PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bart Pablo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Terry Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Primal Concrete Sledge. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Pablo
vs
Thomas

200 cm
18
300 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
24
290 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bart Pablo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Terry Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Peter Branson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pablo misses with a takedown attempt

and Thomas holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pablo throws a punch but it's blocked by Thomas.
Pablo looking for a takedown.
Pablo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Thomas gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bart Pablo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pablo has hold of one of Thomas's legs. Thomas is fighting the takedown attempt but Pablo gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Thomas keeping full guard, as Pablo tries to pass.
Thomas looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas looks winded!
Pablo tries to free his leg and advance position but Thomas is retaining full guard.
Pablo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Pablo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Bart Pablo.
Pablo fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pablo shoots in but no luck this time.

Pablo gets caught napping as Thomas dives in and scores a takedown. Pablo manages to retain guard.
Thomas not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Pablo controls Thomas momentarily but Thomas frees himself.
Thomas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pablo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bart Pablo wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Pablo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Thomas napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Thomas is looking to regain half guard here but Pablo keeps moving and retains side control.
Pablo moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thomas pushes Pablo away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Pablo gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Pablo controls the position.
Pablo trying to control the position but Thomas is working away.
Pablo content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bart Pablo wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Pablo fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck for Pablo with that takedown attempt.
Thomas shoots for a double leg takedown but Pablo sprawls well. He's pushed Thomas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pablo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thomas sprawls well. Thomas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pablo gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pablo.
Pablo shoots and misses

and Thomas moves into the clinch.

Thomas has picked Pablo up - he's going for a ride! Thomas dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Thomas is looking to take a break and control but Pablo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've been informed that Thomas has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Pablo wants to control but Thomas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Pablo 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.
Pablo is looking to improve his position.
Thomas stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Thomas stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thomas wants it to stay on the feet.
Pablo with a lazy takedown attempt

and Thomas counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pablo trying to remain calm as Thomas controls from the top position.
Thomas fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Thomas wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pablo, who protects the arm well.
Pablo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pablo is controlling Thomas's trapped leg to prevent Thomas from advancing to side control.
Thomas keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Terry Thomas will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pablo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thomas tries to avoid it but Pablo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thomas to the ground. Thomas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Pablo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Thomas napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Pablo working away.
Pablo tries to score with some ground and pound. Thomas controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Pablo trying to control the action but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Thomas tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pablo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Thomas is breathing heavily.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Pablo prevents Thomas from escaping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pablo tries to move to mount but Thomas blocks the move with his legs.
Bart Pablo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thomas is trying to control Pablo's posture but Pablo avoids it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Pablo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thomas circles away.
Thomas shoots in looking for a takedown. Pablo tries to sprawl out of it but Thomas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pablo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Pablo feints and as Thomas raises his hands in defense, Pablo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thomas thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Pablo trying to control but Thomas is working from the bottom.
Pablo content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Bart Pablo wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Pablo shoots in but Thomas avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bart Pablo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pablo has his takedown stuffed

so Thomas counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
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!
Pablo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas trying to control but Pablo is working from the bottom.
Pablo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Bart Pablo.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pablo is defended easily by Thomas.
Pablo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Thomas counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Pablo!
Pablo is trying to get back to half guard.
A lull in the action here.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pablo keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pablo pushes Thomas away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Thomas gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Thomas is looking to take a break and control but Pablo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Terry Thomas has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Pablo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thomas is fending him off so far but Pablo persists. Nope, Thomas circles away and we're back to standing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Thomas scores with a takedown into Pablo's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pablo looking for a guillotine here but Thomas defends easily.

Pablo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Terry Thomas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pablo with a lazy takedown attempt

and Thomas counters with a single leg into guard. Pablo didn't expect that.
Thomas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thomas won't allow Pablo to sweep him here.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Pablo keeps moving.
Pablo is trying to control the position but Thomas postures up.
Pablo keeping full guard, as Thomas tries to pass.
Pablo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Bart Pablo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Thomas gets caught napping as Pablo dives in and scores a takedown. Thomas manages to retain guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thomas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pablo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Pablo wants to control from the top but Thomas keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pablo looking to pass the guard.
Thomas is looking to stand up but Pablo isn't so interested in that idea.
Pablo stands and throws Thomas's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pablo taking a breather here.
Pablo trying to control the action but Thomas is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas gets back to half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Pablo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

We're going to have a standup here because Bart Pablo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Pablo fails to land the takedown.

Thomas moves into the clinch.

Pablo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pablo misses with a takedown attempt

and Thomas counters with a single leg into guard. Pablo didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bart Pablo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thomas passes Pablo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Thomas looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pablo is refusing to be controlled, as Thomas sits in half guard.
Thomas throwing shots but Pablo is blocking nicely.

Thomas is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pablo sees it coming and defends easily.
Pablo trying to hold on to Thomas's head to control him but Thomas postures up.
Thomas wants to pass to mount but Pablo is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pablo preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Thomas is pressing down on Pablo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pablo is holding on for now.
Pablo is trying to control but can't.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Bart Pablo just wasn't active enough.
Pablo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Thomas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pablo throws a low kick but Thomas avoids it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pablo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Thomas gets full guard.
Thomas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bart Pablo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Terry Thomas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
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!
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.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Terry Thomas.
I've got Thomas winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Terry Thomas!
Terry Thomas decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
The defeated Bart Pablo had this to say: 'thanks my sponsors and fans'.