PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gary Finkler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jim Thompson is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Finkler
vs
Thompson

170 cm
25
160 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gary Finkler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jim Thompson !
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Leandro Rodrigues and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson wants to clinch but Finkler slips to the side

and Finkler counters with a takedown into side control.
Finkler in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Finkler stands up and beckons Thompson to his feet.
Thompson lands a high kick!
Thompson throws a head kick that misses

and Finkler moves into the clinch.

Thompson manages to break the clinch.
Thompson throws a leg kick
and Finkler counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Jim Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson wants to clinch

and Finkler counters with a takedown into side control.

Thompson throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Finkler is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thompson throws a head kick but Finkler moves out of range.
Finkler takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Thompson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Finkler scores with a takedown into Thompson 's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson trying to control the position.
Finkler might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Finkler loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thompson wants to stand up but Finkler is controlling him.

Finkler stands up and waves to Thompson to follow him.
Finkler tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thompson swivels and escapes.
Finkler is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Finkler fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thompson doesn't manage to clinch there - Finkler circles away.
It looked like Finkler was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Thompson is looking to clinch.
Finkler fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thompson is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Thompson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Finkler stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thompson .
Thompson tries to clinch up but Finkler circles away and keeps his distance.
Finkler half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Thompson scores with a body shot.
Thompson lands with a kick to the temple. Finkler shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Thompson wants to clinch.
Thompson scores with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finkler drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Finkler swats away the attempt to clinch by Thompson .
Finkler fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Finkler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Finkler takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Thompson lands with a kick to the temple. Finkler shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Thompson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Finkler.
Finkler circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thompson wants to clinch

and Finkler counters with a shoot takedown. Thompson fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson looking to control.

Finkler decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Thompson fails to land with a series of punches.
Finkler shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thompson defends it nicely.
Finkler sets himself, and Thompson steps forward looking for the clinch! Finkler avoids it this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Finkler slips a jab and a cross from Thompson .
Finkler keeps the fight on the outside.
Finkler drops down looking for a counter takedown but Thompson sprawls and moves away.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Finkler but Finkler pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Finkler fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Thompson dominated that round.
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.

Thompson is looking to clinch but Finkler is avoiding it.
Finkler dives in for a single leg takedown but Thompson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Thompson lands a head kick!
Jim Thompson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thompson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Finkler manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Finkler half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Finkler takes a kick to the side of the head.
Thompson wants to clinch up but Finkler keeps it at a distance.
Thompson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Finkler.
Thompson moves in looking to clinch but Finkler pushes him off.
Thompson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Finkler.
Thompson throws a lazy head kick

and Finkler counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Finkler.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finkler has a couple of punches blocked by Thompson .
Thompson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Finkler avoids it.

Finkler ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Finkler no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Finkler 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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thompson postures up in Finkler's guard and throws a big left but Finkler blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson lands a couple of digs.
Thompson throwing strikes from guard but Finkler blocks nicely.
Thompson throwing strikes but missing.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Finkler is retaining full guard.
Thompson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Finkler keeps moving.

Thompson gets to his feet. Finkler looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Thompson shoots for a double leg takedown but Finkler sprawls well. He's pushed Thompson 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thompson tries to clinch but Finkler moves out of range.

Finkler gets a clinch.
Thompson throws an elbow but it misses.

Finkler pulls Thompson into guard.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Finkler keeps moving.
Thompson preventing the sweep.
Thompson is looking to work some ground and pound but Finkler has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gary Finkler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Finkler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Finkler isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Thompson stacks Finkler on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Thompson !
Sloppy strikes there by Thompson .
Finkler is trying to get back to half guard.
Thompson trying to control the action but Finkler is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thompson is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jim Thompson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Finkler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Thompson tries to clinch there but Finkler circles away.
Thompson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thompson connects with a high kick.
Thompson lands a high kick!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Finkler is defended easily by Thompson .
Thompson tries a quick counter leg kick but Finkler is wise to it.
Gary Finkler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Finkler blocks a head kick by Thompson .
Thompson looks to score with a jab to the body but Finkler is just out of range.
Thompson lands a head kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finkler tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thompson tries a head kick but it misses.
Thompson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Finkler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Finkler is looking for a counter combo.
Finkler darts in looking for a takedown but Thompson gets double underhooks and turns Finkler into the cage.
Thompson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thompson wants to clinch.
Thompson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Finkler avoids the head kick by Thompson .
Finkler walks forward, straight into a front kick from Thompson .
Finkler tries for a takedown but Thompson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Finkler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Thompson moves in looking to clinch but Finkler pushes him off.
A nice inside leg kick there by Thompson . That's going to slow Finkler down.
Thompson scores with a sloppy right hand. Finkler should have avoided that one.
Thompson wants to clinch.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Finkler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thompson tries to clinch up.
Thompson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Thompson .
Finkler fails with the takedown
and Thompson counters with a low kick, right behind Finkler 's knee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Thompson finds it's way through Finkler's defenses.
Thompson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Thompson lands a jab to the nose.
Thompson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Finkler swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Finkler fails with a takedown attempt.
Finkler swats away the attempt to clinch by Thompson .
Finkler tries to counter by clinching up but Thompson breaks away and moves out of range.
Thompson scores with a head kick. Finkler tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson cracks Finkler with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thompson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thompson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Finkler fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Thompson to the ground. Finkler is now in Thompson 's guard.
Finkler is standing up over Thompson . Thompson looks to escape but Finkler dives into side control.
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!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Finkler decides to stand back up.

Finkler clinches with his opponent.
Jim Thompson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Thompson tries to land a knee to the head but Finkler blocks with his arms.
Thompson throws an elbow that misses.
Gary Finkler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Finkler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Thompson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Finkler is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Thompson to the mat. Thompson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Finkler manages to pass to side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Thompson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thompson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

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