PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brad Highsmith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hunter Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Highsmith
vs
Thompson

179 cm
19
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

189 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brad Highsmith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hunter Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thompson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Thompson works his way into full mount!
Highsmith is squirming around, avoiding Thompson's attempts to control the action.
Highsmith is looking to improve his position but Thompson isn't that keen on the idea.
Highsmith is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Highsmith defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Thompson.
Highsmith keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Highsmith is squirming around, avoiding Thompson's attempts to control the action.
Thompson punishing his opponent with strikes.
Highsmith wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Thompson is working the ground and pound. Can Highsmith escape?
I really don't envy Highsmith right now.
Thompson has Highsmith flattened out and is raining down punches.
Thompson throwing damaging strikes from the back! Highsmith could be in trouble here!
Thompson doesn't have the hooks in and Highsmith manages to turn into his guard.
Highsmith tries to stand but Thompson is controlling from the bottom.
Highsmith trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Thompson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Highsmith is controlling him.
Highsmith trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Thompson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Highsmith trying to control here.
Thompson is looking to advance position but Highsmith won't allow it.
Highsmith moves into full guard.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Highsmith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Highsmith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thompson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Highsmith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thompson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Thompson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Thompson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Highsmith has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thompson has managed to get both his arms back between Highsmith's legs - danger averted.

Highsmith looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thompson passes into half guard.
Highsmith is breathing heavily.
Highsmith is not content to let Thompson control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thompson content to control rather than advance.

Highsmith looking for submissions off his back.
Thompson controlling the action here.
Highsmith wants to get back to full guard.
Highsmith taking some punishment here, with Thompson in his half guard.
Thompson trying to control the pace.
Highsmith moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Thompson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Highsmith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Thompson tries to reverse the position but Highsmith maintains control.
Highsmith is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
Thompson just holding on.
Thompson is looking to get to half guard.
Thompson tries to lock up and control but Highsmith gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Highsmith goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Thompson turns into him and now he's in Highsmith's guard.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Highsmith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Highsmith had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thompson defends it easily.
Thompson advances position into side control!
Thompson is looking to take a break and control but Highsmith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Highsmith is looking for a sweep.

Thompson decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Highsmith shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Thompson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Highsmith trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Highsmith off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Highsmith is looking to clinch.
Highsmith circles away from the clinch attempt.

Highsmith drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thompson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Highsmith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Thompson has his foot on Highsmith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Highsmith works his way back into a safe position though.

Thompson manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Highsmith misses with a takedown

and Thompson counters with a single leg into guard. Highsmith didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson stands up and waves to Highsmith to follow him.

Thompson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Highsmith sprawls well initially but Thompson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Thompson works his way into full mount!
Thompson looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson looking to control but Highsmith is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Thompson has control of Highsmith's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Highsmith regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Highsmith can't escape the position.
Thompson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Thompson blocks Highsmith's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Thompson landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Thompson with a poor takedown
and Thompson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Highsmith with a lazy takedown attempt

and Thompson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thompson.
Thompson content to stall in guard here.
Highsmith throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Thompson is posturing up here but Highsmith has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Thompson tries to roll out but it's too tight and Thompson has to tap! Slick submission there by Highsmith!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Brad Highsmith!