PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manus Dinapoli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hunter Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dinapoli's entrance music is Cavo - Thick As Thieves. A fine choice. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Dinapoli
vs
Thompson

185 cm
25
200 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

179 cm
39
195 lbs
18 - 4 - 2

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manus Dinapoli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 4 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hunter Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dinapoli misses with a two punch combination.
Dinapoli scores with a punch to the head.
Thompson lets loose with a powerful body kick. Dinapoli will feel that in the morning.
Thompson lands a two punch combo.
Thompson throws a lazy right hand but Dinapoli sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dinapoli throws a head kick that misses
and Thompson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dinapoli fails with the takedown
letting Thompson counter with a right hand.
Thompson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thompson throws a right hand that Dinapoli ducks under and follows up with a left that Dinapoli also avoids with ease.
Dinapoli seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Thompson with a nice cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dinapoli misses the shot to the body.
Manus Dinapoli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
An inside leg kick lands from Thompson.
Dinapoli blocks a jab.
Dinapoli takes one to the chin there.
Dinapoli dodges the punch combination from Thompson.
Dinapoli looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Dinapoli throws a looping overhand right but Thompson ducks down to avoid it.
Thompson turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson misses with the combination.
Hunter Thompson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thompson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Thompson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Dinapoli fails with a takedown attempt.
Thompson stuns Dinapoli with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A big right from Dinapoli misses.
Thompson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dinapoli fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dinapoli ducks under a wild hook from Thompson.
Thompson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manus Dinapoli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thompson clobbers Dinapoli with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Dinapoli tries to clinch there but Thompson circles away.

Dinapoli gets the takedown into side control.

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!
Dinapoli controls the position.
Dinapoli is looking to take a break and control but Thompson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thompson is looking for a sweep.
Thompson is not content to let Dinapoli control the position.
Dinapoli moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Thompson tries to buck Dinapoli off but Dinapoli is having none of it.
Thompson is being controlled here.
Dinapoli trying to control the position but Thompson is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson struggling a bit here.
Dinapoli controls the position.
Dinapoli scoring with punches from side control.
Dinapoli is looking to take a break and control but Thompson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dinapoli taking a break here but Thompson is having none of it and regains half guard.

Dinapoli is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thompson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Thompson is looking to control Dinapoli's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thompson avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dinapoli seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thompson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dinapoli is looking to advance position but Thompson won't allow it.
Dinapoli is stalling here. Thompson is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Dinapoli seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Thompson has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Dinapoli prevents Thompson from moving into mount.
Dinapoli tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thompson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Thompson trying to control the action but Dinapoli is working from the bottom.
Dinapoli struggling a bit here.
Thompson in side control, throwing shots but Dinapoli defends.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Thompson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dinapoli shoots in for a takedown but Thompson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thompson slips a jab and a cross from Dinapoli.

Dinapoli moves into the clinch successfully.
Thompson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dinapoli is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thompson is keeping busy.
Thompson has Dinapoli pushed against the cage.
Dinapoli tries a knee to the head but Thompson blocks it.
Thompson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dinapoli backwards.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Thompson blocks an elbow strike from Dinapoli.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dinapoli misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thompson.
Thompson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Dinapoli up against the cage.
Dinapoli misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dinapoli lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Hunter Thompson has been cut.
Dinapoli can't get the takedown.
Thompson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dinapoli backwards.
Dinapoli drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manus Dinapoli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dinapoli is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Dinapoli turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Dinapoli manages to end up in side control.
Thompson gets back to half guard.
Dinapoli wants to control but Thompson is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet.
Dinapoli controlling the action here.
Dinapoli is trying to control the action in half guard but Thompson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Thompson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Dinapoli trying to control the action but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Thompson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Dinapoli is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dinapoli stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thompson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dinapoli controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Thompson moves out of range as Dinapoli strikes.
Thompson throws out a counter right but Dinapoli avoids it with no problem.
Nice straight punches there by Thompson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thompson.
Dinapoli thows a leg kick but Thompson checks it
enabling Thompson to counter with a crisp jab.
Dinapoli slips under a jab.
A combination from Thompson does no damage.
Dinapoli lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Sloppy strikes from Thompson. Those never looked like landing.
Dinapoli tries to land a front kick but Thompson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Thompson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thompson slips under a jab.
Dinapoli slips under a jab.
Dinapoli is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Dinapoli has managed to clinch.
Dinapoli throws an elbow but it misses.
Thompson lands an elbow just above Dinapoli 's eye.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dinapoli tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Thompson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dinapoli fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thompson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dinapolis head.
Thompson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dinapoli looking to stall.
Thompson pushes off an throws an elbow but Dinapoli leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Dinapoli changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Thompson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hunter Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hunter Thompson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Dinapoli looks to clinch
and Thompson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thompson swats away the attempt to clinch by Dinapoli.
Thompson scoring well with a low kick there.
Thompson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dinapoli. Thompson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dinapoli checks the leg kick nicely there.
An attempted straight right counter from Dinapoli misses the target.
Thompson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A nice leg kick lands there from Thompson.

Thompson instigates a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Dinapoli is trying to maintain a safe position but Thompson gets an underhook and turns Dinapoli into the cage.
Maybe Dinapoli would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dinapoli slowing the pace effectively.
Nice body punch from Thompson - that landed with a thud.
Dinapoli wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thompson has him pressed against the cage.
Thompson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dinapoli fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dinapoli unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A short right from Thompson.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Thompson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Dinapoli tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Dinapoli taking a breather.
Dinapoli takes an elbow to the temple.
Dinapoli being controlled against the cage.
A hook to the body from Thompson.
Manus Dinapoli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dinapoli misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Thompson blocks an uppercut.
Thompson prevents a body shot from Dinapoli.
Dinapoli looking to slow down the pace here.
Thompson blocks an elbow strike from Dinapoli.
A short body shot lands from Thompson as the two fighters clinch.
Dinapoli is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thompson is defending well for now.
Thompson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Dinapoli avoiding damage.
Dinapoli looking to slow down the pace here.
Dinapoli manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Thompson scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dinapoli is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Thompson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dinapoli effectively controlling the action here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Thompson.

It looks like Manus Dinapoli has been cut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Dinapoli just misses with a elbow thrown towards Thompson's brow.
Dinapoli looking to throw knees to the head but Thompson is blocking nicely.
Dinapoli misses with a hook to the ribs.
Nice elbow from Thompson.
Thompson lands an elbow that stopped Dinapoli in his tracks for a moment.
Thompson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Dinapoli throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hunter Thompson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short right from Thompson.
Nice body punch from Dinapoli - that landed with a thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dinapoli leaning his opponent against the cage.
Dinapoli missing with knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dinapoli.
Thompson blocks a body shot from Dinapoli.
Thompson managing to block the knees to the body from Dinapoli.
Dinapoli blocks an elbow strike.
Dinapoli is stalling here.
Thompson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dinapoli slows down the pace here.
Thompson slows down the pace here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hunter 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hunter Thompson!
Hunter Thompson decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.