PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cyzarine Royalty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson comes to the cage accompanied by Heavy Metal. Royalty is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: For Those About To Rock. Cyzarine Royalty looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Thompson
vs
Royalty

191 cm
23
252 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

198 cm
20
265 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cyzarine Royalty!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Hugh Johnson and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson swats away the attempt to clinch by Royalty.
No luck for Thompson with that takedown attempt.
Royalty wants to clinch up but Thompson keeps it at a distance.
Royalty fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thompson fails to land the takedown.
No luck for Thompson with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thompson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Thompson is putting a hurting on Royalty here, landing some big shots from side control.
Thompson wants to control but Royalty is keeping him busy.
Royalty taking a bit of punishment here - Thompson scoring with strikes.
Royalty wants to get back to his feet but Thompson drags him back down.
Thompson just content to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson trying to control the position but Royalty is working away.
Royalty tries to escape but Thompson is in control.
Thompson fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Royalty is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Thompson is controlling him well.
Thompson fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Royalty looks gassed!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Royalty fails with an attempt to clinch.
Royalty lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Thompson gets a clinch.
Royalty throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Thompson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Royalty regains guard immediately.
Thompson thows a big elbow that misses.
Royalty wants to stand and escape but Thompson is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson content to stall in guard here.
Royalty wants to stand and escape but Thompson is having none of it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thompson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thompson prevents Royalty from getting back to his feet.
Thompson landing with the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Thompson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Royalty looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Thompson prevents Royalty from escaping the position.
Thompson working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to control but Royalty is keeping him busy.
Royalty is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thompson closes the distance and clinches up with Royalty, looking for a takedown. Thompson pushes Royalty against the cage but Royalty circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Royalty tries to clinch up.

Royalty gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Royalty.
Royalty wants to get back to striking at distance but Thompson won't allow it.
A short body shot lands from Thompson as the two fighters clinch.
Royalty looking to throw knees to the head but Thompson is blocking nicely.
Royalty is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Royalty wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thompson has him pressed against the cage.

Thompson has picked Royalty up - he's going for a ride! Thompson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Royalty pushes Thompson off looking to stand but Thompson dives back in and keeps control.
Ground and pound from Thompson.
Thompson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Thompson stops Royalty from getting back to his feet.

Royalty has one foot on Thompson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Royalty throws a nice head kick!
Royalty scores with a hook to the body. Thompson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nice takedown defense from Royalty. No joy for Thompson on that attempt.
Royalty is looking to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson closes the distance and clinches up with Royalty, looking for a takedown. Thompson pushes Royalty against the cage but Royalty circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Royalty tries to clinch up but Thompson circles away and keeps his distance.
Thompson takes a kick to the side of the head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thompson.
Royalty tries to clinch but Thompson is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Thompson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Royalty tries to clinch up but Thompson circles away and keeps his distance.
Royalty tries to clinch up but Thompson circles away and keeps his distance.
Royalty lands with a cross.
Royalty scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Royalty throws a head kick that Thompson semi-blocks.
Thompson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Royalty pinned against the cage. Royalty gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Royalty is looking to clinch but Thompson is avoiding it.
Royalty fails in his attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Thompson or perhaps it was just good defense by Royalty which made him look bad.
The fight stays on the outside here - Royalty looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mike Thompson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Royalty lands a nice looking body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Royalty shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Royalty was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Royalty controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson tries to hold on but Royalty pushes him away.
Thompson is working to get back to half guard.
Royalty wants to stand but Thompson is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Thompson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Thompson tries to get out of the position.
Thompson tries to lock up and control but Royalty gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Royalty wants to control the pace but Thompson is squirming around nicely.
Royalty might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Thompson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Thompson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Royalty tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Thompson.
Thompson landing strikes from the bottom.
It looks like Royalty is going to stand back up.
Thompson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Thompson is pulling down on Royalty's head. It's preventing any offense from Royalty, at least for the moment.
Royalty has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Thompson is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Royalty won't allow Thompson to sweep him here.
Thompson has a closed guard, preventing Royalty from standing up.
Thompson trying to strike off his back.
Thompson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Thompson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Royalty is trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mike Thompson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thompson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Thompson won't let Royalty get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Thompson lands a big shot there that rocks Royalty but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Thompson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Thompson with the ground and pound from mount.
Thompson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thompson cracks Royalty with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyzarine Royalty showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Thompson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Royalty keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Royalty fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice body kick from Royalty.

Royalty gets caught flat footed, as Thompson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Royalty wants to get back to his feet but Thompson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Thompson is looking to work some ground and pound but Royalty has wrist control.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Royalty keeps moving.
Thompson thows a big elbow that misses.
Royalty wants to stand up but Thompson is controlling him.
Thompson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Royalty uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Royalty scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Royalty throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Thompson's head.
Thompson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Royalty counters with a nice low kick that buckles Thompson's knee momentarily.
A right-left combo lands from Royalty.
Thompson shoots and misses
and Royalty counters with a big head kick but Thompson shrugs it off.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Royalty tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thompson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Thompson darts in and clinches Royalty up against the cage.
Thompson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Royalty gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Royalty misses with some punches.
Royalty throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thompson pushes Royalty back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thompson has Royalty pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Royalty manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Thompson tries for a takedown but Royalty manages to get underhooks.
Royalty wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson blocks an uppercut.
Thompson tries for a takedown but Royalty manages to get underhooks.
Royalty is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Thompson lands a shoulder strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thompson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Thompson wants the takedown. Royalty is fighting it off but Thompson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Royalty's guard against the cage.
Royalty is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thompson is controlling him.
Thompson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Thompson stops Royalty from standing up.
Thompson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Royalty works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Royalty is looking to stand up but Thompson isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Royalty as Thompson shoots in.
Royalty lands a jab-cross combination.
Thompson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Royalty stuffs the takedown attempt from Thompson. Thompson gets slowly back to his feet.
Royalty lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Royalty gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Thompson tries to score a body lock takedown but Royalty shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Royalty is trying to break free.
Thompson wants a takedown but no success here.
Royalty wants to get back to striking at distance but Thompson won't allow it.
Royalty wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thompson has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Royalty wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thompson has him pressed against the cage.
Thompson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Royalty tries to work over Thompson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Royalty wants to stall.
Thompson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Royalty gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Thompson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Thompson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Royalty wants to stand but Thompson is controlling the position.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Royalty is retaining full guard.
Thompson won't allow Royalty to get back to his feet.
Thompson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Royalty preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Royalty wants to stand and escape but Thompson is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mike Thompson.
I think Thompson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Thompson!