PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between gold duct (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Herman Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Herman Thompson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

duct
vs
Thompson

199 cm
22
240 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
23
270 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, gold duct!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Herman Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
duct lands a nice looking kick to the body. Thompson takes a step back to recover.
duct tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thompson tries to clinch but duct moves out of range.
duct throws a head kick that misses.
duct throws a head kick that misses.
duct lands a high kick!

It looks like Herman Thompson has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from duct.
duct throws a head kick that misses.
duct fails with a takedown attempt.
Thompson throws a right and a left that both miss.

Thompson moves into the clinch.

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

Thompson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Thompson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thompson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but duct is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Thompson looks gassed!
duct taking a bit of punishment here - Thompson scoring with strikes.
duct tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Thompson stands up.
duct shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Thompson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in duct's guard.

duct looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
duct wants to stand but Thompson is controlling the position.
Thompson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thompson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but duct is retaining full guard.
Thompson wants to control from the top but duct keeps moving.
Thompson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thompson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson scoring with some ground and pound.
Thompson passes into half guard.
duct missing with punches from the bottom.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
duct looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
duct tries to roll over but Thompson keeps him under control.
Thompson controlling the action here.
Thompson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson lands with a punch from half guard.

Thompson is working for a kimura but duct is defending it quite comfortably.
Thompson is taking a breather. duct says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
duct is not content to let Thompson control the position.
Thompson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed duct's head.
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 gold duct will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Herman Thompson's cut.
That's time! duct's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A head kick misses from duct.
duct misses with a body kick.
duct with a poor takedown

and Thompson counters with a takedown into side control.
Thompson grinds an elbow into duct's temple.
Thompson trying to control the action but duct is working from the bottom.
Thompson is staying tight to duct's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Herman Thompson has got the better of the ground game so far.
duct wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thompson trying to control the action but duct is working from the bottom.
duct trying his best to control but Thompson has mounted him.
Thompson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Thompson working the ground and pound effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Thompson controlling from the full mount.
Thompson lands a nice shot to the head.
Thompson tries to control but duct wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Herman Thompson just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
duct fails with the takedown

and Thompson counters by moving into the clinch.
duct tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thompson smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for gold duct. That's going to take a lot out of him.
duct doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Thompson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in duct's guard now.

duct is looking for a triangle here but Thompson uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Thompson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, duct has escaped the position, nice work there.
The referee asks Thompson politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Thompson prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
duct looking for a sweep but Thompson has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Thompson controlling the position easily from mount.
Thompson avoids the attempt from duct to control.
Thompson landing punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herman Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Herman Thompson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thompson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. duct looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Thompson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused duct some visible discomfort.
You can see the frustration on duct's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Thompson decides to stand back up. Thompson steps back and let's duct get back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thompson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
gold duct seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but duct swivels and escapes.
duct throws a sloppy head kick

and Thompson counters by clinching up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
duct is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thompson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Thompson gets through duct's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of ducts head.
Thompson leaning against his opponent.
Thompson looking to throw knees to the head but duct is blocking nicely.
duct tries to pull guard but Thompson won't allow it.
Thompson presses duct against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Thompson jumps guard.
duct wants to stand but Thompson is controlling his posture from full guard.

Thompson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. duct is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Thompson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take duct's back instead.
Thompson doesn't have the hooks in and duct manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Thompson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thompson trying to control the position.
duct tries to stand but Thompson is controlling from the bottom.
Thompson looking to hit a scissor sweep but duct is one step ahead there.
duct lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Thompson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Thompson looking to secure an arm triangle but duct defends it well.
duct is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A nice elbow there by Thompson.
Thompson controlling the pace for now.
duct is looking to improve his position but Thompson isn't that keen on the idea.
duct tries to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.
Thompson with the ground and pound from mount.
Thompson controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Herman Thompson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Thompson 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 26:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Herman Thompson!