PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Amaral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas comes to the cage accompanied by Shinedown - "State Of My Head". Derrick Thomas had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Thomas
vs
Amaral

191 cm
25
191 lbs
6 - 5 - 1

189 cm
39
194 lbs
36 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

FORCEE

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 6 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Derrick Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rafael Amaral!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Amaral keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thomas.
Thomas takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Thomas throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Amaral counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Thomas thuds his right hand into Amaral's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Amaral fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Amaral throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Amaral looking to land some kicks to the body here.
It looked like Thomas was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Amaral.
Thomas works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Good leg kick by Thomas there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Thomas throws a looping overhand right but Amaral ducks down to avoid it.
Amaral lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas connects with a crisp jab.
Thomas has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Amaral finds it's way round the side to connect with Thomas's head.
Amaral moves away from the strike by Thomas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas swings for the body but Amaral moves out of range.
Amaral checks a leg kick nicely.
Thomas misses with a head kick.
We've been told by Thomas's head coaches at River's Edge Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Thomas has taken the fight to the clinch.
Amaral is looking to break free of the clinch but Thomas has double underhooks.
Amaral scores with a nice hook to the head.
Amaral tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Amaral breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thomas wants to clinch
and Amaral counters with a stiff right hand.
That kick from Thomas tenderised Amaral's leg. Amaral is trying to keep his angry face on.
A nice leg kick lands there from Amaral.
Thomas moves out of range of the body kick from Amaral.
Amaral buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amaral pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Amaral scores with a jab to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Amaral bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses.
Amaral connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Amaral throws a quick inside leg kick.
Amaral throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Amaral takes a jab right on the kisser.
Thomas throws a body kick that misses.
Amaral misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thomas wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Thomas throws the kick towards the body but Amaral avoids it.
Thomas throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Derrick Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amaral pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Amaral misses with a body kick.
As Amaral backs away, Thomas returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Thomas tries to land a body kick
and Amaral counters with a slapping leg kick.
Thomas misses with an uppercut.
Thomas throws a shot from downtown. Amaral moves away and avoids it.
Thomas throws a chopping leg kick but Amaral manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Thomas takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
That kick from Thomas tenderised Amaral's leg. Amaral is trying to keep his angry face on.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Thomas - that will leave a mark!
Danga de danga de dang - Amaral scores with a four punch combination!
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Amaral.
Amaral appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Thomas throws a shot to the body.
Amaral throws a hook but Thomas blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amaral checks a leg kick.
Amaral stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thomas.
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!
Amaral chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Thomas can pounce on him.
Thomas lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Amaral at a distance.
Amaral uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thomas.
Amaral replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Thomas blocks it well.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Amaral.

Thomas has taken the fight to the clinch.
Amaral tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thomas lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Amaral breaks the clinch.
Amaral takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Thomas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A telegraphed right hand from Thomas misses the target.
Amaral swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
It seemed like Amaral was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Derrick Thomas will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thomas misses with a hook
enabling Amaral to counter with a crisp jab.
Donk. Thomas catches Amaral right on the button with a cross.
Amaral misses with a straight right.
Amaral throws a leg kick
and Thomas counters with a stiff right hand.
Thomas lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Amaral pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Amaral tries to land a body kick
and Thomas counters with an outside leg kick.
Amaral misses with a looping left.
Amaral throws a wild body kick that Thomas sees coming a mile off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas blocks the body kick.

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.
Thomas stalling.
Thomas keeps control of Amaral as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amaral throws a punch but it's blocked by Thomas.
Amaral lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Thomas closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A slapping leg kick lands for Thomas.
A shot to the liver by Thomas. Beautiful body shot.
Thomas thuds his shin into the meat of Amaral's side.
Thomas looks for the body kick but Amaral saw that one coming.
Amaral looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Thomas moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Thomas throws a series of punches but Amaral avoids them all with ease.
Amaral turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Amaral throws a leg kick but Thomas moved away.
Thomas tried to counter with a leg kick but Amaral avoided it.
Amaral throws a half hearted mid kick.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Derrick Thomas is winning the standup battle so far.
Thomas tries a head kick but it misses.
Jab from Thomas.
Thomas connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Amaral misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thomas takes a swing at Amaral's ribcage but misses.
Thomas buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Thomas forces Amaral back against the cage and clinches.
Amaral tries to throw a body punch but Thomas avoids it by throwing Amaral back against the cage.
Amaral with a knee to the head.
Thomas has a couple of punches blocked by Amaral.
Thomas works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A left hand lands to the body for Amaral.
Amaral is working Thomas over against the cage.
Thomas blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Thomas.
Amaral tries to land a knee to the head but Thomas blocks with his arms.
Thomas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Amaral.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thomas.
Amaral misses with a knee to the head.
Rafael Amaral seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Good body shot from Amaral.
Thomas swings wildly with an uppercut but Amaral uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thomas misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thomas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Amaral scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Thomas lands with a short shot to the head.
Amaral looking to throw knees to the head but Thomas is blocking nicely.
Thomas unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A head punch on the inside from Amaral fails to land.
A nice left hand lands by Amaral.
Amaral blocks an uppercut.
Amaral lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A swing and a miss from Thomas.
A jab from Thomas misses.
A shot to the liver by Thomas. Beautiful body shot.
Amaral displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thomas throws out the jab.
Amaral throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thomas.
Thomas is looking to counter the offense by Amaral and move into the clinch.
Amaral's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Thomas takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Thomas feinted there with a counter leg kick.
That kick from Thomas tenderised Amaral's leg. Amaral is trying to keep his angry face on.
Amaral takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Thomas misses with the body kick
and Amaral counters with a series of strikes. Thomas will be more careful next time no doubt.
Amaral walks into a jab.
Thomas throws a half hearted mid kick.
Amaral pivots, looking for a leg kick but Thomas is out of range and Amaral settles back down.
An attempted straight right counter from Thomas misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derrick Thomas dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Thomas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thomas wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Thomas plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Amaral throws a hook but Thomas blocks it.
Jab by Thomas.
Thomas slips a straight right by Amaral.
Thomas tries a low kick but Amaral avoids it.
Amaral throws a hook to the side of Thomas's head but Thomas sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thomas throws a push kick but Amaral slaps the foot to one side.
Thomas misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas keeps Amaral at a distance using the push kick.
Amaral slips under a jab.
Amaral throws out a powerful jab.
Thomas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Amaral.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amaral connects with an inside leg kick.
Amaral checks a low kick from Thomas.
Thomas avoids a kick to the body.
A punch lands to the side of Amaral 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Amaral throws a leg kick which misses Thomas's front leg but catches the back leg as Thomas tries to avoid it.
Amaral tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Amaral on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A jab lands there for Thomas.
Thomas lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Amaral uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thomas.
Thomas throws a quick inside leg kick.
Amaral walks forward, straight into a front kick from Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 thumps Amaral with a low kick.
Thomas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thomas throws a leg kick but Amaral checks it.
Thomas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thomas checks a leg kick.
Amaral walks into a left hand.
Amaral takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Thomas looks to land a body kick but Amaral moved away.
Amaral connects with a crisp jab.

Thomas moves into the clinch successfully.
Thomas lands a left hand.
Thomas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Amaral can do to turn this around?

Amaral escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Derrick Thomas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Amaral keeps it at a distance.
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Amaral keeps it at a distance.
Thomas throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Amaral keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Thomas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Amaral on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thomas. Thomas obviously looking to wear him down.
Thomas misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thomas chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Amaral tries to clinch up.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from Amaral.
Thomas was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Amaral throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rafael Amaral has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas drives through and clinches with Amaral against the cage.
Amaral misses with some punches.

Amaral manages to break the clinch.
Thomas throws a nice outside leg kick.

Thomas clinches with his opponent.
Thomas is pushing Amaral 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 blocks an uppercut.
Amaral lands a right hand that snaps the head of Thomas backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Amaral lands a shot to the body.
Thomas misses with a hook from the clinch.
Amaral tries to work over Thomas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thomas.
Amaral doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thomas misses with a body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derrick Thomas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thomas, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derrick Thomas!
Derrick Thomas thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Rafael Amaral stepped up to the mic, saying 'I'll be back!!!!'.