PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Boxer Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Thompson's choice of entrance music: The game. Joe Thompson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Boxer Jr
vs
Thompson

188 cm
27
195 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

190 cm
29
201 lbs
18 - 14 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Boxer Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boxer Jr circles away from the clinch attempt.

Boxer Jr gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thompson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Boxer Jr throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Boxer Jr looking to control.

Boxer Jr is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Thompson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boxer Jr knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thompson on the ground.
Boxer Jr can't keep his opponent in guard - Thompson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Thompson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Boxer Jr looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thompson wants to stand up but Boxer Jr has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Boxer Jr trying to control but Thompson postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Thompson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Boxer Jr is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thompson pulls his head out easily.
Thompson working Boxer Jr over with strikes.
Boxer Jr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boxer Jr regains full guard. Nicely done.

Thompson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thompson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Boxer Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Boxer Jr 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boxer Jr wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.
Thompson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Boxer Jr's head.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Boxer Jr keeps moving.
Boxer Jr working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thompson.
Boxer Jr not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Boxer Jr is retaining full guard.
Thompson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Boxer Jr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Boxer Jr looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thompson is one step ahead there.
Thompson trying to control but Boxer Jr is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boxer Jr trying to control the position.
Thompson throwing strikes from guard but Boxer Jr blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thompson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Boxer Jr controls Thompson momentarily but Thompson frees himself.
Thompson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Boxer Jr leaves Thompson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Thompson throws a sloppy head kick
and Boxer Jr counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Boxer Jr does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Joe Boxer Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boxer Jr scores with a jab. Thompson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Boxer Jr lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Boxer Jr throws a lazy right hand but Thompson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thompson has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Boxer Jr.
Boxer Jr throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Thompson counters by moving into the clinch.
Thompson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Boxer Jr has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Boxer Jr is working for takedown but Thompson is calmly controlling the position for now.
Thompson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Boxer Jr backwards.
Thompson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Boxer Jr's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Thompson fails to land.
Boxer Jr tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Thompson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Thompson lands an elbow that stopped Boxer Jr in his tracks for a moment.
Thompson missing with knees to the body.
Thompson lands a body punch in the clinch.

Thompson has picked Boxer Jr up - he's going for a ride! Thompson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Boxer Jr tries to get to full guard but Thompson has control of the leg.
Boxer Jr is breathing heavily.
Thompson wants to pass to mount but Boxer Jr is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Thompson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Boxer Jr tries for a takedown but Thompson circles away easily
and Thompson counters with a stiff right hand.
The fighters circling - Boxer Jr throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thompson lands with a straight right. Boxer Jr didn't see that one coming.
Thompson drops his hands momentarily and Boxer Jr takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Boxer Jr gets caught flat footed, as Thompson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Boxer Jr preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Boxer Jr trying to keep a closed guard but Thompson is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boxer Jr wants to sweep but no luck.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Boxer Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson wants to pass the guard but Boxer Jr is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson wants to stand but Boxer Jr is controlling his posture from full guard.
Boxer Jr controls Thompson momentarily but Thompson frees himself.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Boxer Jr swings widly with a right hand

and Thompson counters by moving into the clinch.
Boxer Jr tries to pull guard but Thompson holds him up against the cage and eventually Boxer Jr drops back down to his feet.
Boxer Jr is trying to stall.
Thompson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Thompson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Thompson manages to end up in side control.
Boxer Jr tries to bench press Thompson off him but Thompson keeps the position.

Thompson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Thompson is looking to take a break and control but Boxer Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boxer Jr is trying to get back to half guard.

Thompson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Thompson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Boxer Jr is trying to get back to half guard.
Thompson tries to move to mount but Boxer Jr blocks the move with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boxer Jr struggling a bit here.
Boxer Jr is trying to improve his position.
Boxer Jr manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thompson's best efforts.
Thompson thows a huge punch but Boxer Jr dodges it nicely.

Thompson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Boxer Jr sees it coming and defends easily.

Thompson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Boxer Jr is just riding it out for now. Thompson eventually gives up the hold.

Thompson is looking for a kimura here.
Thompson is breathing heavily.

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 is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Boxer Jr is just riding it out for now. Thompson eventually gives up the hold.
Boxer Jr avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thompson.
Thompson trying to control the action but Boxer Jr is working from the bottom.
Boxer Jr on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Boxer Jr tries to get out of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boxer Jr wants to control but Thompson is keeping busy.
Boxer Jr gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe 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! This is the final round!

Boxer Jr throws a poor cross that misses
and Thompson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but Boxer Jr shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Boxer Jr misses with a left hand

and Thompson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thompson.
Thompson digs a right hand underneath Boxer Jr's ribcage. Boxer Jr let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Boxer Jr has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Thompson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thompson.
Boxer Jr goes for a takedown attempt but Thompson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Thompson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Boxer Jr sprawls well initially but Thompson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Thompson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Thompson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boxer Jr is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boxer Jr is staying active underneath Thompson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thompson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Boxer Jr keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Thompson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Boxer Jr doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thompson.
Thompson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Thompson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thompson thows a huge punch but Boxer Jr dodges it nicely.
Boxer Jr is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thompson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thompson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Thompson lands strikes from half guard.
Thompson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Boxer Jr's head.
Thompson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Thompson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Thompson is looking to advance position but Boxer Jr won't allow it.
Thompson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Boxer Jr does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Boxer Jr trying to hold on to Thompson's head to control him but Thompson postures up.
Boxer Jr tries to roll over but Thompson keeps him under control.

Boxer Jr is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thompson pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boxer Jr moves into full guard.
Thompson slips nicely into half guard.
Boxer Jr is looking to improve his position.
Joe Boxer Jr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boxer Jr is trying to control but can't.
Thompson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Boxer Jr's head.
Boxer Jr is in trouble now - Thompson has advanced to mount!
Thompson landing strikes from the mount and Boxer Jr is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is landing with some decent strikes but Boxer Jr is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Thompson is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Thompson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Joe Thompson!