PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thanh Fox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Bamas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Fox
vs
Bamas

170 cm
18
177 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

170 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thanh Fox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Bamas!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fox shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bamas as he avoids it easily.

Bamas takes the fight into the clinch.

Bamas turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Bamas manages to end up in side control.
Fox is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Bamas asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Bamas decides to stand back up. Bamas steps back and let's Fox get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fox tries to keep at a distance but Bamas has taken the fight into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Bamas takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Bamas dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bamas manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Fox jumps guard.
Fox is wriggling around but Bamas manages to pass to half guard.

Bamas decides to return to a standing position.
Fox will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Bamas gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bamas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bamas gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fox looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Bamas stalls.
Bamas taking a breather.
Bamas will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Fox up against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by John Bamas.
Fox shoots in for a double leg but Bamas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Bamas moves into range and clinches up with Fox.
Bamas stalling the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fox is fighting off a takedown attempt but Bamas is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Fox to the mat. Fox regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Fox is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bamas defends well.
Fox looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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

Bamas pushes Fox up against the cage in a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Bamas takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Bamas has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Fox clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bamas has the hooks in. Fox is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

What's going on here? Bamas has decided to give up on the ground game despite having his opponent's back!

Bamas clinches up with Fox and pushes him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fox tries to pull guard but Bamas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thanh Fox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bamas's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Bamas.
Bamas controlling the action here for a moment.
Bamas continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bamas 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.

Bamas moves into the clinch.

Bamas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fox tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bamas swivels and escapes.

Bamas pushes Fox up against the cage in a clinch.
Bamas lands an elbow that stopped Fox in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Thanh Fox has been cut.
Come on Bamas - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Bamas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stalling in the clinch from Bamas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by John Bamas.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Bamas turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Bamas manages to end up in side control.
Fox wants to get back to his feet but Bamas is dominant here and he's now got Fox's back!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Fox looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Fox is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fox trying to control but not successfully.

Bamas has Fox's back but decides to stand back up... Obviously he fancies his chances in the standup department!

Bamas darts in and clinches Fox up against the cage.

Bamas jumps guard and drags Fox to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Fox has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bamas is proving hard to escape from.

Bamas has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Fox off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fox shoots in for a double leg but Bamas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fox circles away from the clinch attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A bit of stalling here from Bamas.
Bamas prevents Fox from breaking the clinch.
Bamas just leaning against Fox, taking a breather.
Bamas is struggling to control the position.
The crowd are getting on Bamas's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

Bamas manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bamas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fox tries to counter by clinching up but Bamas breaks away and moves out of range.

Bamas pushes Fox up against the cage in a clinch.
Bamas manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Fox is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bamas to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thanh Fox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Come on Bamas - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by John Bamas.

Bamas clinches up against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Bamas takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bamas breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bamas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thanh Fox's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Fox works over Bamas's head and body with a nice combination.

Bamas forces Fox back against the cage and clinches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Bamas.
Bamas stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Fox being controlled against the cage.
Bamas effectively controlling the action here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by John Bamas.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bamas manages to break the clinch.
Fox throws a series of punches but Bamas moves out of range.

Bamas rushes Fox and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox letting Bamas take a breather here.

Bamas has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Fox is trying to keep an underhook but Bamas manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Fox wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bamas stands up from half guard.
Bamas doesn't manage to clinch there - Fox circles away.

Bamas instigates a clinch.
Bamas lands a damaging elbow.
Fox tries to pull guard but Bamas holds him up against the cage and eventually Fox drops back down to his feet.
Bamas stalls.
Fox letting Bamas take a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bamas has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Fox is trying to keep an underhook but Bamas manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fox is trying to stand.

Bamas stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Bamas moves into the clinch successfully.
Bamas stalling against the cage.

Bamas lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Fox looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fox tries to get to full guard but Bamas has control of the leg.
John Bamas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fox is trying to control but Bamas passes into side control!
John Bamas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fox tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Fox tries to get back to half guard but can't.

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.

Bamas gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Bamas closes the distance and pushes Fox back into the cage.
Fox is trying to push Bamas away but Bamas has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Bamas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bamas moves into the clinch successfully.
Bamas taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Bamas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bamas has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Bamas!