PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lourd Cenia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Cenia
vs
Thomas

185 cm
18
154 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

225 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lourd Cenia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zach Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas has Cenia up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Thomas fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cenia, pushing him back against the cage.
Thomas drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Cenia tries for a takedown but Thomas manages to get underhooks.

Cenia jumps guard and drags Thomas to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Thomas is looking to work some ground and pound but Cenia has wrist control.
Thomas prevents Cenia from getting back to his feet.
Thomas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Thomas preventing the sweep.
Thomas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Cenia is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zach Thomas has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Thomas stuffs the takedown.
Thomas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Thomas gets a clinch.
Cenia goes for a takedown attempt but Thomas pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lourd Cenia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thomas gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Cenia's face as Thomas controls the position.
Thomas creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Cenia tries to buck Thomas off but Thomas is having none of it.
Thomas just content to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Zach Thomas.

Thomas has Cenia up against the cage in a clinch.
A body shot lands from Thomas.
Cenia fails to pull guard.
Thomas tries to circle away but Cenia has him pinned against the cage.

Thomas gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Thomas controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Cenia working a defensive guard but Thomas passes into half guard.
Thomas takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Thomas decides to return to a standing position.
Thomas shoots in for a double leg but Cenia sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cenia tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Thomas holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Cenia goes for a takedown attempt but Thomas pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Thomas closes the distance and clinches up with Cenia, looking for a takedown. Thomas pushes Cenia against the cage but Cenia circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Thomas feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Cenia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas passes Cenia's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cenia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Thomas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cenia takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Thomas gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cenia looking for a takedown.

Thomas manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
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 pulls Cenia in close to his closed guard and prevents Cenia from doing any damage or advancing position.
Thomas wants to sweep here but Cenia controlling him for the moment.
Cenia tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cenia trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Thomas clinches up against the cage.

Thomas has Cenia pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Thomas pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Cenia tumbling to the mat - Thomas dives into Cenia's guard.

Thomas stands up and waves to Cenia to follow him.
Cenia fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thomas pushes Cenia up against the cage in a clinch.
Cenia tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thomas just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lourd Cenia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thomas turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Cenia really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Thomas trying to control the position but Cenia is working away.
The referee asks Thomas politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Thomas prefers to stall for the moment though.

Thomas is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cenia is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Cenia wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas slows the pace down.
Zach Thomas has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cenia struggling a bit here.
Cenia 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.
Cenia looking for a sweep but Thomas has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Thomas working the ground and pound effectively.

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.
Thomas manages to capitalize on a mistake by Cenia to take his back!
You can see the frustration on Cenia's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Thomas lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Cenia tries to roll but Thomas sticks to his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Thomas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A punch combination from Thomas misses.

Thomas clinches up against the cage.

Thomas tightens his grip and picks Cenia up, before dumping him to the ground. Cenia manages to land in guard.
Thomas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cenia is trying to keep Thomas in close.
Thomas slips nicely into half guard.
Thomas content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas works his way into side control.
Thomas has control of an arm but Cenia manages to advance to Thomas's back!

Cenia is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Thomas defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Thomas is in a bad position with Cenia working for a choke. Thomas manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cenia can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Thomas controls the pace.

Thomas gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Thomas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cenia sprawls well initially but Thomas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cenia slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Thomas looking to sit in guard and control but Cenia gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Cenia trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas pulls Cenia in to control the position.
Cenia working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thomas's head.
Thomas controls Cenia momentarily but Cenia frees himself.

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.
Cenia stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thomas is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Zach Thomas was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Cenia tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thomas makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Thomas closes the distance and pushes Cenia back into the cage.
Cenia 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 can't break the clinch.
Thomas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Cenia just stands there and leans against the cage.
Cenia misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thomas.
Lourd Cenia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zach Thomas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thomas has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cenia misses with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zach 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

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