PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billy Shears (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shears comes into the arena with Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band blaring out of the sound system. Billy Shears has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Shears
vs
Thompson

185 cm
28
221 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

190 cm
22
215 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Shears!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shears feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Shears from controlling successfully.
Shears pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thompson is keeping the position for now.
Shears trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shears preventing the sweep.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Shears from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Billy Shears.
Thompson scores with a shot to the body.
Shears swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thompson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shears misses with the combination.
Thompson misses with a straight right.
Thompson blocks a jab.
Thompson stuffs the takedown attempt from Shears. Shears gets slowly back to his feet.
Thompson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Thompson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A low kick from Shears misses

and Thompson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Thompson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shears has hold of Thompson's hands but Thompson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Thompson is looking to advance position but Shears won't allow it.
Thompson wants to take a breather but Shears is having none of it.
Shears moves into full guard.
Thompson passes Shears's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shears tries to roll over but Thompson keeps him under control.
Shears won't allow Thompson to pass to mount.
Shears tries to get to full guard but Thompson has control of the leg.
Shears trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thompson looking to finish Shears with some ground and pound. This is bad for Shears!
Shears is working to get back to half guard.
Thompson controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shears is looking to escape.
Thompson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Thompson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shears is looking to escape.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

John Thompson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Shears tests Thompson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Shears connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Thompson's hands.
Shears shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shears looks to land a combination but Thompson avoids it well.

Shears gets caught flat footed, as Thompson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thompson trying to control but Shears is working from the bottom.
Thompson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shears swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thompson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Thompson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shears is keeping the position for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shears looking for a sweep. Not yet Shears, not yet.
Thompson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Thompson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thompson jabs Shears to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Thompson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shears shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thompson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shears.
Shears shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thompson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thompson attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Shears fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Shears. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson dodges the punch combination from Shears.
Thompson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Thompson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Shears counters with an inside leg kick.
Shears moves out of range of the leg kick from Thompson.
Shears swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Billy Shears is winning the standup battle so far.
Thompson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shears sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Thompson somewhat.
Shears shoots in for a takedown but Thompson shows good takedown defense.
Shears throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No joy there for Shears, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Shears wants to clinch.
Thompson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shears.
Shears shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thompson but Thompson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thompson misses the shot to the body.
Shears darts in trying to clinch
and Thompson counters with a low kick, right behind Shears 's knee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Shears misses with a takedown
and Thompson counters with an outside leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shears on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Thompson stuns Shears with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shears shoots in and drives through. Thompson sprawls well.
Thompson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Thompson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Shears rather than just go for the knockout.
The crowd cheers as Thompson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Shears doesn't seem phased though.
Thompson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Shears manages to avoid it.
Shears steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thompson.
Shears will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The fighters circling - Shears throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thompson lands a nice hook to Shears's body. Shears takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thompson. Shears does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thompson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Shears throws out a loose jab but Thompson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shears is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Thompson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thompson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shears.
Thompson doesn't manage to clinch there - Shears circles away.
Thompson ducks under a wild hook from Shears.
Shears walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Thompson staying out of range there.
Thompson misses with a body shot.
Thompson moves out of range as Shears strikes.
Thompson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shears moves away.
Thompson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Shears stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Thompson lands a nice shot that snaps Shears's head back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shears wants to clinch up but Thompson keeps it at a distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shears lands a nice looking body shot.
Thompson throws a quick inside leg kick.

Shears changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thompson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Shears tries to advance to mount but can't.
Thompson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Thompson trying to control here.
Thompson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Shears trying to control from half guard but Thompson is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Shears's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Thompson scores with a nice strike.
Thompson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thompson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Shears stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Shears rushes Thompson and presses him up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shears.
Thompson tries to stall but Shears uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Shears blocks a body shot from Thompson.
Shears throws a punch but it's blocked by Thompson.
Shears misses with a body punch.
Thompson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shears blocks a body shot from Thompson.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Shears.
Thompson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thompson wants to get back to striking at distance but Shears won't allow it.
Thompson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thompson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Shears.
Good body shot from Shears.
Shears lands a body shot.
Thompson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A shot in the inside from Shears.
Shears tries to stall but Thompson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Shears manages to break the clinch.
Shears rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thompson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thompson throws an overhand right that lands on Shears's shoulder, as Shears tries to avoid the shot.
Shears looks to score with a jab to the body but Thompson is just out of range.
Shears shoots in looking for a takedown but Thompson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Shears's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thompson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thompson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shears.
Thompson defending well as Shears loads up on a big left hand.
Shears dodges the punch combination from Thompson.
Shears will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson slaps away a takedown attempt from Shears, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy Shears. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters circle momentarily. Thompson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Shears tries to bum rush Thompson with a series of wild strikes but Thompson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thompson ducks right into an uppercut from Shears.
Thompson pushes Shears away with a front kick.
Shears takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Shears tries for a takedown but Thompson circles away easily
and Thompson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thompson lands a glancing blow to the side of Shears's head.

Shears gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thompson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Shears keeps moving.
Billy Shears has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Thompson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Thompson seems to have locked his on tight now - Shears screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Thompson, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). John Thompson!
John Thompson tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.