On May 3, 2025, at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, Thomas Petersen faced Don’Tale Mayes in a heavyweight bout. In round one, Petersen and Mayes traded a few blows before Petersen successfully took Mayes down to the mat. Although Petersen pushed him into the fence, Mayes managed to get back to his feet. However, Petersen quickly executed another powerful takedown, slamming Mayes back to the ground. He then positioned himself on top and pinned Mayes, who struggled to escape.
Petersen stayed aggressive, landed a few elbows, and impressed the commentators with his control. He maneuvered into position for a chokehold and successfully locked it in, but Mayes used his size to slip free. Undeterred, Petersen continued applying pressure, forcing Mayes to fight off another choke attempt. Mayes blocked it by positioning his arm in front of his face. Petersen regained top position and began striking Mayes. With less than a minute left in the round, Mayes did his best to evade Petersen’s onslaught and survive until the bell. Round one ended with Petersen clearly in control and Mayes visibly shaken.
Petersen opened round two with relentless pressure, charging Mayes and pinning him against the fence. He seized another opportunity and slammed Mayes back to the mat. Showing immense strength, Petersen dragged Mayes toward the fence. Though Mayes fought to get up, Petersen quickly brought him back down and prevented him from regaining his footing. Once in control again, Petersen landed several savage elbows to Mayes’s face. He dominated the round from start to finish.
In round three, Petersen charged once more and scored another successful grapple. Mayes tried to get back on his feet, but Petersen kept him grounded. Staying on top, Petersen delivered a series of elbows and strikes. Mayes continued to resist, but Petersen’s control never wavered. When the final bell rang, Petersen had clearly outclassed his opponent. The judges unanimously awarded him the victory.
Social media quickly praised Thomas Petersen for his dominating performance and technical mastery. With his wrestling background, Petersen executed a near-flawless game plan and solidified his place as one of the heavyweight division’s most promising contenders.
