PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kurt Angle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Thompson's choice of entrance music: Kreator - Extreme Aggressions. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Angle
vs
Thompson

183 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
192 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kurt Angle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson misses with a two punch combination.
Thompson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Kurt Angle has been cut.

Thompson closes the distance and clinches.
Thompson lands a knee to the body.
Angle on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Thompson.
Thompson throws a knee to the head but misses.

Thompson manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Thompson does no damage.
A combination from Thompson does no damage.
Thompson takes a swing at Angle's ribcage but misses.
Thompson doesn't manage to clinch there - Angle circles away.
Angle takes one on the button.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thompson throws a front kick that sends Angle stumbling back into the cage.
Nick Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Donk. Thompson catches Angle right on the button with a cross.
Angle on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Thompson gets a clinch.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thompson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thompson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thompson throws a right and a left that Angle avoids nicely.
Angle changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thompson tries to avoid it but Angle manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thompson to the ground. Thompson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson misses with a head kick.
Thompson tries to clinch up but Angle circles away and keeps his distance.
Thompson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Angle.
Thompson throws a series of punches but Angle moves out of range.
Thompson moves in looking to clinch but Angle pushes him off.
Angle looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thompson is fending him off so far but Angle persists. Nope, Thompson circles away and we're back to standing.

Angle fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thompson sprawls well initially but Angle persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Angle is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Angle is thwarting Thompson's attempts to control the position.
Angle lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Angle controlling the action here.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Thompson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Angle is one step ahead there.
Thompson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thompson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Angle slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Thompson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kurt Angle's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Horrible takedown by Angle or perhaps it was just good defense by Thompson which made him look bad.

Thompson has managed to clinch.
Thompson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knees in the clinch landing for Thompson.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thompson connects with a body shot.
Thompson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Thompson has managed to clinch.

Thompson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thompson misses with a wild combination.
Thompson throws a one two combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thompson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Angle slips a jab and a cross from Thompson.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thompson tries to bum rush Angle with a series of wild strikes but Angle uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thompson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Thompson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Angle clinches with his opponent.

Angle manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle controlling the position.
Thompson wants to stand but Angle has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Angle pulls Thompson in to control the position.
Thompson wants to get up but he can't break Angle's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Angle is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two 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.
Thompson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Angle is proving hard to escape from.
Thompson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Angle keeps moving.
Angle has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Angle escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thompson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Angle keeps moving.
Thompson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Angle is proving hard to escape from.

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

Thompson gets to his feet - Angle follows without any prompting.
Thompson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Angle blocks a leg kick.
Thompson closes the distance looking to clinch

and Angle counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Angle looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Thompson wants to stand but Angle is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kurt Angle's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Thompson misses with a few strikes there.
Angle fails with a takedown attempt.
Angle will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Angle has closed the distance and engaged Thompson in a clinch.

Angle pulls guard.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Angle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Angle wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Angle trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle trying to control the position here.

Thompson gets to his feet. Angle looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Angle tries to clinch but Thompson moves out of range.
Thompson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Angle. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thompson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is trying to control the position but Angle postures up.

Thompson looking for a guillotine here but Angle defends easily.
Thompson controls Angle momentarily but Angle frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle won't allow Thompson to get back to his feet.
Angle is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Angle won't allow Thompson to get back to his feet.
Kurt Angle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Angle controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Thompson tries to clinch but Angle moves out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Thompson. That snapped Angle's head back.
Thompson works Angle's body with a nice hook.
Angle shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thompson as he jumps to the side.
Thompson throws a right and a left that Angle avoids nicely.
Nick Thompson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thompson misses with a series of wild punches.
Thompson throws a body punch but Angle moves out of range.
Thompson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Angle fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Angle shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thompson as he jumps to the side.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Angle looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Thompson!
Nick Thompson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Angle avoids the attempt from Thompson to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurt Angle showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thompson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

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