PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between steven thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rock Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). thompson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is so cold. Rock Gracie is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

thompson
vs
Gracie

177 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, steven thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rock Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
thompson misses with a two punch combination.
thompson shoots in but Gracie avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gracie.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
thompson pushes Gracie away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Gracie gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
thompson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Gracie is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, thompson has managed to free his arm - good work.
thompson wants to get back to his feet.

Gracie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so thompson is just riding it out for now. Gracie eventually gives up the hold.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but thompson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Gracie looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie stops thompson from getting back to his feet.

thompson kicks off Gracie and gets to his feet.
Gracie takes one to the chin there.
A combination from thompson does no damage.
Gracie with a poor takedown
and thompson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
thompson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
thompson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
steven thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
thompson is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and thompson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
thompson is looking to clinch.
Gracie has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
thompson fails to land with a series of punches.
thompson shoots in and drives through. Gracie sprawls well.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and thompson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
steven thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rock Gracie.
thompson throws a head kick that Gracie semi-blocks.
thompson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
thompson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Gracie thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gracie tries to move into full mount but can't pass thompson's legs.

Gracie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
thompson wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Gracie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gracie is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but thompson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, thompson has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

steven thompson dominated that round.
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 throws a nice looking combination but Gracie bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
thompson moves in looking to clinch but Gracie pushes him off.
Gracie shoots and misses
and thompson counters with a leg kick.

Gracie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. thompson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
thompson struggling a bit here.
thompson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gracie's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
thompson wants to improve his position but Gracie is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
thompson is trying to stand up here but Gracie is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Gracie is working for a kimura but thompson is defending it quite comfortably.
thompson is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
thompson is pressing down on Gracie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
thompson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! thompson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and thompson manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into thompson's guard.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
thompson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.

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

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
thompson lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
thompson lands a with a good body shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by thompson.

Gracie shoots in and bounces thompson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Gracie is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
thompson is trying to keep Gracie in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! thompson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and thompson manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into thompson's guard.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but thompson is retaining full guard.

thompson pushes Gracie off and scrambles back to his feet.
thompson misses with a leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
thompson scoring well with a low kick there.
Gracie shoots and misses
and thompson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rock Gracie will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

and thompson moves into the clinch.
thompson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gracie has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. thompson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
thompson is looking to break free of the clinch but Gracie has double underhooks.
thompson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
thompson has had enough of the clinch but Gracie keeps him there for the moment.
Gracie goes for a takedown attempt but thompson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
steven thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rock Gracie.
thompson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts thompson, as that shot connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
thompson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by thompson.
thompson lands a jab-cross combination.
thompson explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

thompson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
thompson wants to stand up but Gracie is controlling the position.

Gracie actively working from the bottom here.

Gracie looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
thompson working the head and body with strikes.
Gracie gets full guard.

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

thompson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
thompson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
thompson trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but thompson frees his head nicely. Oh but Gracie has switched to an armbar! thompson is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Rock Gracie!