PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Amir Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson comes to the cage accompanied by Double Trouble. Gracie has chosen Kickstart as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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
Gracie

195 cm
31
180 lbs
13 - 12 - 2

185 cm
27
170 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 13 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Hilo, Amir Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Royce Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thompson.

Gracie gets tackled into the cage by Thompson. Thompson maintains the clinch.
Thompson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Royce Gracie has been cut.
Thompson cracks Gracie with a nice body shot.

Thompson gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Thompson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thompson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thompson chips away with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thompson lands a couple of digs.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thompson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thompson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Thompson throws a big elbow that misses.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thompson manages to get himself to full guard.

Thompson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gracie defends it easily.
Gracie is in close to Thompson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Thompson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thompson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Thompson's legs - danger averted.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thompson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gracie accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Thompson has wrist control.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thompson is keeping the position for now.
Gracie landing some decent shots from guard.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Thompson's guard.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Thompson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie works his way into side control.
Thompson tries to buck Gracie off but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Gracie tries to move to mount but Thompson blocks the move with his legs.

Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Thompson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gracie swings around for an armbar but Thompson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Gracie's guard.
Thompson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gracie has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thompson scoring with some ground and pound.
Thompson connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson lands a couple of digs.
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gracie sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Gracie throws a sloppy strike and Thompson uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Thompson has ended up in Gracie's guard.

Gracie working for a triangle but Thompson defends it easily.
Thompson stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gracie wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.
Thompson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thompson chips away with some ground and pound.
Thompson throws a big elbow that misses.
Thompson scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to keep Thompson in close.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gracie has control of Thompson's left arm, preventing Thompson from doing any damage.
Thompson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Thompson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thompson chips away with some ground and pound.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thompson!
Thompson is bucking up trying to escape but Gracie cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Gracie with the ground and pound from mount.

Gracie is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Thompson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Thompson!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thompson postures up.
Thompson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
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 Amir Thompson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Royce Gracie's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gracie throws the left hand but Thompson avoids the punch easily.
Thompson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gracie throws out the jab.
Thompson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gracie.
A big left from Gracie misses.
Thompson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Thompson instigates a clinch.

Thompson wants the takedown. Gracie is fighting it off but Thompson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gracie's guard against the cage.
Thompson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thompson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thompson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gracie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thompson postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thompson with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gracie might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Thompson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Thompson chips away with some ground and pound.
Gracie trying to control the position.
Thompson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thompson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gracie is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thompson with a nice head shot there.
Thompson stands up over Gracie, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.
Thompson lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Gracie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Thompson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gracie has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thompson has managed to get both his arms back between Gracie's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson postures up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gracie holds on and takes a little breather.
Gracie looking to control.
Thompson working some strikes from top position.
Thompson won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Thompson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gracie has momentary wrist control but Thompson slips an elbow through the middle.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thompson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thompson is working Gracie over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Thompson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Amir Thompson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thompson connects with a couple of short punches.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thompson is one step ahead there.
Thompson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gracie looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Thompson lands a couple of digs.

Gracie is looking for a triangle but Thompson pushes his legs off easily.
Thompson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gracie looking to control.
Gracie lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thompson!
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Thompson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gracie looking to finish with strikes here!

Gracie swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Thompson is now in Gracie's guard. A big mistake from Gracie there, giving up the dominant position!
Thompson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thompson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thompson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thompson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Thompson throws a big right hand that misses.
Thompson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gracie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thompson stopping the sweep attempt from Gracie.
Thompson scoring with some ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gracie is on top in guard.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thompson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gracie passes Thompson's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Gracie is working for a kimura but Thompson is defending it quite comfortably.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amir Thompson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Royce Gracie's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Thompson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thompson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gracie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A big left from Thompson misses.
A big right from Gracie misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thompson.
Thompson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Gracie is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Gracie gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Thompson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie gets full guard.
Gracie pulls Thompson in close to his closed guard and prevents Thompson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Thompson throwing strikes but missing.
Thompson throwing strikes but missing.
Thompson postures up in Gracie's guard and throws a big left but Gracie blocks it.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thompson is one step ahead there.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thompson manages to get himself to full guard.
Gracie throws an elbow that misses. Thompson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Thompson!
Gracie manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie lands a heavy elbow.
Gracie is landing with some decent strikes but Thompson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie scoring with strikes but Thompson is staying in there.
Gracie looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Thompson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Gracie lands with some strikes.
Gracie lands a nice shot to the head.
Thompson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Thompson is trying to escape the mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Thompson is rocked!
Gracie working Thompson over with strikes here.
Oh Thompson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Thompson is working to get back to half guard.
Thompson seems to have got his legs back now.
Gracie lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Gracie unloading with bombs!
Gracie connects with a bit shot that sees Thompson covering up! More strikes from Gracie and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Gracie is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Royce Gracie!
Our winner, Royce Gracie, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.