PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jack Taylor (ranked 5455 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ieuan Thomas (ranked 4313 p4p, 0 weight class). Taylor comes to the cage accompanied by grip and ride. Jack Taylor has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Taylor
vs
Thomas

189 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Taylor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ieuan Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, William Gold and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taylor shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense.
Thomas looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Thomas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taylor is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thomas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Taylor has Thomas up against the cage in a clinch.

Thomas turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Thomas manages to end up in side control.
Taylor isn't going anywhere.
Thomas is looking to take a break and control but Taylor is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to bench press Thomas off him but Thomas keeps the position.
Thomas wants to control but Taylor is keeping him busy.
Taylor is looking to reverse the position.

Taylor throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Taylor tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thomas swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Taylor wants to get back to striking at distance but Thomas won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to pull guard but Taylor won't allow it.
Taylor has had enough of the clinch but Thomas keeps him there for the moment.
Taylor lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Thomas stalls.
Thomas changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Taylor fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Taylor has closed the distance and engaged Thomas in a clinch.

Taylor gets control of Thomas's arms and successfully pulls guard. Taylor will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Taylor holds on and takes a little breather.

Thomas stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Thomas buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Taylor or perhaps it was just good defense by Thomas, which made it look bad.
Thomas darts in looking for a takedown but Taylor gets double underhooks and turns Thomas into the cage.
Taylor shoots in but no luck this time.

Taylor drives through and clinches with Thomas against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Taylor shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thomas as he jumps to the side.
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Thomas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thomas misses with a series of wild punches.
Taylor tries to counter with a takedown but Thomas is quick to defend against it.
A head kick misses from Taylor.
Thomas feints the counter takedown.
We've been informed that Thomas has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Thomas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thomas cracks the inside of Taylor's front leg.
Taylor shoots in for a double leg but Thomas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
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 Jack Taylor will probably get the nod.
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.

Taylor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Taylor looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thomas is fending him off so far but Taylor persists. Nope, Thomas circles away and we're back to standing.
Taylor really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Taylor fails to land the takedown.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Thomas jumps into guard, dragging Taylor to the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas looking for a sweep. Not yet Thomas, not yet.

Thomas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Taylor drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Thomas dives on top into guard.

Ieuan Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taylor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thomas is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Taylor is looking for a triangle here but Thomas uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taylor keeps working.
Taylor tries to improve position but can't.
Thomas trying to control the action but Taylor is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is pushing Thomas's head away, looking to escape. Thomas manages to hold on to the position though.
Taylor is looking for a sweep.
Thomas in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Thomas lands a few punches from side control.
Thomas is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Taylor will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Thomas tries to move into full mount but can't pass Taylor's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Taylor tries to get back to half guard but can't.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice takedown defense from Thomas. No joy for Taylor on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thomas moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Taylor tries to clinch there but Thomas circles away.
Taylor tries to clinch up but Thomas circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ieuan Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Thomas avoids the head kick by Taylor.
Taylor fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thomas lands with a kick to the temple. Taylor shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Thomas lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Taylor at a distance.
Thomas swinging wildly here.
Taylor appears to be looking for a big counter.
Taylor pivots, looking for a leg kick but Thomas is out of range and Taylor settles back down.
Thomas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thomas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taylor is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Thomas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taylor tries to clinch up.
Jack Taylor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor darts in looking for a takedown but Thomas gets double underhooks and turns Taylor into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Taylor. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thomas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Taylor throws a one two combo.

Taylor shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Taylor was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Taylor scores with a couple of short elbows.
Thomas trying to remain calm as Taylor controls from the top position.

Taylor stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas drives through with a takedown into Taylor's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Taylor manages to escape and get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

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

Taylor kicks off Thomas and gets to his feet.
Taylor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ieuan Thomas seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Thomas has closed the distance and engaged Taylor in a clinch.
Thomas blocks a body shot from Taylor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas jumps guard but Taylor turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Taylor is trying to pull guard but Thomas turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Taylor wants a takedown but no success here.
Taylor tries to break the clinch but Thomas is controlling the position.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Taylor counters with a left and a right that stings Thomas.
Thomas stuffs the takedown attempt from Taylor. Taylor gets slowly back to his feet.
Taylor tries to clinch but Thomas moves out of range.

Thomas is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Taylor's half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor trying to hold on to Thomas's head to control him but Thomas postures up.
Taylor is trying to stand up here but Thomas is controlling him well.
Taylor is looking to control Thomas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taylor avoid being mounted?
Taylor is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ieuan Thomas.
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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ieuan Thomas!