PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grigorij Defotkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grigorij Defotkov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Defotkov
vs
Thomas

200 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Grigorij Defotkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Atkins and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas moves into the clinch.
Defotkov looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Thomas tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Defotkov tries to pull guard but Thomas holds him up against the cage and eventually Defotkov drops back down to his feet.
Defotkov tries for a takedown but Thomas manages to get underhooks.
Thomas tries to land a knee to the head but Defotkov blocks with his arms.
Thomas tries to land a knee to the head but Defotkov blocks with his arms.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thomas leaves Defotkov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grigorij Defotkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Defotkov pushes him off.
Defotkov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas tries to clinch up.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Defotkov circles away and keeps his distance.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.

Thomas clinches up with Defotkov and pushes him back against the cage.
Thomas unloads a knee to the mid-section. Defotkov lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Defotkov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Thomas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thomas putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Defotkov in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Thomas with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Defotkov jumps guard but Thomas stands there with Defotkov around his waist. Defotkov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Thomas breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thomas prevents a takedown attempt there.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but Defotkov blocks it.
Thomas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thomas tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Defotkov keeps it at a distance.

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.
Thomas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thomas tries to clinch up.
Thomas wants to clinch up but Defotkov keeps it at a distance.
Thomas tries to clinch there but Defotkov circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Thomas moves into the clinch successfully.
Defotkov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
Defotkov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Thomas avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Thomas tries to land a knee to the head but Defotkov blocks with his arms.
Thomas with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Defotkov fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands an elbow inside.
Thomas landing knees to the head.
Defotkov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thomas tries to land a knee to the head but Defotkov blocks with his arms.
Thomas looking to throw knees to the head but Defotkov is blocking nicely.
Thomas lands an elbow just above Defotkov 's eye.
Thomas with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thomas misses with a knee to the head.
Nice elbow from Thomas.
Defotkov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but Defotkov blocks it.
Thomas throws a knee to the head but misses.

Thomas manages to break the clinch.
Defotkov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thomas is looking to clinch but Defotkov is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Defotkov keeps the fight on the outside.

Thomas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thomas looking to throw knees to the head but Defotkov is blocking nicely.
Thomas connects with a nasty looking knee right to Defotkov's face.
Defotkov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thomas tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Thomas.
Nice elbow from Thomas.
Defotkov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Defotkov jumps guard but Thomas stands there with Defotkov around his waist. Defotkov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thomas with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Thomas is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Thomas using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Defotkov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Thomas dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Defotkov tries to keep at a distance but Thomas has taken the fight into the clinch.
Defotkov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Thomas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Thomas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Defotkov's efforts to push away.
Thomas looking to throw knees to the head but Defotkov is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas tries to land knees in the clinch but Defotkov avoids the damage to the body.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Thomas has taken the fight to the clinch.
Defotkov fails to pull guard.
Thomas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Thomas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thomas is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Defotkov is defending well for now.
Thomas connects with a knee to the head.
Thomas with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Thomas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Thomas missing with knees to the body.
Defotkov fails to pull guard.
Defotkov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thomas smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grigorij Defotkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thomas tries to clinch but Defotkov is having none of it.

Thomas has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thomas using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Defotkov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Defotkov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thomas tries to avoid it but Defotkov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thomas to the ground. Thomas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Defotkov swats away the attempt to clinch by Thomas.

Thomas moves into the clinch.
Thomas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Defotkov.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thomas using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Defotkov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Defotkov avoiding damage as Thomas throws knees to the body.
Thomas unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Thomas unloads a knee to the mid-section. Defotkov lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Thomas throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas scores a nice knee to the body.
Thomas tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thomas tries to clinch up but Defotkov circles away and keeps his distance.

Thomas darts in and clinches Defotkov up against the cage.
Thomas lands a nice knee to the body.
Thomas putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Defotkov in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Thomas misses with a knee to the head.
Thomas landing knees to the head.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thomas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Defotkov.
Thomas tries to clinch but Defotkov is having none of it.
Grigorij Defotkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.
Thomas connects with a nasty looking knee right to Defotkov's face.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thomas tries to clinch there but Defotkov circles away.

Thomas gets a clinch.
Defotkov takes a knee to the side of the body.
Defotkov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thomas tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Thomas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Thomas darts in and clinches Defotkov up against the cage.
Thomas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Thomas misses with a knee strike.
Thomas missing with knees to the body.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Thomas moves into the clinch.
Defotkov avoiding damage as Thomas throws knees to the body.
Thomas lands a nice knee to the body.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Thomas is looking to clinch.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Defotkov tries to clinch but Thomas is having none of it.

Thomas has closed the distance and engaged Defotkov in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas has Defotkov pressed against the cage, preventing Defotkov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Defotkov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Defotkov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thomas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Defotkov swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Thomas forces Defotkov back against the cage and clinches.
Thomas throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Defotkov blocks it with crossed arms.
Thomas is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Defotkov is defending well for now.

Thomas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Thomas gets a clinch.
Thomas lands a knee to the head.
Thomas lands a knee to the head.

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.
Thomas scores a nice knee to the body.
Thomas trying to land knees to the body.
Defotkov takes a knee right on the jaw!
Thomas misses with a knee strike.
Thomas misses with a knee to the head.
Thomas landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Thomas tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Defotkov avoids it.
Thomas tries a knee to the head but Defotkov blocks it.
Thomas tries to land a knee to the head but Defotkov blocks with his arms.

Thomas manages to break the clinch.
Defotkov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomas wants to clinch.
Defotkov keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thomas moves in looking to clinch but Defotkov pushes him off.
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.
Thomas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thomas unloads a knee to the mid-section. Defotkov lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Thomas manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thomas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thomas keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

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.
Thomas is looking to clinch.

Thomas closes the distance and clinches.

Thomas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thomas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Defotkov circles away from the clinch attempt.

Thomas drives through and clinches with Defotkov against the cage.
Defotkov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Thomas tries to land a knee to the head but Defotkov blocks with his arms.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thomas landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Thomas scores with a knee to the head.
Grigorij Defotkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mark Thomas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thomas managing to block the knees to the body from Defotkov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thomas has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

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