PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tane Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Baumgardner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson comes to the cage accompanied by it was over. Baumgardner has chosen COWBOYS FROM HELL as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Thompson
vs
Baumgardner

176 cm
26
167 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

181 cm
30
168 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Red Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Tane Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Brian Baumgardner!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

It looks like Brian Baumgardner has been cut.

Baumgardner drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Thompson tries to buck Baumgardner off but Baumgardner is having none of it.
Thompson sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Thompson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Thompson controls Baumgardner momentarily but Baumgardner frees himself.

Thompson working for a triangle but Baumgardner defends it easily.

Baumgardner drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Thompson dives on top into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Baumgardner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thompson is aware though and is defending well.
Thompson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thompson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Thompson drops back looking for a leg! Baumgardner is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Baumgardner manages to kick Thompson off! Thompson jumps back into Baumgardner's 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 avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Thompson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Baumgardner 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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thompson trying to control but Baumgardner is working from the bottom.
Thompson stays in close to Baumgardner's body and controls the position.

Baumgardner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thompson is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson looking to pass the guard.
Baumgardner keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.

Baumgardner has his foot on Thompson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thompson works his way back into a safe position though.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thompson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Baumgardner keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Thompson throwing strikes from guard but Baumgardner blocks nicely.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Baumgardner keeps moving.
Thompson throwing strikes from guard but Baumgardner blocks nicely.
Baumgardner keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Baumgardner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Baumgardner working for a triangle but Thompson defends it easily.
Thompson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Baumgardner keeps moving.

Baumgardner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thompson is aware though and is defending well.

Baumgardner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thompson is aware though and is defending well.
Baumgardner looks gassed!
Thompson trying to control but Baumgardner is working from the bottom.
Baumgardner keeping full guard, as Thompson tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baumgardner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Thompson is aware though and is defending well.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thompson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thompson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Baumgardner throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Thompson escapes and throws Baumgardner's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Baumgardner misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Baumgardner is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Thompson working the ground and pound from side control.

Thompson tries for a kimura but Baumgardner is defending well.
Thompson cracks Baumgardner with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Baumgardner parries the strikes from Thompson easily there. Thompson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Baumgardner to escape.
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 Brian Baumgardner'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.

Thompson throws a jab but it's blocked by Baumgardner.

Thompson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Thompson there.
Baumgardner is not content to let Thompson control the position.

Thompson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Thompson moves into full mount! Baumgardner won't be happy about that!
Baumgardner is working to get back to half guard.
Baumgardner slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Thompson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Baumgardner tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Thompson wants to take a breather but Baumgardner is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Baumgardner is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Baumgardner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Baumgardner is breathing heavily.
Thompson thows a huge punch but Baumgardner dodges it nicely.

Baumgardner actively working from the bottom here.

Baumgardner is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thompson pulls his head out easily.
Baumgardner wants to get back to full guard but Thompson has passed into side control.
Thompson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Thompson working the body and head with strikes.
Thompson lands some shots froms side control.
Baumgardner tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thompson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Baumgardner is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Thompson has hold of Baumgardner's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Baumgardner tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Thompson cranks the arm and Baumgardner screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Baumgardner, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Tane Thompson!