PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henri Jospin (ranked 1805 p4p, 2083 weight class) and Thomas Bolleke (ranked 271 p4p, 299 weight class). Jospin comes into the arena with In The Air Tonight blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Jospin
vs
Bolleke

192 cm
36
218
23 - 19 - 1

195 cm
39
205
32 - 21 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Powerful

Champion Apparel

Bondi MMA ðŸï¸
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Henri Jospin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 21 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Bolleke!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jospin misses with a hook
enabling Bolleke to counter with a crisp jab.
Bolleke throws a shot from downtown. Jospin moves away and avoids it.
Bolleke swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Jospin has Bolleke up against the cage in a clinch.
Bolleke tries to work over Jospin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Knees in the clinch landing for Jospin.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Jospin takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Jospin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A jab from Jospin does it's job there.
Bolleke throws out a loose jab but Jospin uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolleke takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bolleke moves away from the strike by Jospin.
Jospin slips under a jab.
Jospin slips a jab from Bolleke.

Jospin moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jospin blocks a body shot from Bolleke.
Bolleke prevents Jospin from breaking the clinch.

Bolleke has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Jospin is trying to keep an underhook but Bolleke manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Jospin trying to control from the bottom.
Jospin is refusing to be controlled, as Bolleke sits in half guard.
Jospin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bolleke sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jospin defending well though.
Bolleke working the head and body with strikes.
Jospin wants to improve his position but Bolleke is controlling well.

Bolleke is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jospin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bolleke.
Bolleke thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bolleke has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jospin trying to get back to full guard but Bolleke takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Jospin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Bolleke tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Jospin working to try and regain half guard.

Jospin defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Bolleke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jospin wants to control but Bolleke is having none of it.
Poor strikes thrown by Bolleke there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jospin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Jospin tries to hold on but Bolleke pushes him away.

Jospin defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Bolleke.
Bolleke throwing strikes here but Jospin is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Jospin is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Bolleke with shots to the head and body - Jospin looks very uncomfortable down there.
Bolleke throwing strikes here but Jospin is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Bolleke goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Jospin turns into him and now he's in Bolleke's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bolleke is on top in guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jospin trying to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Bolleke dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A left lands for Jospin.
Bolleke has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jospin throws a body punch but Bolleke moves out of range.
Bolleke throws a shot from downtown. Jospin moves away and avoids it.
Henri Jospin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bolleke bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice cross by Bolleke.
Jospin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bolleke manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bolleke lands a jab to Jospin's midsection.
Jospin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bolleke with a jab.
Jospin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab by Bolleke.
Bolleke scores with a hook to the body. Jospin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bolleke connects with the punch.

It looks like Henri Jospin has been cut.
Jospin throws the kick towards the body but Bolleke avoids it.
Jospin goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bolleke throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Jospin was covering up waiting for the punch and Bolleke finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jospin trying to control the position.
Bolleke looking to sit in guard and control but Jospin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Jospin is fighting to break Bolleke's control of his arms but Bolleke is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Jospin is stalling in the full guard.
Bolleke manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jospin manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jospin has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Bolleke has passed into side control.
Bolleke working away.
Bolleke working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Bolleke lands an elbow.
Jospin prevents Bolleke from improving position.

Bolleke goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Jospin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bolleke but great work by Jospin.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jospin lands a few punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jospin taking a breather here.
Jospin trying to control the action but Bolleke is working from the bottom.
Bolleke looking for a sweep but Jospin has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Bolleke is working to get back to half guard.
Jospin controlling the position easily from mount.
Bolleke 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke trying to control from the bottom.

Bolleke actively working from the bottom here.
Jospin wants to control but Bolleke is keeping him busy.

Bolleke looking for submissions off his back.
Jospin stalling.
Bolleke trying to control from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Bolleke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Henri Jospin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bolleke shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Jospin seems keen to control Bolleke's posture.
Jospin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thomas Bolleke has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jospin has Bolleke pulled in close to control his posture.
Bolleke trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jospin seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolleke with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bolleke advances to half guard.
Bolleke sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jospin defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolleke is trying to control the action in half guard but Jospin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bolleke winds up and cracks Jospin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Bolleke passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Jospin!
A nice elbow there by Bolleke.
Jospin wants to control but Bolleke is having none of it.

Bolleke is working for a guillotine from mount but Jospin frees his head quite easily.
Bolleke throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Bolleke cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Jospin can't escape the position.
Bolleke throwing strikes here but Jospin is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Jospin is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Bolleke in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Bolleke goes for an armbar but Jospin turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Jospin.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Bolleke looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke wants to improve his position but instead Jospin has moved into half guard.
Jospin controlling the pace.
Jospin trying to control from half guard but Bolleke is working away.
Henri Jospin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bolleke wants to get back to full guard.
Bolleke manages to get to full guard.
Bolleke avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Jospin stands up and waves to Bolleke to follow him.

Bolleke dives in and scores a takedown into Jospin's guard.
Bolleke passes into half guard.
Jospin moves into full guard.
Bolleke trying to move into half guard but instead Jospin has managed to sweep!

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jospin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bolleke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thomas Bolleke is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bolleke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Bolleke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bolleke 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Bolleke!
Thomas Bolleke seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.