PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darnell Jefferson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Robert Thompson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thompson
vs
Jefferson

200 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Robert Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Darnell Jefferson!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Sano and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jefferson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jefferson moves in looking to clinch but Thompson pushes him off.
Jefferson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jefferson wants to clinch up but Thompson keeps it at a distance.
Thompson avoids the body shot from Jefferson.
The fighters circle momentarily. Thompson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Jefferson is looking to clinch but Thompson is avoiding it.
Thompson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thompson scores with a head kick.
Jefferson throws the left hand but Thompson avoids the punch easily.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jefferson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thompson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Jefferson is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jefferson moves into the clinch successfully.

Jefferson manages to break the clinch.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jefferson as he avoids it easily.
Jefferson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thompson.

Thompson gets the takedown into side control.
Thompson misses with the ground and pound.
Thompson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Jefferson is trying to improve his position.
Jefferson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Jefferson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Jefferson is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Jefferson closes the distance and clinches.
Jefferson is pressed up against the cage. Thompson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jefferson down to the mat. Jefferson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Thompson tries to clinch up but Jefferson circles away and keeps his distance.
Jefferson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Thompson counters with a good, hard body kick but Jefferson shrugs it off.
Jefferson looks gassed!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thompson throws a nice looking combination but Jefferson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jefferson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Jefferson keeps the fight on the outside.

Jefferson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jefferson lands in his opponent's guard.
Thompson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jefferson is controlling him.
Jefferson postures up.

Thompson scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Jefferson loads up on a big right hand but Thompson slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jefferson clinches up against the cage.

Jefferson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jefferson throws a head kick that misses.
Jefferson circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Jefferson to counter with a crisp jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson throws a series of punches but Jefferson moves out of range.
Jefferson misses with a body shot
and Thompson counters with a head kick. That will keep Jefferson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert 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.

Jefferson drives through and clinches with Thompson against the cage.

Jefferson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Thompson can't fight it off and eventually Jefferson manages to take the fight to the floor. Thompson looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jefferson trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Thompson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jefferson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thompson is keeping the position for now.
Thompson pulls Jefferson in close to his closed guard and prevents Jefferson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Jefferson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Jefferson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Jefferson from controlling successfully.
Thompson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Thompson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jefferson misses with a series of wild punches.
Thompson tries to bum rush Jefferson with a series of wild strikes but Jefferson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jefferson misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Thompson tries to clinch up

and Jefferson moves into the clinch.
Thompson trying to land knees to the body.
Jefferson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Thompson prevents it.
Thompson stalling against the cage.
Jefferson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Jefferson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Thompson gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Thompson jumps guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jefferson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jefferson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Thompson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Jefferson postures up in Thompson's guard and throws a big left but Thompson blocks it.
Jefferson trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thompson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Jefferson misses with a combination
and Jefferson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jefferson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Jefferson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Jefferson showed some decent athleticism there.
Thompson tries to get to full guard but Jefferson has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Jefferson seems to be working for a kimura but Thompson defends the submission attempt.
Jefferson is keen to just control but Thompson is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darnell Jefferson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Jefferson tries to clinch but Thompson moves out of range.
Thompson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jefferson misses the jab.
Jefferson moves forwards but Thompson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Some wild striking there from Thompson.
Jefferson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jefferson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Thompson makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Jefferson really felt that one!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thompson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch but Jefferson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Jefferson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Jefferson postures up in Thompson's guard and throws a big left but Thompson blocks it.
Jefferson trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Thompson is trying to keep Jefferson in close.
Jefferson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Thompson regains half guard.
Thompson gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to stand and escape but Jefferson is having none of it.
Jefferson postures up.
Thompson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Jefferson!
Thompson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Thompson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jefferson is looking to escape.
Thompson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
A nice elbow there by Thompson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson tries to push Jefferson's head away but Jefferson is holding on tight.
Thompson lands a big shot there that rocks Jefferson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Jefferson is desperately trying to improve his position but Thompson has a good base and remains in mount.
Jefferson wants to control but Thompson is having none of it.
Jefferson is squirming around, avoiding Thompson's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Thompson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Thompson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Jefferson is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four 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.
Jefferson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Jefferson taking some punishment here, with Thompson in his half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jefferson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Thompson is looking to stand up but Jefferson won't let him.
Thompson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jefferson has a closed guard, preventing Thompson from standing up.

Jefferson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Jefferson has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Thompson doesn't defend quickly enough and Jefferson has managed to lock this one up! Can Thompson escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Jefferson on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Darnell Jefferson!