay controlling the position well.
Catipay is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thomas drops an elbow to the side of Catipay's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Christian Catipay.
I've got Catipay 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Christian Catipay!
After winning the bout, Christian Catipay thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.