PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alonzo Thomas (ranked 5223 p4p, 0 weight class) and Archibald Lee (ranked 4142 p4p, 70 weight class). Archibald Lee has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thomas
vs
Lee

195 cm
20
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

224 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alonzo Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Archibald Lee!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Anthony Taglia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.
Lee has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thomas is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Thomas decides to pull guard.
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.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but Lee is proving a slippery customer.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Thomas holds on and takes a little breather.
Thomas throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Lee avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Lee preventing the sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Lee stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thomas.
Lee shoots in looking for a takedown. Thomas tries to sprawl out of it but Lee keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thomas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thomas shoots in and drives through. Lee sprawls well.
Lee shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thomas pinned against the cage. Thomas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Alonzo Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Archibald Lee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thomas sprawls well. Thomas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lee gets slowly back to his feet.

Thomas decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Lee has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Thomas is on him like a limpet, forcing Lee back against the cage.
Lee fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Thomas clinches.
Thomas has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lee after a bit of a struggle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas manages to break the clinch.
Thomas throws a right and a left that Lee avoids nicely.
Lee misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lee tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Thomas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Thomas closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Lee's guard.
Lee looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thomas is one step ahead there.
Thomas won't allow Lee to get back to his feet.
Lee manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thomas manages to get himself to full guard.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas is pulling down on Lee's head. It's preventing any offense from Lee, at least for the moment.
Lee trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lee stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alonzo Thomas dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lee tries to clinch up.
Thomas attempts a counter takedown but Lee avoids it well and moves away.
Thomas stuffs the takedown attempt from Lee. Lee gets slowly back to his feet.

Thomas closes the distance and pushes Lee back into the cage.

Thomas ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Thomas no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Thomas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lee gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thomas keeping full guard, as Lee tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee pushing down on Thomas's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Thomas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Lee is keen to just control but Thomas is a slippery customer.
Lee thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thomas is not content to let Lee control the position.
Thomas moves into full guard.
Thomas is trying to keep Lee in close.
Thomas has Lee pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lee trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Lee trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lee tries to stand but Thomas is controlling from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Thomas avoids the head kick by Lee.
Lee leaves Thomas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alonzo Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lee.
Lee misses with a two punch combination.
Thomas throwing a counter right hand but Lee manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a head kick but Lee moves out of range.
Lee displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thomas.
Thomas leaves Lee with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Thomas quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Alonzo Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Archibald Lee.
Lee throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thomas's waist but Thomas gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lee off to one side.
Thomas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lee sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Thomas somewhat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lee rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thomas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lee stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lee wants it to stay on the feet.
Lee throws out a counter right but Thomas avoids it with no problem.
Lee fails with a takedown attempt.
Lee is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee is looking to clinch.
Lee gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Thomas moves into the clinch.
Thomas unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Thomas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lee is looking to control Thomas's arms but Thomas gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lee has his back to the cage.
Lee drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thomas pulls his leg out and moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lee misses with a takedown attempt - Thomas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lee darts in looking for a takedown but Thomas gets double underhooks and turns Lee into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alonzo Thomas dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A head kick misses from Thomas.
Lee fails with the takedown

and Thomas counters by clinching up.
Thomas goes for a takedown attempt but Lee pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Thomas clinches up against the cage.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lee looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Lee enables Thomas to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Lee manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Lee wants to get back to his feet but Thomas passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas throws a strike but Lee avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Archibald Lee has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thomas slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lee trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.
Thomas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Lee is retaining full guard.
Lee looking to control.
Thomas is pushing down on Lee's leg trying to pass to half guard. Lee is fighting to maintain full guard but Thomas has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Thomas.

Thomas decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lee, up you get!
Thomas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lee shoots in but no luck this time.
Alonzo Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Archibald Lee.
Lee shoots in for a takedown but Thomas shows good takedown defense.
Lee stuffs the takedown attempt from Thomas. Thomas gets slowly back to his feet.
Lee throws a head kick that misses.
Thomas went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Alonzo Thomas is winning the standup battle so far.

Thomas clinches up with Lee and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Thomas after a bit of a struggle.
Lee doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lee tries to pull guard but Thomas won't allow it.
Lee tries to break free but Thomas pushes him back against the cage.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thomas tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lee defends well and Thomas ends up having to push Lee into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
No luck for Lee with that takedown attempt.
Thomas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lee counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Lee will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As Lee looks to move away, Thomas throws a big counter combo but Lee just gets out of the way.
Thomas explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Lee tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Thomas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thomas is looking to counter with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lee fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Lee.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lee.
Lee looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thomas is fending him off so far but Lee persists. Nope, Thomas circles away and we're back to standing.
Lee throws a head kick but Thomas moves out of range.
Lee throws a lazy body kick

and Thomas counters by clinching up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thomas tries for a takedown but Lee manages to get underhooks.
Lee fails to pull guard.
Archibald Lee has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alonzo Thomas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thomas is trying to pull guard but Lee has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alonzo 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27

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