PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jean Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Remy Mintusovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Remy Mintusovich will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Thomas
vs
Mintusovich

194 cm
20
265 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

210 cm
22
270 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jean Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Remy Mintusovich!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mintusovich scores with a jab to the head.
Mintusovich fails with an attempt to clinch.

Mintusovich connects with a vicious head kick that knocks Thomas to the floor! Mintusovich dives in looking for the finish!

Thomas is rocked!
Mintusovich tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Oh Thomas is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Thomas trying to control here.
Mintusovich trying to control the action but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas is controlling Mintusovich's trapped leg to prevent Mintusovich from advancing to side control.
Thomas seems to have got his legs back now.
Thomas tries to roll over but Mintusovich keeps him under control.
Mintusovich looks to land a strike but Thomas avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Mintusovich would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Mintusovich sets himself and throws a head kick that knocks Thomas to the ground! Mintusovich dives into full mount looking to finish!
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 tries to hold on but Mintusovich pushes him away.
Mintusovich tries to control but Thomas wriggling away.
Thomas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thomas regains half guard.
Thomas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mintusovich.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.
Mintusovich wants to stand up but Thomas is controlling the position.

Mintusovich is looking for a kimura but Thomas is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mintusovich to get the leverage.
Thomas is staying active underneath Mintusovich, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thomas manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Mintusovich passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mintusovich working the strikes but Thomas uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Mintusovich stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Thomas to get to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thomas.
Mintusovich misses with a few strikes there.
Thomas shoots in for a takedown but Mintusovich shows good takedown defense.
Thomas swats away the attempt to clinch by Mintusovich.
Thomas on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mintusovich. Mintusovich obviously looking to wear him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mintusovich wants to clinch.
Mintusovich plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Mintusovich lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Thomas backs up against the cage.
Mintusovich tries a head kick but it misses.
Mintusovich swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Mintusovich does no damage.
Thomas closes the distance but Mintusovich moves to the side
and Mintusovich counters with a three punch combo that has Thomas backing up. Thomas nods at Mintusovich to acknowledge the strikes.
Mintusovich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mintusovich throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Mintusovich. Thomas shrugs it off though.
Thomas misses with a right hand
and Mintusovich makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Thomas really felt that one!
Mintusovich thuds a left hand into Thomas's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Remy Mintusovich 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.

Mintusovich throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Thomas on the side of the head.
Mintusovich looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mintusovich circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thomas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mintusovich counters with a one-two to the body.
Thomas throws a combination that misses
and Mintusovich counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mintusovich is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Thomas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mintusovich misses with a combination

and Thomas counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mintusovich wants to break free but Thomas has control.
Thomas keeps control of Mintusovich as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Mintusovich escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice takedown defense from Mintusovich. No joy for Thomas on that attempt.
Thomas wants to clinch.
Mintusovich scores with a spinning back kick!
Mintusovich tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mintusovich tries to clinch but Thomas moves away
and Thomas counters with a straight right hand.

Thomas clinches with his opponent.
Mintusovich gets underhooks to prevent Thomas's takedown attempt.
Mintusovich wants to break free but Thomas has control.
Mintusovich tries to break the clinch but Thomas is controlling the position.
Thomas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mintusovich prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jean Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas managing to block the knees to the body from Mintusovich.

Thomas successfully pulls guard.
Mintusovich won't allow Thomas to sweep him here.
Mintusovich wants to stand and escape but instead Thomas has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Thomas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thomas postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Thomas stops Mintusovich from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Thomas forces his way into half guard.
Thomas looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Thomas stops Mintusovich from getting back to his feet.
Thomas is taking a breather. Mintusovich says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Jean Thomas just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Mintusovich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Thomas shoots in but no luck this time.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Mintusovich keeps it at a distance.
Mintusovich lands a two punch combo.
Thomas misses with a body punch

and Mintusovich moves into the clinch.
Mintusovich tries to work over Thomas's body with a swooping hook but it's wide of the mark. Not good footwork there.
Thomas fails to land the takedown.
Mintusovich lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Remy Mintusovich will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Thomas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Mintusovich wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Mintusovich tries to buck Thomas off but Thomas is having none of it.
Mintusovich is looking to get back to his feet here but Thomas is keeping cool and he's managed to take Mintusovich's back.
Thomas lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Mintusovich controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Mintusovich defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Thomas's arms.

Mintusovich manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Mintusovich stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mintusovich fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas has his takedown stuffed

and Mintusovich counters with a series of strikes that sends Thomas to the canvas! Mintusovich follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!
Mintusovich tries to stand but Thomas is controlling from the bottom.
Mintusovich stands and throws Thomas's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Mintusovich tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Mintusovich decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Mintusovich throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Thomas counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mintusovich is looking to improve his position.
Mintusovich wants to get back to his feet.
Thomas wants to pass to mount but Mintusovich is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mintusovich is in trouble now - Thomas has advanced to mount!
Thomas controlling from mount.
Mintusovich working to try and regain half guard.
Thomas controlling the pace for now.
Mintusovich in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Mintusovich is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Thomas content just to control the position here.
Mintusovich squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mintusovich tries to hold on but Thomas pushes him away.
Mintusovich is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Thomas looking to control but Mintusovich is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thomas controlling his opponent.
Mintusovich is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Thomas breaks from Mintusovich's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Mintusovich working to try and regain half guard.
Mintusovich wants to control but Thomas is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mintusovich wants to get back to his feet.
Mintusovich throwing hammer fists to the chest of Thomas. What's that going to do exactly?
Mintusovich is trying desperately to improve position.
Mintusovich regains half guard.
Mintusovich looks like he's trying to stand up.

Mintusovich kicks Thomas off and gets back to his feet.
Nice body kick from Mintusovich.

Thomas moves into the clinch successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jean Thomas.
I think Mintusovich 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Remy Mintusovich!