PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between George Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Thomas (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.

Black
vs
Thomas

180 cm
18
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, George Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zach Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas clinches up with Black and pushes him back against the cage.
Black can't get the takedown.
Thomas tries to score a body lock takedown but Black shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Thomas fails to pull guard.
Black throws a punch but it's blocked by Thomas.

Black has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Thomas clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Black gets his hands free as Thomas looks to control.
Black tries to keep control of the position but Thomas is staying busy.

Black looking for the RNC.

Black working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Thomas is in bad spot here.

Black is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Thomas is defending well though. Black let's go of the attempt for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Black tightening his grip on Thomas, looking for the choke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas tries to roll but Black sticks to his back.
Thomas breaks Black's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.
Black looking to control but Thomas passes into half guard.
Black holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Black looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thomas is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Black is not content to let Thomas control the position.

That's two 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.
Black moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Black looking for a guillotine here but Thomas defends easily.

Thomas decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Black closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Thomas to the mat! Thomas manages to get full guard.
Black is breathing heavily.
Thomas not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Black is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Black has gone for a leg lock! Thomas slips out almost immediately though and dives into Black's guard.
Thomas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas chips away with some ground and pound.
Black trying to keep a closed guard but Thomas is proving a slippery customer.

Black working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thomas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thomas manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Black might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Thomas trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.

Black is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thomas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four 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.
Black scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Black keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Thomas trying to stand up but can't free himself from Black's guard.
Black wants to sweep here but Thomas controlling him for the moment.
Thomas trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.
Thomas won't allow Black to sweep him here.

Black looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Black keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Black dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Black turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Thomas connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Black throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Thomas tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Black is in Thomas's guard.
Black trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Black pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.
Thomas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Black's guard.
Thomas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Black is keeping the position for now.
Black trying to strike off his back.
Black looking for a sweep. Not yet Black, not yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Black has his foot on Thomas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thomas works his way back into a safe position though.

Black is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Black not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Black has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Thomas is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Black.
Black is not content to let Thomas control the position.
Black tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thomas wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Black parries the strikes from Thomas easily there. Thomas is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Black to escape.

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 is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Black is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Black is trying to get back to half guard.
I wouldn't like to be where Black is right now.
Black is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Thomas's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Black is not content to let Thomas control the position.
Black trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Black manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black gets back to full guard.
Black lands a good elbow from the bottom.

Black is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Thomas is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Thomas wants to pass the guard but Black is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Black looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thomas trying to stand up but can't free himself from Black's guard.
Black lands a decent shot there.
Black trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black has a closed guard, preventing Thomas from standing up.
Black is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Black throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Black throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Black trying to strike off his back.
Black is striking but Thomas is not phased and passes to half guard.
Black is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Black dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Thomas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Black counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Black.
Black has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thomas is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Thomas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Black is fighting off a takedown attempt but Thomas is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Black to the mat. Black regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Black is pulling down on Thomas's head. It's preventing any offense from Thomas, at least for the moment.
Thomas trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.
Black tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Black controls Thomas momentarily but Thomas frees himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thomas won't allow Black to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Black keeps moving.

Zach Thomas has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Black shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Black showed some decent athleticism there.
Black trying to control the action but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas trying to hold on to Black's head to control him but Black postures up.
Thomas is looking for a sweep. Black is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Black is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Black stopping the sweep attempt from Thomas.
Black pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thomas is keeping the position for now.
Thomas wants to stand up but Black is controlling him.
Black trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Black is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Thomas is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Black drops back looking for a leg! Thomas is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Thomas manages to kick Black off! Black jumps back into Thomas's guard.
Black is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Black works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Thomas manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Black pushes down on Thomas's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Thomas is looking to control Black's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thomas avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black passes the guard and advances to mount!

Black looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Black working for a submission but Thomas is keeping him at bay.
Black controlling from the full mount.
Thomas trying desperately to get to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Black showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Black, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Black!