PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Nufir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Max Nufir looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Thompson
vs
Nufir

182 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
167 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stephen Thompson !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Nufir!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nufir throws a hook to the side of Thompson 's head but Thompson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Nufir rushes Thompson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Nufir is fighting off a takedown attempt but Thompson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Nufir to the mat. Nufir regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Nufir manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but Nufir shows good takedown defense.
Thompson misses with a series of wild punches.
Stephen Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nufir throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch but Nufir swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nufir is looking for the big counter here.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Nufir sprawls well. Nufir wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thompson gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Thompson . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nufir stuffs the takedown.

Nufir takes the fight into the clinch.
Nufir tries to break the clinch but Thompson is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Nufir's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Thompson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Thompson gets caught napping as Nufir dives in and scores a takedown. Thompson manages to retain guard.
Nufir looks winded!
Nufir in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Nufir avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nufir trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nufir is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Thompson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Thompson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Thompson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nufir accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nufir controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nufir preventing the sweep.
Thompson being controlled here, momentarily.

Nufir stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nufir moves into the clinch.
Thompson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Thompson keeps control of Nufir as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Thompson looking for a takedown.

Nufir escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thompson tries to break free but Nufir pushes him back against the cage.
We've been informed that Nufir has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Nufir is trying to push Thompson away but Thompson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Thompson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Nufir gets a clinch.
Thompson tries to circle away but Nufir has him pinned against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Nufir.
Thompson is trying to break the clinch but Nufir has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nufir breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Nufir pushes Thompson up against the cage in a clinch.
Thompson has Nufir pressed against the cage, preventing Nufir from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Thompson 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Nufir takes the fight into the clinch.

Thompson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nufir with a poor takedown

and Thompson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Nufir's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nufir gets underhooks to prevent Thompson 's takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thompson wants a takedown.

Nufir breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thompson shoots in but Nufir avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Nufir 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.

Nufir defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thompson .

Nufir drives through and clinches with Thompson against the cage.
Nufir lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nufir is trying to break free.
Thompson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nufir wants to break free but Thompson has control.
Nufir wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nufir is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Thompson pulls guard effortlessly.

Nufir gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Nufir has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nufir is looking to clinch but Thompson is avoiding it.
Nufir stuffs the takedown attempt from Thompson . Thompson gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Thompson . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Danga de danga de dang - Nufir scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Stephen Thompson has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nufir throws a right hand that Thompson ducks under and follows up with a left that Thompson also avoids with ease.
Thompson fails with the takedown.
A leg kick checked by Thompson .

Nufir closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Nufir pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thompson avoids a punch combination nicely.

Thompson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nufir can't break the clinch.
Thompson is working for takedown but Nufir is calmly controlling the position for now.
Nufir wants to break the clinch but can't.
Thompson is trying to pull guard but Nufir has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Nufir regains guard.

Nufir is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Thompson presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Thompson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thompson is defended easily by Nufir.
Thompson sets himself, and Nufir steps forward looking for the clinch! Thompson avoids it this time.
Nufir scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Donk. Nufir catches Thompson right on the button with a cross.
Max Nufir seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A combination from Thompson does no damage.
Nufir pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Thompson back to the cage. Nufir follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Nufir clinches up with Thompson and pushes him back against the cage.
Nufir wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thompson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Nufir clinches.
Nufir looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Nufir breaks the clinch.

Thompson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nufir's half guard.

Thompson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Nufir tries to kick Thompson off but Thompson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Max Nufir has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson tries to pass to full mount but Nufir defends it.

Thompson is working for a submission of some sort.
Nufir looks like he's trying to stand up.
Thompson trying to control the action but Nufir is working from the bottom.
Thompson wants to pass to mount but Nufir is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Nufir showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Stephen Thompson '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 shoots in but Nufir avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A countering left hand to the body from Nufir misses.
Thompson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thompson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nufir lands a jab-cross combination.
Nufir tries to land a leg kick but Thompson saw it coming and moves away.
Nufir listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Thompson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Thompson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nufir cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nufir gets a clinch.
Nufir tries to break free but Thompson pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Thompson manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Nufir does no damage.
Thompson tries for a takedown but Nufir circles away easily
and Nufir counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen Thompson . That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nufir throws a combination. Thompson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Thompson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nufir lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thompson circles away quickly and effectively.
Thompson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Nufir keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thompson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thompson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Thompson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A combination from Nufir does no damage.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nufir but Nufir pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thompson takes one on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Nufir's head.
Nufir pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Thompson goes for a double leg but Nufir avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nufir continues to drive forward.
Nufir throws a counter combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thompson shoots for a double leg takedown but Nufir sprawls well. He's pushed Thompson 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thompson moves out of range of the body kick.

Thompson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nufir looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Nufir throws Thompson to one side and escapes!

Nufir rushes Thompson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Nufir prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Nufir.

Thompson breaks the clinch.
Thompson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Nufir manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Left hook, right uppercut from Nufir.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nufir scores with a nice strike.
Thompson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Stephen Thompson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Nufir drives through and clinches with Thompson against the cage.
Thompson can't get the takedown.
Max Nufir is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Nufir breaks the clinch.
Nufir rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thompson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thompson goes for a double leg but Nufir avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Nufir continues to drive forward.

Nufir closes the distance and pushes Thompson back into the cage.

Thompson breaks the clinch.

Thompson tries to keep at a distance but Nufir has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thompson works on Nufir's body with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thompson manages to break the clinch.
Thompson shoots in looking for a takedown but Nufir manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thompson 's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Nufir closes the distance and pushes Thompson back into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Nufir breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Nufir rushes Thompson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Thompson manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Thompson . No joy for Nufir on that attempt.
Thompson throws a sloppy head kick
and Nufir counters with a left and a right that stings Thompson .
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but Nufir shows good takedown defense.
Thompson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Thompson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nufir is fending him off so far but Thompson persists. Nope, Nufir circles away and we're back to standing.
Nufir lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Nufir comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nufir has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Nufir!