PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vasilica Petran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Petran comes to the cage accompanied by Julian Jordan - The Takedown. John Thompson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Petran
vs
Thompson

175 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
19
135 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vasilica Petran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petran swings away with a body shot that misses
and Thompson counters with a nice leg kick.
Thompson throws a leg kick that misses.
Thompson misses with a kick to the body.
Thompson thows a leg kick but Petran checks it

and Petran decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thompson's guard.
Petran is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Petran scoring with some ground and pound.
Thompson seems keen to control Petran's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petran landing with the ground and pound.
Thompson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Petran distracts Thompson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson pulls Petran in close to prevent any damage.
Thompson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Petran with a flurry of punches that miss.
Petran is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Petran is working Thompson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Thompson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thompson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Petran is working Thompson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two 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.
Petran working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Petran slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Thompson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Petran from controlling successfully.
Thompson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Petran is one step ahead there.
Petran postures up and lands a big shot to Thompson's brow.
Petran working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Petran with a nice head shot there.
Thompson is trying to keep Petran in close.
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.
Petran with a nice head shot there.
Thompson is trying to keep Petran in close.
Petran connects with a couple of short punches.
Petran 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.
Thompson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Petran engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Petran postures up and lands a big shot to Thompson's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is trying to keep Petran in close.
Petran lands a couple of elbows.
Thompson trying to control the position.
Petran makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson is trying to hold Petran in close to prevent damage but Petran has managed to pass into half guard.
Petran is controlling the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Petran is looking to take a break and control but Thompson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasilica Petran dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thompson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Petran.
Thompson wants to land a leg kick but Petran is out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Petran checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Petran appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Petran fails with the takedown
and Thompson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A leg kick checked by Petran.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Petran.
Thompson flicks out a counter leg kick but Petran steps away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasilica Petran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson throws a chopping leg kick but Petran manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petran throws a sloppy body shot
and Thompson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Petran fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thompson avoids it really well and circles away.
Petran shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thompson tried to score with a low kick but Petran checks it.
Thompson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Thompson throws a leg kick

and Petran counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Petran is working Thompson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Petran showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petran postures up in Thompson's guard and throws a big left but Thompson blocks it.
Thompson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Petran scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Thompson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Petran is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thompson can do to turn this around?
Petran with a nice head shot there.
Thompson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Petran is one step ahead there.
Petran is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Petran trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petran throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petran keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thompson's head.
Petran works over Thompson with some ground and pound from guard.
Petran connects with a couple of short punches.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Petran's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Petran keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thompson's head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Thompson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Petran's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Petran lands a couple of elbows.
Petran's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Thompson can't keep his opponent in guard - Petran advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Petran winds up and cracks Thompson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Petran there.
Thompson is trying to maintain the position but Petran is very close to passing his half guard.
Thompson has hold of Petran's hands but Petran slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Thompson wants to get back to full guard.
Thompson keeping hold of Petran's head, controlling as best he can.
Thompson trying to hold on to Petran's head to control him but Petran postures up.
Thompson wants to improve his position but Petran is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Petran working Thompson over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasilica Petran dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Petran misses with a takedown
and Thompson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Petran shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Petran tries for a takedown but Thompson circles away easily
and Thompson counters with a solid body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasilica Petran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson connects with a high kick.

It looks like Vasilica Petran has been cut.
Thompson misses with an attempted mid kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson lands with a nice body kick.
Petran looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Petran tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thompson swivels and escapes.
Thompson cracks the inside of Petran's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Thompson, right into the meat.

Thompson instigates a clinch.
Thompson misses with an elbow strike.
Thompson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Thompson stalling in the clinch but Petran improves position.
Thompson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Thompson taking a breather.
Petran blocks an elbow strike.

Petran has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Thompson uses from the top position.
Petran wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.
Vasilica Petran overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Thompson wants to pass the guard but Petran is keeping the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Petran holds on and takes a little breather.
Thompson looking to pass the guard.
Thompson looking to sit in guard and control but Petran gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Petran throws a big elbow that misses.
Vasilica Petran is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petran is stalling in the full guard.
Petran keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thompson's head.
Thompson looking to control.
Petran preventing the sweep.
Petran controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Petran keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
John Thompson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Petran looks for a takedown but Thompson sprawls well.
Petran shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thompson defends it nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Petran misses with a takedown attempt - Thompson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Thompson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Petran has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasilica Petran!
Vasilica Petran decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.