PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leigh Thompson (ranked 6760 p4p, 330 weight class) and Romeo Rosenthal (ranked 25647 p4p, 493 weight class). Thompson comes into the arena with General Lee - Johnny Cash blaring out of the sound system. Leigh Thompson could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Romeo Rosenthal's chin.

Thompson
vs
Rosenthal

175 cm
18
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

163 cm
25
142 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Tends to cut

Sully's Bar & Grill

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Leigh Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Romeo Rosenthal!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rosenthal clinches up against the cage.
Thompson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Thompson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rosenthal tries to pull guard but Thompson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Thompson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Thompson misses with a short punch on the inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rosenthal - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Rosenthal jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thompson walks away with a smile on his face. Rosenthal gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Thompson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Rosenthal clinches.
Thompson is trying to break the clinch but Rosenthal is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson wants to get back to striking at distance but Rosenthal won't allow it.
Thompson is looking to break free of the clinch but Rosenthal has double underhooks.

Rosenthal ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rosenthal no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Rosenthal looking for a guillotine here but Thompson defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rosenthal swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rosenthal keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Rosenthal doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Thompson controlling from the top position.
Thompson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rosenthal's guard.

That's two 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.
Thompson trying to control but Rosenthal is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Thompson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

It looks like Romeo Rosenthal has been cut.
Rosenthal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thompson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Leigh Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Romeo Rosenthal.
Rosenthal takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Rosenthal has managed to clinch.
Thompson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Rosenthal is working for takedown but Thompson is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rosenthal is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thompson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rosenthal tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Thompson tries to circle away but Rosenthal has him pinned against the cage.

Rosenthal's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rosenthal walks into a left hand.
Thompson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rosenthal tries for a takedown but Thompson circles away easily
and Thompson counters with a straight right hand.
Thompson's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rosenthal under the eye.
Thompson scores with a nice right hand.
Thompson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rosenthal looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Thompson throws a body punch but Rosenthal moves out of range.
Thompson cracks Rosenthal with a good jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rosenthal is defended easily by Thompson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thompson lands with an uppercut that bounces Rosenthal off the cage and back into range.
Rosenthal takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Thompson jabs Rosenthal to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Thompson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Thompson throws a right and a left that Rosenthal avoids nicely.
Rosenthal steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Thompson.
Thompson feints a jab promting Rosenthal to slip. Thompson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rosenthal slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Thompson lands a nice shot to the body.
Thompson is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Thompson lands a right hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leigh Thompson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Romeo Rosenthal's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sloppy strikes from Thompson. Those never looked like landing.
Rosenthal fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thompson is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Rosenthal rushes Thompson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thompson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Thompson looking to slow down the pace here.
Come on Rosenthal - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Thompson tries a body shot but Rosenthal blocks it.
Thompson can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rosenthal's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thompson connects with a looping right hand.
Thompson misses with a combination
and Rosenthal counters with a series of strikes. Thompson will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rosenthal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thompson looking to stall.
Rosenthal pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Rosenthal stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A frustrated look appears on Thompson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rosenthal fails to pull guard.

Rosenthal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thompson misses with a two punch combination.
Rosenthal throws a counter combo.
Thompson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rosenthal can do to turn this around?

Rosenthal darts in and clinches Thompson up against the cage.
Rosenthal stalls.
Rosenthal leaning against his opponent.
Rosenthal receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rosenthal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rosenthal connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Rosenthal is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thompson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Leigh Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Romeo Rosenthal.
Thompson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rosenthal wants to counter with a clinch but Thompson pushes him away.
Thompson throws a predictable looking body shot

and Rosenthal counters by moving into the clinch.
Rosenthal lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Thompson backwards.
Rosenthal is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Rosenthal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thompson lands a jab to the nose.
Leigh Thompson is winning the standup battle so far.
A punch combination from Thompson misses.
Thompson's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Thompson duly obliges.

Rosenthal moves into the clinch successfully.
Rosenthal is working for takedown but Thompson is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Rosenthal.
Rosenthal dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rosenthal takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Rosenthal is breathing heavily.
Thompson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Thompson is trying to break the clinch but Rosenthal has him pressed against the cage.
Rosenthal wants a takedown but no success here.
Thompson is looking to break free of the clinch but Rosenthal has double underhooks.
Rosenthal stalling.
Thompson tries to break free but Rosenthal pushes him back against the cage.

Rosenthal breaks the clinch.
Thompson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Thompson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rosenthal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rosenthal takes the fight into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Thompson fails to land.
Rosenthal has Thompson pressed against the cage, preventing Thompson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thompson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thompson misses with a punch to the body.
Rosenthal fails to pull guard.
Thompson can't break the clinch.
Thompson is looking to break free of the clinch but Rosenthal has double underhooks.
Thompson is trying to push Rosenthal away but Rosenthal has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Romeo Rosenthal seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Thompson tries to break the clinch but Rosenthal is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Romeo Rosenthal will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Romeo Rosenthal's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Thompson fails to land with a series of punches.

Rosenthal moves into the clinch.
Rosenthal can't get the takedown.
Thompson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Rosenthal's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Thompson throws a punch but it's blocked by Rosenthal.
Rosenthal tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thompson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rosenthal keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thompson's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson is trying to force a seperation but Rosenthal has the dominant position.
Thompson working hard to break the clinch.

Rosenthal breaks the clinch.
Leigh Thompson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rosenthal will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Leigh Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Romeo Rosenthal.
Thompson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thompson lands a slapping body shot.
Rosenthal shoots and misses
and Thompson counters with a three punch combo that has Rosenthal backing up. Rosenthal nods at Thompson to acknowledge the strikes.
Rosenthal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thompson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That has opened up Romeo Rosenthal's cut even more.
Rosenthal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Thompson counters with a nice uppercut.

Rosenthal is rocked!
A jab from Thompson does it's job there.
Rosenthal is still on wobbly legs! Can Thompson finish him?
Rosenthal tries a head kick but it misses.
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 gets in close and tags Rosenthal with a short punch that almost sends Rosenthal to the mat! Oh Rosenthal is in big trouble! He turns his back on Thompson, trying to create some distance but Thompson rushes him, striking wildly and Rosenthal goes down! The referee tackles Thompson into the cage to end the fight! Thompson is one violent man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Leigh Thompson!
During a confident post fight interview, Leigh Thompson thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.