PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Wes Studi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Studi
vs
Thomas

175 cm
22
162 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

SCP Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wes Studi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joshua Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Studi moves in looking to clinch but Thomas pushes him off.
Thomas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thomas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Studi pinned against the cage. Studi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Thomas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Studi circles away.
Wes Studi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Thomas.

Studi takes the fight into the clinch.
Studi scores with a knee to the head.
Studi is pushing Thomas up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Thomas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Studi pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Thomas drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Studi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Studi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Studi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Studi misses with an elbow strike.
Studi lands an elbow inside.
Studi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Studi misses with a knee to the head.
Studi misses with a knee to the head.
Thomas is trying to break the clinch but Studi has him pressed against the cage.
Studi is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Studi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Studi with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Studi.
A right hook to the body lands for Thomas.
Studi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thomas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Studi landing knees to the head.
Nice elbow from Studi.
Thomas tries for a takedown. No joy.
Thomas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Studi prevents it.
Thomas looks gassed!
Thomas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A bit of stalling here from Studi.
Thomas takes an elbow to the forehead.
Thomas avoids the elbow strike from Studi, against the cage.
Thomas goes for a takedown attempt but Studi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Thomas lands but Studi takes it in his stride.
Thomas throws the kick towards the body but Studi avoids it.

Studi darts in and clinches Thomas up against the cage.
Studi lands an elbow inside.
Studi blocks an elbow strike.
Studi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Thomas jumps guard but Studi stands there with Thomas around his waist. Thomas gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Studi connects with a knee to the head.
Studi lands a damaging elbow.
Studi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Thomas wants a takedown.
Studi lands a nice elbow.
Studi lands an elbow inside.
Thomas has Studi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Studi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A bit of stalling here from Studi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Studi prevents Thomas from breaking the clinch.
A knee to the head by Studi.
Studi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Studi lands an elbow inside.
Studi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Studi gets underhooks to prevent Thomas's takedown attempt.
Studi lands an elbow inside.
Studi slowing the pace effectively.
Studi with a knee to the head.
Studi throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thomas blocks it with crossed arms.

Thomas manages to break the clinch.
Thomas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thomas just misses with a punch to the body.

Studi clinches with his opponent.
Studi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thomas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Thomas jumps guard and drags Studi to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but Studi is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas is looking to sweep but instead, Studi has passed into half guard.
Thomas is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wes Studi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thomas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Studi tries to clinch up.

Studi clinches up against the cage.
Thomas is looking to break free of the clinch but Studi has double underhooks.
Studi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Thomas's defenses.
Studi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Thomas wants to stall.
Studi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thomas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thomas can't break the clinch.
Thomas blocks an elbow strike from Studi.
Thomas looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Studi throws a knee to the head but misses.
Studi scores with a knee to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Studi misses with a knee to the head.
Thomas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.

Studi moves into the clinch successfully.
Studi looking to throw knees to the head but Thomas is blocking nicely.
Thomas wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thomas blocks an elbow strike.
Studi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Thomas taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Thomas has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Studi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thomas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Studi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Thomas's defenses.
A bit of stalling here from Thomas.
Studi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Studi throws an elbow but it misses.
Thomas changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Studi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Wes Studi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Thomas.
Studi keeps the fight on the outside.
Studi circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Studi looks to clinch
and Thomas counters with an outside leg kick.
Thomas pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Thomas fails with the takedown.
Thomas circles away from the clinch attempt

and Thomas counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thomas.
Studi lands an elbow that stopped Thomas in his tracks for a moment.
Studi throws an elbow but it misses.
Studi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thomas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thomas tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Studi smiles and moves away.
Thomas tries to clinch up

and Studi counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas pulls guard.
Thomas seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Thomas wants to sweep but no luck.
Thomas is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Studi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Studi darts in trying to clinch

and Thomas counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thomas.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Studi keeps moving.
Thomas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Studi wants to stand and escape but Thomas is having none of it.
Studi keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck for Thomas with that takedown attempt.
Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Studi as he jumps to the side.

Studi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Studi controlling the action here for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Studi lands an elbow that stopped Thomas in his tracks for a moment.
Studi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Studi.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Wes Studi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Thomas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas wants to break free but Studi has control.
Thomas tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Studi smiles and moves away.
Studi darts in trying to clinch
and Thomas counters with a series of strikes. Studi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Wes Studi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas circles away from the clinch attempt

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Studi manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Thomas lands with a slapping head kick.
Studi tries to clinch but Thomas is having none of it.

Studi moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to break the clinch but can't.
Studi has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
With the fighters up against the cage, Studi throws an elbow but misses.
Studi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Studi misses with a knee strike.

Thomas breaks the clinch.
Studi closes the distance looking to clinch

and Thomas counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Studi!
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!
Thomas lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Studi hang on?
Studi tries to hold on but Thomas postures up.
Thomas looking to control but Studi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas won't let Studi get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Studi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Thomas takes Studi's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Will Thomas go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Even with his hooks in, Thomas manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Thomas missing with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joshua Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thomas has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joshua Thomas!