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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Russel Bell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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190 cm
21
165 lbs
6 - 8 - 0 |
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175 cm
20
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0 |
Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced |
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BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division. Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner. With a record of
6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Russel Bell! And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner. With a record of
4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joshua Thomas! The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway! Thomas throws out a loose jab but Bell uses good head movement to avoid it. Bell drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard. Bell really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape. Bell not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up. Thomas manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bell is writhing around trying to get back to his feet. Thomas trying to control but Bell is having none of it. Thomas is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet! Bell closes the distance and clinches. Bell jumps into guard, dragging Thomas to the mat.
Bell trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work. Bell wants to control the position but Thomas says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard. Thomas trying to control from half guard but Bell is working away.
That's one minute gone in the round. Bell won't allow Thomas to pass to mount. Thomas is thwarting Bell's attempts to control the position. Bell is staying active underneath Thomas, who seems content to just control the action from this position. Bell wants to get back to full guard. Thomas wants to pass to mount but Bell is defending the position. Bell on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bell tries to get out of the position.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up. Bell takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Bell has managed to clinch.
Thomas prevents the takedown attempt.
Thomas lands with a good tight uppercut to the head. Thomas tries to break free but Bell pushes him back against the cage. Bell keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thomas's efforts to push away. Thomas prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bell is breathing heavily. Thomas is looking to break free of the clinch but Bell has double underhooks.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Bell jumps guard.
Thomas sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bell's guard. Bell trying to hold on to Thomas's head to control him but Thomas postures up.
Thomas tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bell knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt. Bell is trying to stand back up but Thomas is controlling him
Thomas stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Bell to get to his feet. Thomas throws a shot from downtown. Bell moves away and avoids it. Thomas throws out a loose jab but Bell uses good head movement to avoid it. Wow, both these guys are really going for it! Thomas throws a left that rocks Bell and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Thomas dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Bell regain composure!
Bell is rocked! The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here. Thomas decides to stand back up. Oh Bell is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!! Thomas misses the jab. Joshua Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout. A swing and a miss from Thomas.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Bell tries to clinch there but Thomas circles away.
Bell defending well as Thomas loads up on a big left hand. A telegraphed right hand from Thomas misses the target. Thomas throws a series of punches but Bell avoids them all with ease. A slow jab from Thomas misses its intended target. Thomas misses with the combination.
Thomas throws a series of punches but Bell moves out of range. Bell seems to have got his legs back now. Bell throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Thomas was covering up waiting for the punch and Bell finishes the takedown easily into guard. Thomas is trying to keep Bell in close.
Bell looking to control the position here, rather than advance. Bell passes Thomas's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Bell is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Thomas trying to control here.
Thomas tries to get to full guard but Bell has control of the leg. Bell stalling. Bell lands with a punch from half guard. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Joshua Thomas dominated that round. That's time! Back to the action!
A telegraphed right hand from Thomas misses the target. Bell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat. Bell won't allow Thomas to get back to his feet. Bell looking to control the position here, rather than advance. Bell won't allow Thomas to get back to his feet. Thomas 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. Thomas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far. Thomas keeping full guard, as Bell tries to pass.
That's one minute gone in the round. Bell content to stall in guard here. Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up. Thomas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bell. Bell darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard. Thomas actively working from the bottom here. Bell controlling the action here. Bell scoring with strikes to the body and head.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Thomas is trying to stand back up but Bell is controlling him
Thomas pushes Bell off and gets back to his feet. Bell looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard. The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing. Thomas looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bell performing his best blanket impression for a moment. Bell is working for a submission of some sort.
Thomas is trying to control but can't.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Bell missing with some ground and pound from the half guard. Thomas trying to hold on to Bell's head to control him but Bell postures up.
Bell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions. Bell controlling the pace.
It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground. Thomas throws a jab but it's blocked by Bell. Nice cross by Thomas. Thomas misses with a straight right. Bell is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Thomas's half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Bell stops Thomas from getting back to his feet.
Bell is working for a kimura but Thomas is defending it quite comfortably.
Thomas is trying to control but Bell passes into side control!
Thomas is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Russel Bell dominated that second round. The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Bell shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Thomas manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage. Thomas keeping moving, preventing Bell from controlling successfully. Thomas wants to sweep here but Bell controlling him for the moment. Thomas is persisting with the attempt to improve his position. Bell trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy. Both fighters are breathing heavily. Bell trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's one minute gone in the round. Bell is really struggling to control Thomas but he's trying to hold on to the position. Thomas controls Bell momentarily but Bell frees himself.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up. Thomas throws a hook but Bell blocks it. Thomas misses with a looping left. No luck with that takedown attempt from Bell. Thomas jabbing away but nothing is landing. Nice sprawl there from Thomas as Bell shoots in. Thomas connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bell momentarily.
Bell slips a straight right by Thomas. Thomas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bell. Thomas jabbing away but nothing is landing. Bell fails with the takedown. That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Russel Bell. That's going to take a lot out of him. Bell avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Bell steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thomas. Bell fails with the takedown. A big left from Thomas misses. Thomas throws a big shot that misses. Thomas throws a good cross that connects.
Bell moves out of range as Thomas strikes. Thomas throws a hook to the side of Bell's head but Bell sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully. Bell gets a takedown into half guard. Thomas kicks Bell off and gets back to his feet. Thomas misses with a looping right. Thomas throws a right and a left that Bell avoids nicely. Thomas swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target. Bell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Bell looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Thomas moves into full guard.
Bell stays in close to Thomas's body and controls the position. Thomas wants to stand and escape but Bell is having none of it.
That's four minutes gone in the round. The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so. Bell sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Thomas's guard. Thomas tries to get to full guard but Bell has control of the leg. Russel Bell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far. Bell slips a nice elbow through Thomas's hands, connecting with Thomas's forehead. Thomas wants to sweep but Bell has passed to side control! Thomas is trying to escape the position but Bell is controlling the position. Bell tries to advance to mount but Thomas denies him. Thomas struggling a bit here. Bell tries to advance to mount but Thomas denies him.
And that's the end of the fight! Russel Bell showed his dominance in that final round. I think Bell 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:28 Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28 Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Russel Bell!
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S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
53% |
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