PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Tompkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thiago Santos De Jesus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tompkins's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Dying Fetus - One Shot, One Kill. Santos De Jesus has chosen Without Honor or Humanity as his entrance music. Steve Tompkins has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Tompkins
vs
Santos De Jesus

215 cm
36
277 lbs
18 - 16 - 0

188 cm
28
245 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Tompkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thiago Santos De Jesus!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Chris Dean and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tompkins looks to land a right hand but Santos De Jesus moved out of range.
Tompkins throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Santos De Jesus defending well as Tompkins loads up on a big left hand.
Tompkins cracks Santos De Jesus with a right hand to the side of the head.
Santos De Jesus checks a leg kick nicely.
Tompkins fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tompkins misses with a double jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Santos De Jesus.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Santos De Jesus has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Tompkins misses with a wild body shot.
Steve Tompkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Santos De Jesus throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Tompkins lands a left and a right that send Santos De Jesus crashing to the mat, dazed. Tompkins thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Thiago Santos De Jesus has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice defenses there by Tompkins.
A combination from Tompkins does no damage.
Santos De Jesus tries to score with a low kick but Tompkins moves his leg out of the way.
Tompkins misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Santos De Jesus darts in and clinches Tompkins up against the ropes.
Santos De Jesus tries a knee to the head but Tompkins blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Santos De Jesus tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Tompkins tries to score a body lock takedown but Santos De Jesus shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Santos De Jesus is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Tompkins to keep the fight standing.
Tompkins is looking for a takedown.
Tompkins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Santos De Jesus misses with a hook from the clinch.
Santos De Jesus stalling in the clinch but Tompkins improves position.
Santos De Jesus will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tompkins up against the ropes.
A knee to the head by Santos De Jesus.
Santos De Jesus content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Santos De Jesus tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tompkins is pressed up against the ropes. Santos De Jesus has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tompkins down to the mat. Tompkins avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tompkins misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Santos De Jesus counters with a takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santos De Jesus trying to control the action but Tompkins is working from the bottom.
Santos De Jesus throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Tompkins is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Santos De Jesus off and has taken his back!
Tompkins is landing with strikes. Santos De Jesus can't take much more of this.
Tompkins is hanging on to Santos De Jesus's back as he tries to escape.
Tompkins is not going to allow Santos De Jesus to sit and survive in this position.
Tompkins lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Santos De Jesus has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Tompkins.
Tompkins controls the action.
Tompkins seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Santos De Jesus wants to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos De Jesus avoids the strikes from Tompkins.
Tompkins will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tompkins throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Santos De Jesus tries to roll but Tompkins sticks to his back.
Tompkins misses with an elbow to the head.
Tompkins missing with punches from the back.

Santos De Jesus fending off the submission attempt from Tompkins.
Santos De Jesus holding both Tompkins 's hands and preventing any damage.
Tompkins connects with a big shot to the side of Santos De Jesus's head.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Tompkins gets his hands free as Santos De Jesus looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tompkins is looking to control Santos De Jesus but Santos De Jesus is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Santos De Jesus breaks Tompkins's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Santos De Jesus slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santos De Jesus fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Tompkins managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Santos De Jesus.
Santos De Jesus tries to move to mount but Tompkins blocks the move with his legs.
Santos De Jesus wants to control for a moment but Tompkins uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Santos De Jesus is trying to control. Tompkins wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tompkins misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Santos De Jesus is trying to work for a kimura but Tompkins is defending well.
Santos De Jesus missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Santos De Jesus has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Santos De Jesus is keen to just control but Tompkins is a slippery customer.
Santos De Jesus throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tompkins trying to control from the bottom.

Tompkins looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tompkins tries to roll over but Santos De Jesus keeps him under control.
Tompkins trying to control but Santos De Jesus postures up.
Still in half guard, Santos De Jesus seems content to control.
Tompkins manages to get to full guard.
Tompkins looking to control but Santos De Jesus passes into half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tompkins manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Santos De Jesus's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tompkins keeping moving, preventing Santos De Jesus from controlling successfully.
Santos De Jesus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tompkins works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Santos De Jesus looking to pass the guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tompkins looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Santos De Jesus puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Santos De Jesus throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Santos De Jesus takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tompkins has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Santos De Jesus is working away from the top position though.
Tompkins wants to get back to his feet.
Santos De Jesus lands strikes from half guard.
Santos De Jesus wants to take a breather but Tompkins is having none of it.
Santos De Jesus is pressing down on Tompkins's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tompkins is holding on for now.
Santos De Jesus wants to take a breather but Tompkins is having none of it.
Santos De Jesus is thwarting Tompkins's attempts to control the position.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Santos De Jesus is keen to just control but Tompkins is a slippery customer.
Ground and pound from Santos De Jesus.

Santos De Jesus is looking for a kimura but Tompkins is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Santos De Jesus to get the leverage.
Santos De Jesus is trying to control the action in half guard but Tompkins is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tompkins missing with punches from the bottom.
Tompkins is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Santos De Jesus is trying to work for a kimura but Tompkins is defending well.
Santos De Jesus is thwarting Tompkins's attempts to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tompkins is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Santos De Jesus pulls his head out easily.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Tompkins wants to control but Santos De Jesus is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Santos De Jesus trying to mount his opponent but Tompkins defends it.

Santos De Jesus is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tompkins doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Santos De Jesus.
Santos De Jesus wants to take a breather but Tompkins is having none of it.
Tompkins trying to control from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Santos De Jesus is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Tompkins won't allow Santos De Jesus to pass to mount.
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 Steve Tompkins will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Thiago Santos De Jesus'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. This is the final round!

Santos De Jesus takes one on the button.
Tompkins slips a jab from Santos De Jesus.
Tompkins looks to throw the jab but Santos De Jesus is out of range.
A slow jab from Santos De Jesus misses its intended target.
A punch combination from Tompkins misses.
Santos De Jesus fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Tompkins has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Santos De Jesus takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Tompkins looks to throw the jab but Santos De Jesus is out of range.
Tompkins tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Santos De Jesus defends well and Tompkins ends up having to push Santos De Jesus into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Santos De Jesus just leaning against Tompkins, taking a breather.
Tompkins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Santos De Jesus smiles and moves away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tompkins lands a jab to the nose.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos De Jesus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Santos De Jesus stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Nice defenses there by Santos De Jesus.
Tompkins tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Santos De Jesus defends well and Tompkins ends up having to push Santos De Jesus into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Tompkins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos De Jesus is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tompkins is defending well for now.
Santos De Jesus stalling.
Santos De Jesus misses with a knee to the head.
Santos De Jesus slows down the pace here.
Tompkins tries to pull guard but Santos De Jesus holds him up against the ropes and eventually Tompkins drops back down to his feet.
Santos De Jesus tries a knee to the head but Tompkins blocks it.
Tompkins is pushing Santos De Jesus up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santos De Jesus tries for a takedown but Tompkins manages to get underhooks.
Santos De Jesus landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santos De Jesus throws a knee to the head but misses.
Tompkins tries to circle away but Santos De Jesus has him pinned against the ropes.

Santos De Jesus pulls guard.
Tompkins prevents Santos De Jesus from getting back to his feet.
Santos De Jesus has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Santos De Jesus trying to control the position.
Santos De Jesus looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santos De Jesus is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tompkins is controlling him.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Tompkins lands a couple of digs.
Tompkins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tompkins has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tompkins throws a big right hand that misses.
Thiago Santos De Jesus has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santos De Jesus trying to control the position.
Tompkins wants to control from the top but Santos De Jesus keeps moving.
Santos De Jesus wants to sweep here but Tompkins controlling him for the moment.
Tompkins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Santos De Jesus is trying to keep Tompkins in close.
Santos De Jesus looking for a sweep. Not yet Santos De Jesus, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tompkins is in close to Santos De Jesus's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Santos De Jesus is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Tompkins dives into side control.
Santos De Jesus is not content to let Tompkins control the position.
Santos De Jesus tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Santos De Jesus gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Tompkins is trying to control the action in half guard but Santos De Jesus is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tompkins lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tompkins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santos De Jesus keeps working.
Santos De Jesus is trying to stand up here but Tompkins is controlling him well.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Tompkins not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Santos De Jesus avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tompkins.
Santos De Jesus gets back to full guard.
Tompkins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Santos De Jesus not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Santos De Jesus is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Santos De Jesus bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tompkins's guard.

Tompkins is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Santos De Jesus is aware though and is defending well.

Tompkins is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Santos De Jesus stands and throws Tompkins's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Santos De Jesus trying to control the action but Tompkins is working from the bottom.
Tompkins wants to get back to his feet.
Santos De Jesus is looking to take a break and control but Tompkins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Santos De Jesus goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Tompkins rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Santos De Jesus's guard! Nice work there by Tompkins!
Tompkins working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Santos De Jesus's head.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Tompkins trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Santos De Jesus has his hands on Tompkins's head, controlling the position.
Tompkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Santos De Jesus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tompkins throws an elbow that misses. Santos De Jesus uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tompkins's guard. Nice move by Santos De Jesus!
Santos De Jesus working some strikes from top position.
Santos De Jesus postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tompkins not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tompkins keeping full guard, as Santos De Jesus tries to pass.

Tompkins has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Santos De Jesus can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Tompkins is trying to keep Santos De Jesus in close.
Santos De Jesus trying to control the position from guard on top but Tompkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santos De Jesus might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Tompkins haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santos De Jesus throws a big elbow that misses.

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

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Tompkins stopping the sweep attempt from Santos De Jesus.
Tompkins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Santos De Jesus manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Santos De Jesus wants to control the pace but Tompkins is squirming around nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tompkins tries to hold on but Santos De Jesus postures up.
Tompkins is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thiago Santos De Jesus.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight for Thiago Santos De Jesus!
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight for Thiago Santos De Jesus!
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight for Steve Tompkins!

Thiago Santos De Jesus wins by split decision!
A relieved looking Thiago Santos De Jesus thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.