PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jose Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Savage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas comes to the cage accompanied by Bottles and Fists. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Thomas
vs
Savage

188 cm
22
182 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

180 cm
21
182 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jose Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Damian Savage!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Jorge Garcia and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Savage misses.
Savage swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jose Thomas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thomas with a jab.
Thomas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thomas thows a body shot but no joy.
Savage misses with a few strikes there.
Thomas lands a lovely overhand right.
Thomas misses with a takedown
and Savage counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Jose Thomas has been cut.
The fighters circle momentarily. Thomas darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Thomas slips a straight right by Savage.
Savage fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Thomas has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Thomas blocks a jab.
Savage misses with a straight left.
A big right from Savage misses.
Savage misses with a straight left.
Savage misses with a hook
and Thomas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Savage throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Thomas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Savage misses with an uppercut. Thomas saw that one coming.
Thomas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Thomas.
Savage swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Savage throws a right hand that misses
and Thomas makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Thomas misses with a looping left.
Savage looks to land a combination but Thomas avoids it well.
Savage will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Savage connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Thomas's hands.
Thomas lands an overhand right.
Savage misses with a jab to the body
and Thomas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Savage misses with a few strikes there.
Thomas throws out a powerful jab.
Thomas misses with a left hand
enabling Savage to counter with a crisp jab.
Savage throws a shot from downtown. Thomas moves away and avoids it.
Good standup being displayed there by Thomas as he connects with a hook.
Savage waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thomas.
Savage scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Savage throws a shot from downtown. Thomas moves away and avoids it.
Thomas lands with an overhand left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage looks to land a left hand but Thomas moved out of range nicely.
Savage just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thomas. Savage does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thomas misses the shot to the body.
Savage is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Savage thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thomas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Savage misses with a right hand
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.
Thomas misses with a wild body shot.
Savage misses with a right hand
and Thomas counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Savage misses with an uppercut
and Thomas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thomas is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Thomas shoots and misses
and Savage counters with a stiff right hand.
Savage misses with a body shot.
Thomas gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Savage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thomas scores with a hook to the body. Savage takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thomas connects with a body shot.
Savage throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thomas throws an overhand right that lands on Savage's shoulder, as Savage tries to avoid the shot.
Nice defenses there by Thomas.
Damian Savage is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thomas is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.
Savage tries to throw a body punch but Thomas avoids it by throwing Savage back against the cage.
Savage working hard to break the clinch.
Thomas lands a body shot in the clinch.
Savage tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.
Savage is leaning against Thomas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Savage swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Savage pushes Thomas back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Thomas blocks a body shot from Savage.
Savage lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Savage is leaning against Thomas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Thomas lands a body shot.
Savage lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Thomas.
A short right from Thomas.
Thomas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thomas has Savage pressed against the cage, preventing Savage from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Savage.
Thomas lands a body shot in the clinch.
Thomas stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Savage looks gassed!
Savage misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thomas makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Thomas fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Thomas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savage wants to get back to striking at distance but Thomas won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage tries to work over Thomas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thomas working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Thomas works on Savage's body with a couple of short punches.
Thomas throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Savage struggles to land a body shot inside as Thomas controls his hands.
Thomas scores with a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Savage tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.

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

Savage gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Savage keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thomas throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Savage works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Savage looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Damian Savage will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jose Thomas's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Savage swings away with a body shot that misses
and Savage takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Savage throws a right hand that misses
and Thomas counters with a straight right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Savage misses the target.
Good shot there by Thomas.
Savage loads up on a big right hand but Thomas slips the punch.
Savage throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Savage keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Savage misses with a wild body shot.
Savage misses with an uppercut. Thomas saw that one coming.
Thomas throws a body punch but Savage moves out of range.
Thomas digs a good hook to Savage's body.
Savage bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Thomas's head backwards.
Thomas wants to clinch.
Thomas misses the shot to the body.
Savage throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thomas manages to avoid it.
Thomas dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Savage lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Savage misses with a hook
enabling Thomas to counter with a crisp jab.
Thomas has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Savage finds it's way round the side to connect with Thomas's head.
Thomas misses with a right hand
and Savage counters with a straight right hand.
Savage smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Savage defending well as Thomas loads up on a big left hand.
Thomas punishes Savage's body with a nice straight punch.
Savage takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A right-left combo lands from Savage.

Jose Thomas's cut is getting worse.
Thomas connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Savage.
A big right from Savage misses.
Thomas ducks under a wild hook from Savage.
Thomas lands a nice hook to Savage's body. Savage takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas dodges the punch combination from Savage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Savage throws a poor cross that misses
letting Thomas counter with a right hand.

Thomas clinches.
Thomas working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Thomas has Savage pressed against the cage, preventing Savage from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A right hand to the body from Thomas.
Thomas is leaning against Savage and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Savage is breathing heavily.
Savage tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Thomas successfully pulls guard.
Thomas wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Savage is now in half guard.
Thomas wants to get back to full guard but Savage has passed into side control.
Thomas is not content to let Savage control the position.
An elbow from Savage crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to control but Savage postures up.
Thomas is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Savage's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Thomas on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Thomas moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Savage trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thomas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Savage stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Thomas has his foot on Savage's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Savage works his way back into a safe position though.
Savage trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Savage stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thomas swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas looking to control.

Savage got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thomas has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Savage has managed to get both his arms back between Thomas's legs - danger averted.
Savage sitting in guard here, content to control.
Let's hope that Savage has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Damian Savage wasn't active enough on the ground.
Thomas fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Thomas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Thomas moves into the clinch successfully.
Thomas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Savage struggles to land a body shot inside as Thomas controls his hands.
Savage tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thomas's elbow.
Savage is trying to push Thomas away but Thomas has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Thomas stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jose Thomas will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jose Thomas's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Savage waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thomas.
Savage fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Savage swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Savage fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Thomas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thomas throws a jab when Savage was well out of range.
Thomas scores with a body shot.
Savage takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Savage throws a poor cross that misses
and Thomas counters with a straight right hand.
Nice jab there from Thomas.
Jab by Savage.
Savage takes a swing at Thomas's ribcage but misses.
Savage swings away with a body shot that misses
and Thomas counters with a nice uppercut.
Thomas lands a slapping body shot.
Thomas misses with a left hand
letting Savage counter with a right hand.
Savage throws a jab but it's blocked by Thomas.
Savage throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Savage takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage swings for the body but Thomas moves out of range.
Thomas swings widly with a right hand
and Savage counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thomas jabs at Savage's body.
Savage takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A jab from Savage misses.
Nice uppercut lands for Thomas. That snapped Savage's head back.
Thomas lands with a cross.
Nice shot by Thomas.
Savage throws a poor cross that misses
and Thomas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Savage misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Thomas counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Savage misses with an uppercut
and Thomas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Damian Savage seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Savage throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thomas scores with a three punch combo!
A slow jab from Thomas misses its intended target.
Savage throws a predictable looking body shot
and Thomas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thomas misses with a hook. Savage ducked under it nicely.
Savage has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savage throws a right hand that misses

and Thomas holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Thomas lands a right hand that snaps the head of Savage backwards.
Thomas working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Savage misses with a hook from the clinch.
Savage wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A body shot lands from Savage.
Thomas working aggressively here.
Savage tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Thomas lands a nice shot to the body.
Good body shot from Thomas.
Thomas working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Thomas lands a shoulder strike.

Savage is rocked!
Thomas scores with a shoulder strike.
Savage is still on wobbly legs! Can Thomas finish him?
Thomas lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thomas throws a big uppercut that drops Savage! More strikes from Thomas and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Savage lies dazed against the cage as Thomas celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jose Thomas!