PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dave Bower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bower's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Triple H Theme Song. Thomas has chosen Devil went down to Georgia as his entrance music. Dave Bower has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bower
vs
Thomas

175 cm
21
190 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

188 cm
21
194 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

[MMABR]Terror Trition[†CoE†]

SPARTAN FIGHTWARE
SPARTAN FIGHTWARE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dave Bower!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Thomas!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Russell Pearce and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bower tries to close the distance and clinch but Thomas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Bower feints and as Thomas raises his hands in defense, Bower changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Thomas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bower tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
Bower throwing strikes but missing.
Bower might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Thomas working for a triangle but Bower defends it easily.
Bower looking to pass the guard.

Thomas looking for a guillotine here but Bower defends easily.
Bower 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.
Bower lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bower scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bower sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bower works over Thomas with some ground and pound from guard.

Thomas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bower stopping the sweep attempt from Thomas.
Bower controlling from the top position.

Thomas is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bower controls from within his opponent's guard.
Bower content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas wants to sweep but no luck.
Bower is working Thomas over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Thomas working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bower doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bower manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bower looking to sit in guard and control but Thomas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bower escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thomas gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bower trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bower tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bower lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thomas!
Thomas is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bower lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thomas hang on?
Bower is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Thomas can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Thomas takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Bower is in the full mount, landing strikes.
BOOM! Bower connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Bower pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Thomas is squirming around, avoiding Bower's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bower lands a heavy elbow.
Bower looking to control but Thomas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bower lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Thomas is working to get back to half guard.
Thomas squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Thomas working to try and regain half guard.
Thomas is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bower working Thomas over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Bower dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bower throws a front kick aimed at Thomas's knee but Thomas avoids it well.
Bower bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Thomas takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Thomas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Bower throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bower misses with a head kick.
Bower fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Thomas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bower is looking to clinch but Thomas is avoiding it.

Bower pushes Thomas up against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bower.
Thomas lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Thomas lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Thomas as Bower tries to tie him up.
Thomas swings wildly with an uppercut but Bower uses good head movement to avoid it.

Bower pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bower throws a head kick but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thomas swats away the attempt to clinch by Bower.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thomas.
John Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bower has a takedown stuffed.
Dave Bower is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bower slips a straight right by Thomas.
Bower will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thomas throws a combination that misses

and Bower counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bower.
Bower lands a hook that snaps the head of Thomas backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thomas.
Thomas pushes Bower back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Thomas working aggressively here.
Bower lands a right hand that snaps the head of Thomas backwards.
A short uppercut from Thomas.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bower.
Thomas misses with the head strike.
Bower changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Thomas fights it off and pushes away nicely.
John Thomas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thomas misses with a few strikes there.

Bower closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Thomas looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bower tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thomas knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Bower seems to be looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thomas is trying to get back to full guard.
Bower performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Thomas looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bower passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Thomas!
Bower prevents Thomas from getting the reversal.
The referee warns Thomas that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Bower with a couple of short strikes.
Bower lands a nice shot to the head.
Bower lands a big elbow.
Thomas taking shots to the head.
Thomas is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bower with shots to the head and body - Thomas looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Bower with a couple of short strikes.
Bower lands a heavy elbow.
Bower has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Thomas's face.
Bower lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thomas hang on?
Thomas working to try and regain half guard.
Bower controlling from mount.
Bower trying to control but Thomas is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Bower dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bower.
Bower wants to control but Thomas is keeping him busy.
Thomas gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Thomas looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bower landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bower thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Thomas looking for submissions off his back.

Bower seems to be looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.
Bower lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bower swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Thomas counters with a one-two to the body.
Bower tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thomas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thomas moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Thomas has managed to clinch.
Bower is looking to break free of the clinch but Thomas has double underhooks.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thomas.
Thomas lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Bower breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thomas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bower.
Thomas throws the left hand but Bower avoids the punch easily.
Thomas misses the shot to the body.
Bower closes the distance and clinches up with Thomas, looking for a takedown. Bower pushes Thomas against the cage but Thomas circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bower slips a straight right by Thomas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bower tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thomas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Bower decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bower seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thomas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard.

Thomas actively working from the bottom here.

Bower is working for a kimura but Thomas is defending it quite comfortably.
Thomas keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bower takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Thomas actively working from the bottom here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bower fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bower takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Bower works over Thomas's head and body with a nice combination.
Bower tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thomas counters with a stiff right hand.
Bower fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Bower. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bower on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Dave Bower is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thomas lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Bower takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
John Thomas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas scores with a jab to the head.
Bower takes one to the side of the head.
Thomas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bower shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thomas makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Thomas slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Thomas throws a good cross that connects.
Thomas lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thomas blocks a head kick by Bower.
Bower misses with a hook.
Bower tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thomas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thomas scores with a head kick.
Thomas circles away from the clinch attempt
and Thomas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Thomas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bower 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 Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Bower!