PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Robert Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BumbleBee Man (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man has chosen Why can't we be friends? as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Thompson
vs
Man

180 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

180 cm
25
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very confident

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 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Robert Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, BumbleBee Man!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Man tries for a takedown but Thompson circles away easily
and Thompson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thompson has his takedown stuffed

and Man counters with a takedown into side control.
Man is looking to take a break and control but Thompson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Man misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Thompson throws Man to one side and escapes!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Man closes the distance but Thompson moves to the side

and Thompson counters with a single leg into guard. Man didn't expect that.
Thompson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thompson throws a big right hand that misses.
Thompson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Thompson postures up in Man's guard and throws a big left but Man blocks it.
Man preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thompson is looking to work some ground and pound but Man has wrist control.
Man looking to control.
Thompson preventing the sweep.
Thompson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Man can do anything to dispel that myth.
Thompson postures up.
Man controlling the position.
Thompson landing with the ground and pound.
Man has momentary wrist control but Thompson slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson postures up in Man's guard and throws a big left but Man blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thompson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thompson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Man on the ground.
Thompson is looking to work some ground and pound but Man has wrist control.
Thompson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thompson preventing the sweep.
Thompson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Man avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thompson thows a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson is looking to work some ground and pound but Man has wrist control.
Man avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thompson being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Man bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thompson's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Man trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Man won't allow Thompson to get back to his feet.
Man trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.

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

Man drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Thompson dives on top into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thompson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Man looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Man is retaining full guard.
Man is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Man is on top in guard.
Man stands and throws Thompson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Robert Thompson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Man scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Man tries to pass to full mount but Thompson defends it.
Man missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Man is trying to control the action in half guard but Thompson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Man not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Well, if Man is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson is staying active underneath Man, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Man looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Man is looking to advance position but Thompson won't allow it.

That's two 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.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet.
Man is trying to control the action in half guard but Thompson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Thompson is trying to stand back up but Man is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is staying active underneath Man, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

BumbleBee Man has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Man fails to land with a series of punches.
Man gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Thompson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Thompson won't allow Man to sweep him here.
Thompson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thompson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thompson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Thompson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thompson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Man looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson scoring with some ground and pound.
Thompson with a nice head shot there.
Man is trying to control the position but Thompson postures up.
Man preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thompson thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Man has momentary wrist control but Thompson slips an elbow through the middle.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Man holds on and takes a little breather.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Man controls Thompson momentarily but Thompson frees himself.
Thompson postures up and lands a big shot to Man's brow.
Man is trying to control the position but Thompson postures up.
Man is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Thompson dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Thompson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Man 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!
Thompson looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Man throwing sloppy strikes.
Man punishes Thompson with strikes from the back mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Man looking to hold on to the position here but Thompson rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Man looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Man advances position into side control!
Man wants to take a breather but Thompson manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Man.

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.
Man trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Man tries to free his leg and advance position but Thompson is retaining full guard.
Robert Thompson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Man from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man tries to free his leg and advance position but Thompson is retaining full guard.
Man is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. BumbleBee Man wasn't active enough on the ground.
Thompson checks a leg kick.
Man has his takedown stuffed

and Thompson counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson connects with a couple of short punches.
Thompson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thompson being controlled here momentarily.
Thompson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thompson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Man is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thompson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thompson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Man looking for a sweep. Not yet Man, not yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thompson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Man avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
BumbleBee Man has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thompson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

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