PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Del Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesper Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson's entrance music is Gin and Juice by Snoop Dog. A fine choice. Rush has chosen Tom Sawyer - Rush as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thompson
vs
Rush

175 cm
31
202 lbs
15 - 12 - 0

187 cm
35
188 lbs
27 - 14 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Determined

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 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Del Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Jesper Rush!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson misses with a two punch combination.
Thompson lands a nice hook to Rush's body. Rush takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Del Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rush moves into the clinch.
Rush tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Thompson breaks the clinch.

Thompson moves into range and clinches up with Rush.
Thompson swings wildly with an uppercut but Rush uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rush misses with a knee to the head.
Rush is trying to force a seperation but Thompson has the dominant position.
Rush is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Rush works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Rush throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thompson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rush throws a strike but Thompson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thompson wanted to stand there but Rush had control of the position.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rush is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Rush goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Thompson is on top in guard.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Rush keeps moving.
Rush is trying to control the position but Thompson postures up.
Rush tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thompson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Rush keeps moving.
Thompson won't allow Rush to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Del Thompson.

Rush closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Thompson quickly recovers to half guard.

Thompson kicks off Rush and gets to his feet.
Thompson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Rush pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thompson stuffs the takedown.

Thompson moves into the clinch successfully.
Rush is looking for a takedown.
Del Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesper Rush.
Thompson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Thompson tries to throw a body punch but Rush avoids it by throwing Thompson back against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Rush.
Rush wants to get back to striking at distance but Thompson won't allow it.

Rush gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rush working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush throws an elbow that misses. Thompson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Rush's guard. Nice move by Thompson!
Rush trying to control the position here.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rush is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson looking to sit in guard and control but Rush gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rush stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thompson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rush drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Thompson dives on top into guard.
Rush has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thompson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rush is trying to improve his position.
Thompson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rush is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Rush struggling a bit here.
Rush is looking to reverse the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Thompson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thompson tries for a kimura but Rush is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jesper Rush will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thompson instigates a clinch.
Thompson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Thompson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Thompson lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Jesper Rush has been cut.
Thompson misses with a body punch.
Rush scores with a knee to the head.
Rush is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rush blocks the body kick.

Thompson clinches up against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thompson throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A combination from Thompson does no damage.

Thompson moves into the clinch successfully.
Rush has Thompson pressed against the cage, preventing Thompson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Thompson manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Thompson.
Thompson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Thompson darts in and clinches Rush up against the cage.
Rush is pushing Thompson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rush wants to stall.
Thompson misses with a punch on the inside.
Thompson working Rush over with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Thompson.
Rush is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thompson is defending well for now.
Thompson has Rush pressed against the cage, preventing Rush from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rush goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Thompson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Rush or perhaps it was just good defense by Thompson which made him look bad.
Rush is breathing heavily.

Thompson instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thompson lands a body punch.
Thompson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rush is trying to drag Thompson to the mat but Thompson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Del Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesper Rush.
A nice right hand lands inside from Thompson.
Thompson prevents the takedown attempt.

Thompson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rush shoots in looking for a takedown. Thompson tries to sprawl out of it but Rush keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thompson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Thompson instigates a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Thompson as Rush tries to tie him up.

Thompson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Thompson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rush goes for a takedown in the clinch but Thompson prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Thompson drives through and clinches with Rush against the cage.
Thompson scores with a shoulder strike.

Rush tightens his grip and picks Thompson up, before dumping him to the ground. Thompson manages to land in guard.

Thompson pushes Rush off and gets back to his feet.

Thompson clinches up against the cage.
Thompson misses with a punch to the body.
Rush has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Thompson after a bit of a struggle.

Thompson breaks the clinch.

Thompson drives through and clinches with Rush against the cage.
Thompson cracks Rush with a nice body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rush using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thompson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thompson lands an elbow just above Rush 's eye.
Rush looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Thompson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rush goes for a takedown in the clinch but Thompson prevents it.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Thompson moves into the clinch.
Thompson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Thompson lands an elbow just above Rush 's eye.

Thompson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rush fails with a takedown attempt.
Del Thompson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thompson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Rush gets tackled into the cage by Thompson. Thompson maintains the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Thompson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Thompson clinches.
Thompson lands a hook that snaps the head of Rush backwards.
Rush keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thompson's efforts to push away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Del Thompson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jesper Rush's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Thompson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Rush is rocked!
Rush changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thompson tries to avoid it but Rush manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thompson to the ground. Thompson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rush is looking to clinch.
Del Thompson is winning the standup battle so far.
Thompson throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Thompson moves into range and clinches up with Rush.
Thompson tries to break the clinch but Rush is controlling the position.
Thompson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rush tries for a takedown but Thompson manages to get underhooks.
Rush looking for a takedown.
Del Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesper Rush.
Rush drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Thompson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Del Thompson has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Thompson moves into the clinch successfully.
A right handed body shot lands from Thompson.
A short body shot lands from Thompson as the two fighters clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush goes for a takedown attempt but Thompson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Rush takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Thompson rushes Rush and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thompson crunches a lovely knee into Rush's ribcage.
Thompson lands with a short shot to the head.
Rush has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thompson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Rush's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Thompson breaks from the clinch.

Thompson gets a clinch.
Thompson is leaning against Rush and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thompson cracks Rush with a nice body shot.

Thompson breaks the clinch.
Thompson tries a head kick but it misses.

Rush tries to keep at a distance but Thompson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thompson struggles to land a body shot inside as Rush controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush wants a takedown but no success here.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Thompson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rush, pushing him back against the cage.
A hook to the body from Thompson.
Rush goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thompson lands an elbow inside.
Thompson prevents a body shot from Rush.
Thompson lands an elbow just above Rush 's eye.
Rush is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Thompson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rush can do to turn this around?
Thompson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Thompson manages to break the clinch.

Thompson pushes Rush up against the cage in a clinch.
Thompson struggles to land a body shot inside as Rush controls his hands.
Thompson lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson breaks from the clinch.
Thompson stalks Rush and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rush's face. Rush staggers backwards, shaken.
Rush is still on wobbly legs! Can Thompson finish him?

Thompson closes the distance and clinches.
Rush seems to have recovered his senses.
Thompson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rush looking for a takedown.
A right hand to the body from Thompson.
A left hand lands to the body for Thompson.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice body punch from Thompson - that landed with a thud.
Thompson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rush in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Thompson.
Rush's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Thompson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Thompson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Thompson forces Rush back against the cage and clinches.
Rush tries for a takedown but Thompson manages to get underhooks.
Thompson lands a left hand.
Thompson presses Rush against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thompson breaks the clinch.
Left hook, right uppercut from Thompson.
Thompson misses with a head kick.

Thompson moves into range and clinches up with Rush.

Thompson breaks from the clinch.

Thompson has closed the distance and engaged Rush in a clinch.

Thompson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Rush or perhaps it was just good defense by Thompson which made him look bad.

Thompson pushes Rush up against the cage in a clinch.

Thompson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thompson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rush in his tracks.

Thompson closes the distance and clinches.
Thompson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rush keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thompson's efforts to push away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Del Thompson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thompson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Del Thompson!
Del Thompson made sure to mention his sponsor, Global Nutritional ACME (Q157) 90% ROR on Laundry in his post fight interview.