PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roman Zamora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson has chosen The Boys Are Back by Dropkick Murphys as his entrance music. Chris Thompson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Zamora
vs
Thompson

215 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roman Zamora!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Russell Pearce and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zamora throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Thompson was covering up waiting for the punch and Zamora finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Thompson is looking to stand up but Zamora isn't so interested in that idea.
Zamora with a nice head shot there.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet but Zamora is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Zamora trying to stand up but can't free himself from Thompson's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zamora connects with a couple of short punches.
Thompson controls Zamora momentarily but Zamora frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thompson trying to control the position.
Thompson wants to stand up but Zamora is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Zamora bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Thompson throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zamora is defended easily by Thompson.
Zamora misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Thompson has closed the distance and engaged Zamora in a clinch.

Thompson lands a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zamora is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson postures up in Zamora's guard and throws a big left but Zamora blocks it.
Zamora wants to sweep but no luck.
Thompson wants to stand but Zamora has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thompson prevents Zamora from getting back to his feet.
Zamora is controlling Thompson's posture.
Zamora is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thompson is controlling him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Thompson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zamora struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zamora is pushing Thompson's head away, looking to escape. Thompson manages to hold on to the position though.
Zamora trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Zamora wants to control but Thompson postures up.
Thompson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zamora keeps working.

Thompson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Chris Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Thompson clinches.
Thompson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Thompson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thompson pushes Zamora up against the cage in a clinch.
Zamora tries to pull guard but Thompson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Zamora has had enough of the clinch but Thompson keeps him there for the moment.
Zamora has Thompson pressed against the cage.
Zamora is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Thompson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Zamora regains guard immediately.
Chris Thompson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zamora is controlling Thompson's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zamora is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Zamora wants to break the clinch but can't.
We've been informed that Thompson has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thompson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Thompson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Thompson is trying to keep Zamora in close.
Thompson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zamora working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thompson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Zamora lands a couple of digs.

Thompson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Thompson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson looking to pass the guard.
Thompson stops Zamora from standing up.
Thompson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thompson tries to stand but Zamora is controlling from the bottom.
Zamora is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thompson is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zamora is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Roman Zamora is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thompson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zamora.

Thompson forces Zamora back against the cage and clinches.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thompson throws a head kick that misses.
Nice takedown defense from Thompson. No joy for Zamora on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Zamora. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thompson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Zamora's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thompson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thompson stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Thompson instigates a clinch.
Thompson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Zamora is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Thompson stalls.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Thompson moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Thompson misses with a head kick.

Zamora shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Thompson napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Thompson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Zamora shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thompson defends it nicely.

Thompson clinches with his opponent.
Zamora has had enough of the clinch but Thompson keeps him there for the moment.

Thompson tightens his grip and picks Zamora up, before dumping him to the ground. Zamora manages to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thompson prevents Zamora from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zamora is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Zamora is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thompson is controlling him.
Thompson content to stall in guard here.

Zamora is looking for a triangle but Thompson pushes his legs off easily.
Thompson is looking to stand up but Zamora won't let him.

That's two 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.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Zamora keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Thompson stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Thompson pushes Zamora up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Thompson gets a clinch.
Zamora has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Thompson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thompson digs a right hand into Zamora's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zamora's gas tank.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thompson is pushing Zamora up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Zamora is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Thompson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson manages to pull guard.
Thompson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thompson working a defensive guard here.
Thompson wants to sweep here but Zamora controlling him for the moment.
Thompson is looking to stand up but Zamora isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Zamora throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thompson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Thompson throws a shot to the body.

Zamora feints and as Thompson raises his hands in defense, Zamora changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Thompson kicks Zamora off and gets to his feet.

Zamora manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Thompson on his heels. He'll look to pass Thompson's guard now, I'm sure.
Thompson is adopting a defensive guard.
Zamora really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Zamora won't allow Thompson to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Thompson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thompson 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Thompson!
Our winner, Chris Thompson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.