PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ieuan Thomas (ranked 3777 p4p, 2931 weight class) and Yair Rodriguez (ranked 360 p4p, 296 weight class). Rodriguez has chosen The Weeknd - "Blinding Lights (Video Edition)" as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Thomas
vs
Rodriguez

172 cm
27
146
4 - 3 - 0

175 cm
21
147
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Pit Bull Development

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Ieuan Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yair Rodriguez !
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Patrick Alders and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rodriguez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thomas circles away.
Thomas drops down looking for a counter takedown but Rodriguez sprawls and moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rodriguez .
Thomas attempts a counter takedown but Rodriguez avoids it well and moves away.
Rodriguez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thomas but Thomas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ieuan Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yair Rodriguez .

Rodriguez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rodriguez showed some decent athleticism there.
Thomas wants to improve his position but Rodriguez is controlling well.
Thomas trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.

Rodriguez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Thomas sees it coming and defends easily.

Rodriguez is looking for a kimura but Thomas is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rodriguez to get the leverage.
Thomas wants to control but Rodriguez is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rodriguez is trying to work for a kimura but Thomas is defending well.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back.
Rodriguez prevents Thomas from improving his position.

Thomas actively working from the bottom here.
Rodriguez is thwarting Thomas's attempts to control the position.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back.

Rodriguez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thomas has managed to free his arm - good work.

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.

Rodriguez is working for a kimura but Thomas is defending it quite comfortably.

Thomas is defending against the submission attempts here by Rodriguez .
Thomas is trying to stand.

Thomas is defending against the submission attempts here by Rodriguez .
Thomas throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Thomas looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rodriguez wants to control but Thomas is keeping him busy.
Rodriguez looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rodriguez uses his free foot to push down on Thomas's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Thomas.

Rodriguez with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rodriguez looking to secure an arm triangle but Thomas defends it well.
Thomas flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

Rodriguez is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Thomas is surviving well by controlling Rodriguez 's body position as best he can.

Rodriguez working for a guillotine from mount but Thomas is in no mood to give up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thomas tries to lock up and control but Rodriguez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Rodriguez with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Thomas wants to hold on but Rodriguez pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodriguez with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Rodriguez avoids the attempt from Thomas to control.

Rodriguez looking for a guillotine from mount but Thomas is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yair Rodriguez dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thomas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Thomas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rodriguez defends it well.
Thomas trying to control the action but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.

Thomas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rodriguez is just riding it out for now. Thomas eventually gives up the hold.

Rodriguez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rodriguez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rodriguez .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Thomas throwing strikes from guard but Rodriguez blocks nicely.

Thomas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rodriguez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thomas has managed to get both his arms back between Rodriguez 's legs - danger averted.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Rodriguez is retaining full guard.
Rodriguez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thomas's guard.

Rodriguez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rodriguez wants to pass the guard but Thomas is keeping the position.

Rodriguez drops back looking for a leg! Thomas is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Thomas manages to kick Rodriguez off! Rodriguez jumps back into Thomas's guard.
Rodriguez trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Thomas had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rodriguez defends it easily.
Rodriguez advances to half guard.
Thomas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Thomas trying to control from the bottom.

Rodriguez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Rodriguez is trying to control. Thomas wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Rodriguez wants to work for an arm triangle but Thomas is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Rodriguez looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas gets back to full guard.

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

Thomas thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rodriguez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rodriguez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Thomas uses it to pass to side control.

Thomas thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rodriguez sneaks back into half guard.
Rodriguez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Yair Rodriguez has got the better of the ground game so far.

Rodriguez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thomas is aware though and is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rodriguez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Thomas passes Rodriguez 's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rodriguez tries to roll over but Thomas keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ieuan Thomas will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rodriguez has his takedown stuffed

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Rodriguez throws his legs up looking for a submission but Thomas uses it to pass to side control.

Thomas wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rodriguez , who protects the arm well.

Thomas wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rodriguez , who protects the arm well.
Thomas landing a few strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thomas wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rodriguez , who protects the arm well.
Rodriguez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Rodriguez looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas is looking for a kimura here.
Rodriguez gets full guard.

Rodriguez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Rodriguez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thomas defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rodriguez working for a triangle but Thomas defends it easily.
Rodriguez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Rodriguez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Rodriguez is keeping the position.
Rodriguez keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Rodriguez wants to sweep but no luck.

Rodriguez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thomas gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thomas stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rodriguez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Rodriguez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Thomas trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodriguez looking for a guillotine here but Thomas defends easily.
Thomas trying to control but Rodriguez is working from the bottom.

Rodriguez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Rodriguez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thomas scoring with punches to the head and body.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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 avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Thomas is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Thomas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodriguez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rodriguez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thomas gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Rodriguez looking for a guillotine here but Thomas defends easily.

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 Ieuan Thomas.
I think Thomas has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28

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