PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronni Lapland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson's entrance music is Caribbean Queen by Billy Ocean. A fine choice. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thompson
vs
Lapland

170 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodney Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ronni Lapland!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, David Schapiro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson thuds his right hand into Lapland's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Thompson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Thompson misses with the combination.
Thompson throws a series of punches but Lapland avoids them all with ease.
Lapland fails with a takedown attempt.
Thompson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Laplands jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Nice uppercut there from Thompson.
Thompson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thompson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lapland was well out of range. Poor timing from Thompson.
Good standup being displayed there by Thompson as he connects with a hook.
Thompson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapland takes one to the side of the head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lapland is defended easily by Thompson.
Lapland avoids the body shot from Thompson.
Thompson tries to bum rush Lapland with a series of wild strikes but Lapland uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thompson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lapland slips a jab from Thompson.

Lapland looking to score a takedown here. Thompson is defending well but Lapland drives through and ends up in Thompson's guard.
Lapland pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thompson is keeping the position for now.

Lapland is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lapland trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Thompson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lapland is one step ahead there.
Lapland throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lapland trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Lapland is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Lapland preventing the sweep.
Lapland postures up in Thompson's guard and throws a big left but Thompson blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapland trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lapland being controlled here momentarily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Lapland scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Thompson is defending against the submission attempts here by Lapland.
Lapland has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Lapland seems to be looking for submissions.
Lapland wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thompson keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lapland is looking for a kimura but Thompson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lapland to get the leverage.
Thompson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Thompson trying to hold on to Lapland's head to control him but Lapland postures up.
Lapland is looking to take a break and control but Thompson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet.
Lapland wants to control but Thompson is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson is looking to escape.
Lapland is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Lapland winds up and cracks Thompson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
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 Rodney Thompson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fighters circling - Thompson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rodney Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A telegraphed right hand from Thompson misses the target.
Lapland shoots in but Thompson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thompson throws a right hand that misses

and Lapland decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thompson's guard.
Lapland in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thompson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Lapland wants to control from the top but Thompson keeps moving.

Lapland drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Thompson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lapland has Thompson in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lapland looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lapland looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thompson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lapland is keeping the position for now.
Thompson won't allow Lapland to sweep him here.

Lapland 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.
Lapland is breathing heavily.
Lapland is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Lapland is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Thompson is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Ronni Lapland!
Ronni Lapland decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.