PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jake Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivanov Vorolcheski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Vorolcheski

190 cm
20
205 lbs
2 - 9 - 0

190 cm
18
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jake Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ivanov Vorolcheski!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vorolcheski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thomas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thomas looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Vorolcheski looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Thomas!
Vorolcheski controlling from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Vorolcheski cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Vorolcheski lands a heavy elbow.
Vorolcheski sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vorolcheski cracks Thomas with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Vorolcheski with shots to the head and body - Thomas looks very uncomfortable down there.
Vorolcheski sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Vorolcheski's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Vorolcheski scoring with strikes but Thomas is staying in there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vorolcheski connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Vorolcheski working Thomas over with strikes here.
Vorolcheski controlling the position easily from mount.
Vorolcheski landing punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vorolcheski content just to control the position here.
Vorolcheski takes Thomas's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Thomas is in trouble.
Vorolcheski is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Ivanov Vorolcheski just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Vorolcheski decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Vorolcheski is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Vorolcheski is working for a submission of some sort.
Vorolcheski is keen to just control but Thomas is a slippery customer.
Vorolcheski working Thomas over with strikes.
Thomas is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vorolcheski's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vorolcheski's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas softening up his opponent with strikes here.

Thomas is persistently looking for the submission but Vorolcheski is defending it well.
Vorolcheski is trying to escape under a series of strikes and manages to escape from Thomas 's hooks.
Vorolcheski swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Thomas goes for an armbar but Vorolcheski turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Vorolcheski.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas keeping full guard, as Vorolcheski tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivanov Vorolcheski 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.

Thomas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vorolcheski pinned against the cage. Vorolcheski gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Thomas swats away the attempt to clinch by Vorolcheski.
Jake Thomas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vorolcheski lands a nice looking kick to the body. Thomas takes a step back to recover.
A left and a right from Vorolcheski both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Jake Thomas has been cut.
Vorolcheski tries to close the distance and clinch but Thomas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vorolcheski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Thomas counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ivanov Vorolcheski has got the better of the ground game so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vorolcheski tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vorolcheski wants to control but Thomas is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vorolcheski looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thomas frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Thomas raining down shots from the mount!
Vorolcheski really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Thomas wants to control the pace but Vorolcheski is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Vorolcheski is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Vorolcheski tries to reverse the position but Thomas maintains control.
Vorolcheski sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Vorolcheski controlling the position for now.
Thomas is looking to advance position but Vorolcheski won't allow it.
Vorolcheski is trying to stand.
Vorolcheski trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vorolcheski is concentrating on defense, preventing Thomas from advancing position.
Thomas wants to free his trapped foot but Vorolcheski is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Vorolcheski moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Thomas is looking to advance position but Vorolcheski has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Vorolcheski has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vorolcheski putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Vorolcheski with good strikes from the mount here!
Vorolcheski looking to control and managing it successfully.
Vorolcheski cracks Thomas with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

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.
Vorolcheski is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Thomas can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Vorolcheski content just to control the position here.
Vorolcheski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thomas is looking to escape.
Thomas wants to hold on but Vorolcheski pushes him away.
Thomas is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivanov Vorolcheski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jake Thomas's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Vorolcheski shoots for a takedown but Thomas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vorolcheski fails with the takedown.

Thomas has closed the distance and engaged Vorolcheski in a clinch.

Thomas decides to pull guard.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet but Vorolcheski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Thomas wants to improve his position but instead Vorolcheski has moved into half guard.
Vorolcheski content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Thomas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vorolcheski not doing much here.
Vorolcheski prevents Thomas from standing back up.

Thomas manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Thomas tries for a takedown but Vorolcheski circles away easily

and Vorolcheski counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Vorolcheski.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thomas wants to get back to his feet but Vorolcheski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vorolcheski wants to stand but Thomas is controlling his posture from full guard.
Thomas looking to control.
Thomas wants to stand up but Vorolcheski is controlling him.
Thomas trying to keep a closed guard but Vorolcheski is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thomas checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Thomas looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Vorolcheski is looking for a triangle but Thomas pushes his legs off easily.
Vorolcheski looking to control.
Thomas looking to pass the guard.
Vorolcheski is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vorolcheski wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vorolcheski is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Vorolcheski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vorolcheski has Thomas pulled in close to control his posture.
Vorolcheski tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Thomas gets a takedown into half guard.
Vorolcheski makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vorolcheski.

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 Jake Thomas.
I think Vorolcheski 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivanov Vorolcheski!