PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tom Thomas (ranked 2472 p4p, 1941 weight class) and Aleksey Viktorov (ranked 124 p4p, 105 weight class). Viktorov has chosen Lyube - Davay Za as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thomas
vs
Viktorov

160 cm
37
140
26 - 24 - 1

168 cm
33
140
15 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 24 - 1, fighting out of London, Tom Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Aleksey Viktorov!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Viktorov's hands.
Viktorov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thomas but Thomas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thomas is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Viktorov tries to clinch but Thomas is having none of it.

Viktorov has managed to clinch.
Viktorov is trying to pull guard but Thomas turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Thomas.
Nice body punch from Thomas.
Thomas throws a punch but it's blocked by Viktorov.
Viktorov is trying to pull guard but Thomas has him pressed against the cage.
Tom Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksey Viktorov.
Thomas will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Viktorov up against the cage.
A short right from Thomas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Viktorov successfully pulls guard.
Thomas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Viktorov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thomas defends well.

Viktorov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Thomas stacks Viktorov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Thomas!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas decides to stand back up. Thomas steps back and let's Viktorov get back to his feet.
Viktorov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thomas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thomas throws out a loose jab but Viktorov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice sprawl there from Thomas as Viktorov shoots in.
Viktorov ducks under a wild hook from Thomas.
Thomas throws out a powerful jab.

Thomas clinches up against the cage.
Thomas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Viktorov backwards.
Viktorov prevents a body shot from Thomas.
Thomas lands with a left to the head.
Thomas lands with a short shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas pushes Viktorov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Thomas breaks from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas misses with a looping right.
Thomas sets himself, and Viktorov steps forward looking for the clinch! Thomas avoids it this time.

Viktorov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Viktorov jumps guard but Thomas turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Thomas lands with a short shot to the head.
Viktorov jumps guard but Thomas stands there with Viktorov around his waist. Viktorov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Thomas lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Viktorov.
Thomas lands a shoulder strike.
Viktorov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Viktorov jumps guard but Thomas stands there with Viktorov around his waist. Viktorov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Thomas manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Viktorov jumps guard but Thomas stands there with Viktorov around his waist. Viktorov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Viktorov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thomas smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viktorov wants to clinch
and Thomas counters with a nice uppercut.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Viktorov takes one on the button.
Thomas scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Thomas throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Viktorov misses with a takedown attempt
and Thomas counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Viktorov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Viktorov tries to close the distance and clinch but Thomas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thomas keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Thomas lands a nice shot that snaps Viktorov's head back.
Thomas digs a good hook to Viktorov's body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Viktorov wants to clinch up but Thomas keeps it at a distance.
A quick step to the side and Thomas tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Viktorov avoids the body shot from Thomas.
Viktorov doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomas circles away.
Viktorov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Viktorov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Viktorov shoots and misses
and Thomas counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Viktorov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thomas throws out the jab.
Viktorov wants to clinch
and Thomas counters with a good low kick that Viktorov was not able to check.
It looks like Thomas has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Thomas lands with an overhand left.
Viktorov tries to clinch up but Thomas circles away and keeps his distance.
Viktorov is looking to clinch but Thomas is avoiding it.

Thomas darts in and clinches Viktorov up against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Thomas dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Viktorov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tom Thomas is winning the standup battle so far.
Viktorov tries to clinch up
and Viktorov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Viktorov shoots in looking for a takedown. Thomas tries to sprawl out of it but Viktorov 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 was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Viktorov has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Viktorov jumps guard but Thomas turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Thomas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thomas works on Viktorov's body with a couple of short punches.

Thomas manages to break the clinch.
Thomas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viktorov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Good standup being displayed there by Thomas as he connects with a hook.
Thomas moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Viktorov shoots in but Thomas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tom Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksey Viktorov.
Thomas throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Viktorov moves into range and clinches up with Thomas.
Viktorov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thomas smiles and moves away.
Thomas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Viktorov closes the distance and clinches up with Thomas, looking for a takedown. Viktorov pushes Thomas against the cage but Thomas circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Viktorov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Viktorov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands a slapping body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Viktorov walks into a jab.
Viktorov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Viktorov moves to clinch but Thomas breaks away
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.
Thomas thuds a left hand into Viktorov's body.
Viktorov wants to clinch
and Viktorov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Viktorov moves into the clinch successfully.
Viktorov is trying to pull guard but Thomas has him pressed against the cage.
Thomas pushes Viktorov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thomas lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thomas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Viktorov backwards.
Thomas misses with the head strike.
Viktorov tries to pull guard but Thomas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viktorov is trying to pull guard but Thomas has him pressed against the cage.
A short left from Thomas.
The referee calls for Thomas to work.
Viktorov tries to pull guard but Thomas won't allow it.
Stalling in the clinch from Thomas.
Viktorov has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Thomas seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Viktorov can turn it around.
Viktorov tries to pull guard but Thomas forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Thomas scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Thomas working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Thomas is stalling here.
Still in the clinch, Thomas scores with a nice short uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Thomas.
Thomas slowing the pace effectively.
Viktorov takes a shot to the head.
Thomas stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Tom Thomas has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Viktorov.
Viktorov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thomas smiles and moves away.
Viktorov tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Viktorov tries to clinch
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.
Viktorov tries to clinch up.
Thomas is looking for a counter combo.

Viktorov clinches up with Thomas and pushes him back against the cage.
Viktorov is trying to pull guard but Thomas has him pressed against the cage.
Viktorov blocks an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Thomas.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thomas connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Thomas punishes Viktorov's body with a nice straight punch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Thomas.
Aleksey Viktorov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Viktorov moves to clinch but Thomas breaks away
and Thomas counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Viktorov thinking.
No joy there for Thomas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Viktorov wants to counter with a clinch but Thomas pushes him away.
Thomas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomas tried to counter with a leg kick but Viktorov avoided it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Thomas dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Thomas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thomas misses with a series of wild punches.

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

Viktorov pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas wants to stand and escape but instead Viktorov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Viktorov prevents Thomas from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Viktorov wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thomas is on top in guard.

Thomas tries to stand but Viktorov is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Viktorov, up you get!
Thomas swats away the attempt to clinch by Viktorov.
Thomas swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Viktorov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Viktorov fails with a takedown attempt.
Thomas connects with the punch.
Aleksey Viktorov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viktorov wants to clinch but Thomas slips to the side
and Thomas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Viktorov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thomas swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Thomas stuffs the takedown.
Viktorov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thomas counters with a nice uppercut.
Tom Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksey Viktorov.
Viktorov tries to clinch
and Viktorov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thomas connects with a body shot that sends Viktorov's belly button to the back.
Viktorov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Thomas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thomas scores with the left hand. Viktorov knows he should have avoided that one.

Viktorov is rocked!
Thomas takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Viktorov is still on wobbly legs! Can Thomas finish him?

Viktorov gets a clinch.
Viktorov seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Viktorov is keeping busy.
Thomas just leaning against Viktorov, taking a breather.
Thomas works on Viktorov's body with a couple of short punches.
Thomas makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Thomas lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Thomas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Viktorov is trying to pull guard but Thomas turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Thomas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Viktorov can do to turn this around?
Thomas tries a body shot but Viktorov blocks it.
Thomas lands a right hand.

Viktorov manages to pull guard.
Thomas wants to stand and escape but instead Viktorov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Viktorov stops Thomas from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Viktorov won't allow Thomas to sweep him here.
Thomas wants to stand but Viktorov is controlling the position.
Tom Thomas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas pushes Viktorov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thomas fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Viktorov throws a lazy body kick
and Thomas counters with a body kick that stops Viktorov in his tracks momentarily.
Tom Thomas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Viktorov fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big right from Viktorov misses.
Viktorov misses with a low kick.
Thomas uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nice body punch from Thomas.
Thomas scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Thomas!
Tom Thomas thanked the fans post fight for their support.