PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Booker Ratliff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vincent 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.

Ratliff
vs
Thomas

165 cm
19
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Booker Ratliff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vincent Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ratliff closes the distance and clinches.

Thomas pulls guard successfully.

Thomas is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ratliff defends well.
Ratliff wants to stand and escape but instead Thomas has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Ratliff throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Ratliff is looking to stand back up but Thomas counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ratliff.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ratliff wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Thomas is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thomas's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ratliff missing with punches from the bottom.
Thomas takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ratliff is trying to stand.
Ratliff could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Thomas controlling the action here.
Thomas works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thomas is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ratliff has escaped the position, nice work there.
Thomas takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Ratliff to pass into mount.
Thomas controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomas tries to control but Ratliff wriggling away.
Thomas lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Thomas wants to control the pace but Ratliff is squirming around nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ratliff tries to buck Thomas off but Thomas takes his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Thomas dominated that 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.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thomas.
Ratliff strikes from the bottom but Thomas takes advantage and advances to full mount!
Thomas controlling the pace for now.
Ratliff flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomas tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Thomas postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ratliff looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ratliff has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Ratliff is trying to get back to his feet but Thomas has full control of the position and if anything, Ratliff has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Thomas is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Thomas has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Ratliff! Can he survive? No! He's out! Thomas gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Vincent Thomas!
In his post fight interview, Vincent Thomas started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.