PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Bizzle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Michael Thomas has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Thomas
vs
Bizzle

173 cm
26
177 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Thomas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Bizzle!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Donatello Bradman and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bizzle lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thomas circles away quickly and effectively.
Bizzle with a poor takedown

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Thomas scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bizzle working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thomas.

Bizzle throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Bizzle keeps moving.
Thomas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thomas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Bizzle looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bizzle looking to control.
Bizzle trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Bizzle doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Bizzle looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bizzle working a defensive guard here.
Bizzle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Bizzle keeps moving.
Thomas with a nice head shot there.

Bizzle working for a triangle but Thomas defends it easily.
Thomas works over Bizzle with some ground and pound from guard.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Bizzle keeps moving.
Thomas lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Thomas is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bizzle working for a triangle but Thomas defends it easily.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thomas drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thomas jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Bizzle is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bizzle keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.
Thomas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bizzle on the ground.

Bizzle is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bizzle wants to sweep here but Thomas controlling him for the moment.
Thomas thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas throws a big right hand that misses.
Bizzle is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bizzle keeping moving, preventing Thomas from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thomas's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bizzle wants to sweep here but Thomas controlling him for the moment.
Bizzle is trying to keep Thomas in close.
Thomas postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Thomas lands a couple of elbows.

Bizzle throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thomas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bizzle is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bizzle bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thomas's guard.
Thomas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
Bizzle trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bizzle wants to pass the guard but Thomas is keeping the position.

Bizzle stands up from Thomas's guard - Bizzle perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bizzle 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. Bizzle is in Thomas's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Thomas will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thomas shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Thomas was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bizzle really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Thomas with the ground and pound from mount.
Bizzle tries to hold on but Thomas pushes him away.

Thomas looking for a guillotine from mount but Bizzle is having none of it.

Thomas is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bizzle has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Bizzle regains half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bizzle gets full guard.
Michael Thomas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bizzle trying to strike off his back.

Bizzle is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Thomas might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bizzle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thomas won't allow Bizzle to sweep him here.

Bizzle is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thomas defends well.
Bizzle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bizzle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bizzle manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thomas manages to get himself to full guard.
Thomas tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bizzle seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Bizzle throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bizzle trying to control the position from guard on top but Thomas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bizzle stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Bizzle gets a double leg takedown into Thomas's guard.
Bizzle postures up.

Bizzle stands up and waves to Thomas to follow him.
Bizzle shoots and misses

and Thomas decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bizzle's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bizzle has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thomas has managed to get both his arms back between Bizzle's legs - danger averted.
Thomas scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bizzle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thomas works over Bizzle with some ground and pound from guard.
Thomas postures up.
Thomas tries to free his leg and advance position but Bizzle is retaining full guard.
Bizzle tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Bizzle looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Bizzle 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 Bizzle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bizzle is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bizzle is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Thomas's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Bizzle makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bizzle.

Bizzle wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bizzle decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Bizzle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bizzle closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bizzle lands in his opponent's guard.
Bizzle is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Thomas is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thomas looking to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bizzle passes into half guard.
Bizzle controlling the pace.
Bizzle is trying to control. Thomas wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Bizzle was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Bizzle doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bizzle won't be happy with that.
Bizzle sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Thomas tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Bizzle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas with the ground and pound but Bizzle uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Bizzle looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Thomas postures up in Bizzle's guard and throws a big left but Bizzle blocks it.
Thomas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bizzle is pulling down on Thomas's head to control his posture.
Thomas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bizzle is trying to control the position but Thomas postures up.
Bizzle lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thomas!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bizzle with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Bizzle connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Bizzle is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Thomas is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Thomas flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Bizzle anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Thomas and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Bizzle slips an arm under Thomas chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Bizzle has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Bizzle is squeezing on Thomas like an anaconda would it's prey. Thomas fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Matt Bizzle!