PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ieuan Thomas (ranked 4307 p4p, 4316 weight class) and Khorchi Tugan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thomas
vs
Tugan

168 cm
25
153
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ieuan Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Khorchi Tugan!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tugan ducks right into an uppercut from Thomas.
Tugan throws a right and a left that Thomas avoids nicely.
Thomas seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Tugan tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Tugan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tugan landing some decent shots from guard.
Tugan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thomas is looking for a triangle but Tugan pushes his legs off easily.
Tugan won't allow Thomas to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tugan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Tugan scores with a takedown into Thomas's guard.
Tugan stands up over Thomas, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Thomas being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tugan wants to stand but Thomas is controlling his posture from full guard.
Tugan tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
Thomas working a defensive guard but Tugan manages to pass into side control anyway.
Thomas manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tugan is looking to advance position but Thomas won't allow it.
Tugan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tugan controlling the action here.
Thomas has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tugan is working away from the top position though.
Thomas wants to improve his position but Tugan is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tugan wants to pass the guard but Thomas is defending well.
Thomas slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Tugan controlling him for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thomas misses with a low kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khorchi Tugan dominated that round.
That's time! Thomas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tugan darts in and clinches Thomas up against the cage.
Thomas tries to circle away but Tugan has him pinned against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Tugan's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Tugan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thomas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thomas throws a combination. Tugan tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Thomas keeps the fight on the outside.
Tugan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Thomas lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Tugan looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Thomas!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas can't do much from the bottom here.
Thomas is trying to work for a sweep but Tugan has mounted him!
Thomas tries to improve his position but instead Tugan has taken his back!

Tugan has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Thomas has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Thomas tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tugan working for the choke.
Thomas tries to roll but Tugan sticks to his back.
Tugan scores with punches and elbows.
Thomas trying to control the position but Tugan manages to sink in the hooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tugan is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Thomas is defending well though. Tugan let's go of the attempt for now.
Tugan is breathing heavily.

Thomas fending off the submission attempt from Tugan.
Tugan is riding his opponent, not letting Thomas buck him off.

That's four 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.
Tugan lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Thomas just trying to survive but Tugan is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Thomas rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Thomas is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tugan pulls his head out easily.
Tugan trying to mount his opponent but Thomas defends it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thomas is looking to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khorchi Tugan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Thomas fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Tugan checks it well.
Thomas stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thomas wants it to stay on the feet.
Tugan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thomas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ieuan Thomas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khorchi Tugan.

Tugan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Thomas tries to bench press Tugan off him but Tugan keeps the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tugan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Thomas is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Tugan's leg. Oh but that's left an opportunity for Tugan! He's got an arm triangle... it looks tight! He's rotating and Thomas has tapped! This one is allllll over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Khorchi Tugan!