PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Thompson (ranked 3558 p4p, 360 weight class) and I Hate Work (ranked 4852 p4p, 430 weight class). I Hate Work is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Thompson
vs
Hate Work

170 cm
21
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

170 cm
21
140 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kevin Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, I Hate Work!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson throws out a loose jab but Work uses good head movement to avoid it.
Work fails to land with a series of punches.
Thompson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Work moves away.
Thompson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Thompson looks to throw the jab but Work is out of range.
Work looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thompson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Work connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

It looks like Kevin Thompson has been cut.
Work misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Work is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thompson.
Work getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Thompson throws the left hand but Work avoids the punch easily.
Thompson ducks under a wild hook from Work.
Thompson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Work doesn't manage to clinch there - Thompson circles away.
Thompson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Thompson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Work's half guard.
Thompson controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Work tries to kick Thompson off but Thompson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Thompson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Work knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Thompson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Work tries to hold on but Thompson postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Thompson trying to control but Work is having none of it.
Thompson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thompson is working for a guillotine from mount but Work frees his head quite easily.
Thompson controlling the position easily from mount.
Work is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Work stops Thompson from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Thompson tries to control but Work wriggling away.
Thompson fails to advance to Work's back.
Work tries to hold on but Thompson postures up.
Thompson works his way to his opponent's back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thompson has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Work's body.

Thompson working for a choke but Work is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Thompson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kevin 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.

Thompson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thompson throws a body punch but Work moves out of range.
Work tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thompson counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Thompson. That snapped Work's head back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Work tries to bum rush Thompson with a series of wild strikes but Thompson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thompson needs to keep his hands up - Work had a free shot at his head there.
Good standup being displayed there by Thompson as he connects with a hook.
Thompson looks to score with a jab to the body but Work is just out of range.
Work misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Work there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Work uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thompson.
Work wants to counter the offense by Thompson and move into the clinch position.
Work pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thompson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A big right from Work misses.
Thompson throws a looping overhand right but Work ducks down to avoid it.
Thompson throws a shot from downtown. Work moves away and avoids it.
Work feints a counter leg kick.
Work looks to throw the jab but Thompson is out of range.
Thompson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Thompson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Work tries to clinch but Thompson moves out of range.
Work displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thompson throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Work throws a leg kick but Thompson sees it coming and moves out of range.
Work misses with a low kick.
Work lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Work lands an overhand right.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thompson throws an overhand right that lands on Work's shoulder, as Work tries to avoid the shot.
Work misses with a low kick.
Work misses with a wild combination.
Work shoots in for a takedown but Thompson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Thompson with a nice cross.
Work throws a looping overhand right but Thompson ducks down to avoid it.
Thompson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Work's waist but Work gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thompson off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Work takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thompson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Work manages to avoid it.
I Hate Work seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thompson walks into a jab.
Work missing with a left hand there. Thompson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Work throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Work avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Work throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thompson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A jab lands there for Work.
Thompson misses with a hook.
Work tries to counter by closing the distance.
Work uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thompson.
Thompson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Work.
Nice defenses there by Work.
Thompson moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson cracks Work with a right hand to the side of the head.
Work tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Thompson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Thompson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Work on his heels. He'll look to pass Work's guard now, I'm sure.

Work scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thompson swats away the attempt to clinch by Work.
It looked like Thompson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Work pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Thompson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Work swings for the body but Thompson moves out of range.
Work tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thompson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Work throws a poor cross that misses
and Thompson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Work thinking.
Thompson misses with a straight left.
Thompson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but I Hate Work will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Kevin Thompson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Work wants to clinch.
Thompson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A telegraphed right hand from Thompson misses the target.
Work displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thompson throws out the jab.
Work tries a quick counter leg kick but Thompson is wise to it.
A punch lands to the side of Work 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Work gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thompson to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Work uses the cage to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thompson moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson digs a right hand underneath Work's ribcage. Work let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Thompson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Work wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Work wants to get back to striking at distance but Thompson won't allow it.
Thompson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Thompson misses with a body punch.
Work has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Thompson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Work's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Work wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thompson tries to throw a body punch but Work avoids it by throwing Thompson back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson tries to throw a body punch but Work avoids it by throwing Thompson back against the cage.
Thompson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Work wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thompson'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 doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Work.
Thompson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Work tries to circle away but Thompson has him pinned against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Work.
Work goes for a takedown attempt but Thompson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Work looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thompson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Thompson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thompson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Work takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Work scores with a hook.
Work misses with a series of wild punches.
Work misses with the combination.
Thompson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Work moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Work slips a jab from Thompson.
Work lands an overhand right.
Thompson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Work was well out of range. Poor timing from Thompson.
Thompson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Work.
Thompson misses with an uppercut. Work saw that one coming.
Work misses with a body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Thompson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Work rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Thompson counters with a left to the body.
Work throws a series of punches but Thompson avoids them all with ease.

Thompson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Work tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Thompson manages to move to mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
I Hate Work comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... I Hate Work!