PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Thompson (ranked 4693 p4p, 4399 weight class) and Stalin Thai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson comes to the cage accompanied by Wonderboy. This should be fireworks!

Thompson
vs
Thai

183 cm
25
170
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
23
165
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Stephen Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Stalin Thai!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Santiago Holmes and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson closes the distance and clinches up with Thai, looking for a takedown. Thompson pushes Thai against the cage but Thai circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Thompson with that takedown attempt.
Thai throws a big shot that misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Thai.
Thompson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson lands with a kick to the temple. Thai shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Thai looking to score a takedown here. Thompson is defending well but Thai drives through and ends up in Thompson's guard.
Thompson is wriggling around but Thai manages to pass to half guard.

Thompson trying to get back to full guard but Thai takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Thompson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thai on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thai controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thai controlling the position easily from mount.
It looks like Thai might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
BOOM! Thai connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Thai raining down shots from the mount!
Thai controlling his opponent.
Thompson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Thai looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai is continuing to stall.
Thompson is bucking up trying to escape but Thai cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Thompson is just holding on here. Thai manages to take his back.
Thai has Thompson flattened out and is raining down punches.
Thai is landing with strikes from the back.
Thompson is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Thai.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The adventures of Thai the control monster continue. Boring.
Thai lands strikes to the head.

Thai working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Thompson is doing well to defend. Thai seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Thompson is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Stalin Thai!
The defeated Stephen Thompson had this to say: 'No matter how much it hurts, you gotta stay focused on what you're there for and your goals, just don't give up.'.