PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matt Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tetsuya Tate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Thompson
vs
Tate

225 cm
26
130 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
20
141 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matt Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tetsuya Tate!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tate blocks a head kick by Thompson.
Thompson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thompson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tate's calf.
Tate tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tate takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Tetsuya Tate has been cut.
Thompson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Tate.
Thompson lands a head kick. Tate smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Tate takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Tate shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Thompson is trying to defend but Tate finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tate stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Thompson to get to his feet.

Tate drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Tate tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson tries to buck Tate off but Tate is having none of it.
Tate throwing strikes but Thompson manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Tate tries to buck Thompson off but Thompson is having none of it.
Thompson tries to move into full mount but can't pass Tate's legs.
Tate tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thompson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tate, who protects the arm well.
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 wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tate, who protects the arm well.
Tate is trying to control Thompson's posture but Thompson avoids it.
Tate is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate is trying to buck Thompson off.

Thompson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tate is trying to control Thompson's posture but Thompson avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thompson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Thompson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Thompson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tate keeps working.
Tate struggling a bit here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tate prevents Thompson from moving into 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 Matt Thompson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tetsuya Tate's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thompson lands with a kick to the temple. Tate shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Thompson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Tate shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Thompson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Tate passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Thompson can't do much from the bottom here.
Thompson is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Combat Zone [15 Elite & Sauna, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Thompson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tate is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Thompson is trying to get back to half guard.
Tate throws an elbow but Thompson slips to the side and avoids it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tate goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Thompson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Tate but great work by Thompson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson is staying tight to Tate's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Tate can't do much from the bottom here.
Tate stops Thompson from passing to mount.
Tate tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
We've been informed that Tate has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Will Thompson go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate trying to control the hands but Thompson won't let him.
Tate breaks Thompson's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Tate throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Thompson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tate doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tate manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tate thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tate trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tate working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thompson's head.
Tate looking to pass the guard.
Tate postures up.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Tate from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thompson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tate controlling from the top position.
Tetsuya Tate has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tetsuya Tate.
Thompson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tate misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tate moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Thompson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tetsuya Tate will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tetsuya Tate'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 misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tate blocks a head kick by Thompson.
Thompson throws a sloppy head kick

and Tate counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tate.
Tate is looking to stand up but Thompson won't let him.
Thompson working a defensive guard here.

Thompson is looking for a triangle here but Tate uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Tate trying to control the action but Thompson is working from the bottom.

Tate stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tate throws a series of punches but Thompson moves out of range.
Matt Thompson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thompson scores with a head kick.
Thompson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tetsuya Tate is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thompson throws a sloppy head kick and Tate moves out of range easily.

Tate drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tate sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Thompson trying to keep a closed guard but Tate is proving a slippery customer.
Tate postures up in Thompson's guard and throws a big left but Thompson blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tate forces his way into half guard.
Tate thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thompson's head.

Tate is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tate is keen to just control but Thompson is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tate seems to be working for a kimura but Thompson defends the submission attempt.

Thompson actively working from the bottom here.

Tate is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thompson has managed to free his arm - good work.

Tate is working for a kimura but Thompson is defending it quite comfortably.
Thompson trying to control but Tate postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tate wants to control but Thompson is keeping him busy.
Tate is thwarting Thompson's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tate misses with a head shot. Thompson uses the momentum to regain guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson trying to keep a closed guard but Tate is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tetsuya Tate comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tate has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tetsuya Tate!
A relieved looking Tetsuya Tate thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.