PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michal Kucharski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michal Kucharski could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Benjamin Thompson's chin.

Kucharski
vs
Thompson

177 cm
22
144 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

GRAND Royal Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michal Kucharski!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Benjamin Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kucharski looking to score a takedown here. Thompson is defending well but Kucharski drives through and ends up in Thompson's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Thompson working for a triangle but Kucharski defends it easily.
Kucharski trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Kucharski looking to pass the guard.
Kucharski slips nicely into half guard.
Kucharski is pressing down on Thompson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thompson is holding on for now.
Kucharski scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kucharski keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kucharski is trying to control the action in half guard but Thompson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kucharski sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thompson defending well though.
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!

Kucharski wants to work for an arm triangle but Thompson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kucharski is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thompson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kucharski.

Thompson actively working from the bottom here.

Kucharski seems to be looking for submissions.
Thompson is trying to get back to full guard.

Thompson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kucharski pulls his head out easily.
Thompson is staying active underneath Kucharski, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kucharski wants to free his trapped foot but Thompson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kucharski passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Thompson!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kucharski wants to control the pace but Thompson is squirming around nicely.
Kucharski working the ground and pound effectively.
Thompson tries to hold on but Kucharski pushes him away.
Kucharski looking to control but Thompson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Kucharski goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Thompson turns into him and now he's in Kucharski's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Thompson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kucharski manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Thompson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Thompson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kucharski is on top in guard.
Kucharski pushes down on Thompson's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kucharski passes to side control.
Kucharski lands a few punches from side control.
Thompson is trying to improve his position.
Thompson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Kucharski is trying to get an arm triangle but Thompson is defending well.

That's four 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 can't do much from the bottom here.
Kucharski wants to control but Thompson is keeping him busy.

Kucharski is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Thompson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Thompson is looking for a sweep.
Thompson struggling a bit here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kucharski connects with a decent elbow.
Kucharski looking to control but instead Thompson has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Thompson taking some punishment here, with Kucharski in his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Kucharski dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Kucharski closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Thompson quickly recovers to half guard.
Kucharski working Thompson over with strikes.
Kucharski has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kucharski in particular looking to stall.
Thompson is in trouble now - Kucharski has advanced to mount!
Kucharski looking to control and managing it successfully.

Kucharski goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Thompson turns into him and now he's in Kucharski's guard.
Thompson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kucharski looking for a sweep. Not yet Kucharski, not yet.
Kucharski striking off his back but it's not causing Thompson any problems.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kucharski wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.

Thompson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Thompson drops back looking for a leg! Kucharski is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kucharski manages to kick Thompson off! Thompson jumps back into Kucharski's guard.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Kucharski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kucharski bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thompson's guard.
Thompson wants to sweep here but Kucharski controlling him for the moment.

Thompson has his foot on Kucharski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kucharski works his way back into a safe position though.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Kucharski from controlling successfully.
Kucharski forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kucharski works his way into full mount!
Thompson tries to lock up and control but Kucharski gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kucharski lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Michal Kucharski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kucharski with good strikes from the mount here!

Thompson is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kucharski has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Thompson's face.
Thompson is still in real trouble! Can Kucharski finish him?
Kucharski unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Thompson wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Kucharski celebrates on the ropes and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michal Kucharski!
Michal Kucharski retains his bantamweight title!
A very excited looking Michal Kucharski made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.