PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tane Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and RlCK JAMES (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson comes to the cage accompanied by it was over. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thompson
vs
JAMES

176 cm
23
173 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

178 cm
24
178 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tane Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, RlCK JAMES!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
JAMES wants to clinch.
Thompson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches JAMES on the side of the head.
JAMES throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thompson misses with a series of wild punches.
Thompson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Thompson thows a left - swing and a miss!
JAMES lands a head kick!

It looks like Tane Thompson has been cut.
A nice inside leg kick there by JAMES. That's going to slow Thompson down.
Thompson misses with a double jab.
JAMES throws a leg kick that misses.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Thompson.
This has been an exciting period of action!
JAMES feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thompson's calf.
JAMES defending well as Thompson loads up on a big left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson moves out of range of the leg kick from JAMES.
JAMES on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thompson. Thompson obviously looking to wear him down.
A low kick from JAMES misses
and Thompson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
JAMES throws a sloppy head kick
letting Thompson counter with a right hand.
Thompson scores with a hook to the body. JAMES takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
JAMES thows a leg kick but Thompson checks it
and Thompson counters with a leg kick.
Thompson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Thompson throws a head kick that misses.
JAMES throws a low kick, looking for Thompson's leg but Thompson calmly moves out of range.
JAMES displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thompson.
JAMES tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
JAMES tries a low kick but Thompson avoids it.
JAMES throws a head kick but Thompson moves out of range.
Thompson checks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson throws a push kick but JAMES slaps the foot to one side.
JAMES moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
JAMES misses with a head kick.
Thompson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but JAMES moves away.
A head kick misses from Thompson.
JAMES tries to clinch but Thompson moves away
and Thompson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A jab from Thompson finds it's way through JAMES's defenses.
JAMES pulls out of a head kick attempt.
JAMES takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thompson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Thompson scores with a hook to the body. JAMES takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
JAMES throws a lazy head kick
and Thompson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Thompson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
RlCK JAMES seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
JAMES is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thompson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
JAMES takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nice straight punches there by Thompson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thompson.
Thompson lands a two punch combo.
Thompson blocks a head kick by JAMES.
Thompson is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
A decent looking cross lands there for Thompson.
JAMES misses with a leg kick
enabling Thompson to counter with a crisp jab.
JAMES misses with a low kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Thompson.
Thompson tests JAMES's chin there with a solid looking shot.
JAMES throws a low kick, looking for Thompson's leg but Thompson calmly moves out of range.
JAMES takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
JAMES thows a leg kick but Thompson checks it
and Thompson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Some bone on bone action there as Thompson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson scores with a body shot.
JAMES checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Thompson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
JAMES tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Thompson counters with an outside leg kick.
JAMES stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thompson.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thompson takes a swing at JAMES's ribcage but misses.
A left lands for Thompson.
JAMES is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
JAMES throws a leg kick
and Thompson counters with a body kick.
JAMES looks gassed!
Thompson throws a body kick that misses.
Thompson lands a body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A nice leg kick lands there from JAMES.
Thompson looks to land a left hand but JAMES moved out of range nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tane Thompson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tane Thompson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

JAMES takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Thompson connects with a body shot.
Thompson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by JAMES.
Thompson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Thompson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
JAMES avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
JAMES steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thompson.
JAMES tries to clinch there but Thompson circles away.
Thompson scores with a jab. JAMES acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
JAMES swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Thompson throws a leg kick that misses.
Thompson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
JAMES throws a leg kick that is checked
and Thompson counters with a nice body kick.
A head kick misses from JAMES.
Tane Thompson is winning the standup battle so far.
JAMES buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson throws a nice looking combination but JAMES bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
JAMES misses with a leg kick
and Thompson counters with a nice leg kick.
Thompson throws a right and a left that both miss.
JAMES blocks a head kick by Thompson.
JAMES keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thompson lands with a hook. JAMES tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Thompson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thompson misses with a body shot.
JAMES has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
JAMES goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A lazy body kick from JAMES
and JAMES takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Thompson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
JAMES closes the distance looking to clinch
and Thompson counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Thompson lands a really nice looking cross but JAMES seems unphased.
Thompson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
JAMES takes a shot right to the bread basket.
JAMES swings away with a leg kick that misses.
JAMES throws a leg kick but Thompson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
JAMES throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
JAMES misses with a leg kick
and Thompson counters with a nice leg kick.
JAMES thows a leg kick but Thompson checks it
and Thompson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thompson fails to land the takedown.
JAMES throws a chopping leg kick but Thompson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Thompson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by JAMES.
JAMES displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thompson throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
JAMES throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Thompson throws a one two combo.
Thompson scores with a hook.
Thompson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by JAMES. JAMES obviously looking to wear him down.
Thompson stuns JAMES with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
JAMES misses with a low kick as Thompson jumps back.
JAMES misses with a leg kick
and JAMES takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A good leg kick by Thompson.
Thompson dips to his left and cracks JAMES with an uppercut!
A low kick from Thompson misses
and JAMES counters with a big head kick but Thompson shrugs it off.
Thompson lands a really nice looking cross but JAMES seems unphased.
Thompson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of JAMES's head.
JAMES throws a leg kick that is checked
and Thompson counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. JAMES is lucky that one didn't land flush.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thompson cracks the inside of JAMES's front leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson throws a sloppy head kick and JAMES moves out of range easily.
JAMES misses with the body kick
and JAMES takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
JAMES avoids the head kick by Thompson.
Thompson lands a glancing blow to the side of JAMES's head.
Thompson avoids the head kick by JAMES.
Thompson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
JAMES is breathing heavily.
Thompson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
JAMES wants to land a leg kick but Thompson is out of range.
Thompson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Thompson scoring well with a low kick there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Thompson lands a straight punch to the body, keeping JAMES at a distance.
Thompson misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tane Thompson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tane Thompson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Thompson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. JAMES looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Thompson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Thompson throws an elbow but JAMES slips to the side and avoids it well.
Thompson trying to control the action but JAMES is working from the bottom.
JAMES parries the strikes from Thompson easily there. Thompson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable JAMES to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
JAMES manages to get back to half guard.
JAMES is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thompson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thompson's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

JAMES is persistently looking for the submission but Thompson is defending it well.
JAMES takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
JAMES is riding his opponent, not letting Thompson buck him off.
JAMES is hanging on to Thompson's back as he tries to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thompson is keeping busy.
Thompson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
JAMES tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Thompson.

Thompson looking for submissions off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
JAMES is looking to land body kicks.
JAMES clinches but Thompson breaks the clinch
and Thompson counters with a leg kick.
RlCK JAMES has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
JAMES throws and low kick but Thompson moves out of range easily.
Thompson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
JAMES tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Thompson is able to avoid easily.
JAMES attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Thompson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. JAMES doesn't seem bothered though.
Thompson misses with a series of wild punches.
JAMES misses with a leg kick
and Thompson counters with a body kick that stops JAMES in his tracks momentarily.
JAMES looks to land a body kick but Thompson moved away.
JAMES throws a leg kick that is checked
and Thompson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
JAMES will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Thompson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
A low kick from JAMES is predictable there
and Thompson counters with an outside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from JAMES.
Thompson lands a nice hook to JAMES's body. JAMES takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
JAMES throws a head kick that misses
and Thompson counters with an outside leg kick.
Thompson throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tane Thompson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thompson lands a jab-cross combination.
JAMES takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Thompson is looking to slow JAMES down with leg kicks.
Thompson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
JAMES takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Thompson misses with a combination
and JAMES counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Thompson jabs at JAMES's body.
JAMES on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Thompson. Thompson obviously looking to wear him down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tane Thompson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thompson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

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