PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aaron Wolfie (ranked 6340 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Thompson (ranked 6564 p4p, 696 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Wolfie
vs
Thompson

195 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

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 London, Aaron Wolfie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Stephen Thompson!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Paul Tew and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thompson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Wolfie is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Wolfie's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck for Thompson with that takedown attempt.
Stephen Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Thompson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thompson pushes off an throws an elbow but Wolfie leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Wolfie pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Wolfie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Thompson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Wolfie wants to pass the guard but Thompson is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wolfie trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wolfie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thompson is keeping the position for now.
Thompson is trying to keep Wolfie in close.
Thompson wants to sweep but no luck.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Wolfie from controlling successfully.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Thompson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wolfie is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wolfie sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Wolfie takes the fight into the clinch.
Wolfie has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thompson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Thompson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wolfie.
Thompson stalling the fight.
Thompson trying to land knees to the body.
Thompson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Wolfie to keep the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wolfie is stalling here.
Thompson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wolfie.

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

Wolfie moves into the clinch.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thompson is looking to clinch but Wolfie is avoiding it.

Wolfie pushes Thompson up against the cage in a clinch.

Wolfie jumps guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Wolfie manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
A short right from Wolfie on the inside.
Thompson lands a body punch in the clinch.
Thompson is trying to pull guard but Wolfie has him pressed against the cage.
Aaron Wolfie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Thompson.

Wolfie breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wolfie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thompson missing with knees to the body.
Thompson is trying to drag Wolfie to the mat but Wolfie just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Thompson struggles to land a body shot inside as Wolfie controls his hands.

Wolfie jumps into guard, dragging Thompson to the mat.
Thompson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wolfie controlling the position.

Thompson stands up and waves to Wolfie to follow him.
Wolfie sizes up Thompson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aaron Wolfie dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thompson tries for a takedown but Wolfie sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Thompson has closed the distance and engaged Wolfie in a clinch.
Wolfie looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Thompson pulls guard.
Wolfie trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wolfie content to stall in guard here.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Wolfie manages to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson is looking to control Wolfie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thompson avoid being mounted?
Aaron Wolfie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wolfie is trying to control. Thompson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Wolfie stands up from half guard.
Thompson wants to clinch.
Wolfie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thompson tries to avoid it but Wolfie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thompson to the ground. Thompson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As Wolfie backs off Thompson throws a huge counter combo but Wolfie manages to avoid it all.
A combination from Wolfie does no damage.
Thompson dives in and grabs Wolfie's left leg, looking for a takedown. Wolfie pushes down on Thompson's head and hops out.
Wolfie seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Thompson fails to land the takedown.
Wolfie seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Aaron Wolfie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Thompson.

Thompson clinches up with Wolfie and pushes him back against the cage.

Wolfie manages to break the clinch.
Thompson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thompson fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wolfie misses with a takedown attempt - Thompson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thompson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thompson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wolfie is fending him off so far but Thompson persists. Nope, Wolfie circles away and we're back to standing.
Thompson is breathing heavily.

Thompson moves into the clinch successfully.

Thompson breaks from the clinch.
Thompson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Wolfie tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Thompson defends well and Wolfie ends up having to push Thompson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Thompson replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Wolfie blocks it well.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but Wolfie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Wolfie is out of range.

Wolfie has taken the fight to the clinch.
Knees to the body from Thompson.

Wolfie breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thompson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wolfie shoots in but Thompson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Wolfie has managed to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wolfie is looking to take this one to the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wolfie moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Thompson blocks the body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Aaron Wolfie will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Wolfie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thompson as he avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thompson is defended easily by Wolfie.
Thompson is looking to clinch.
Thompson wants to clinch up but Wolfie keeps it at a distance.
Wolfie tries to counter with a takedown but Thompson is quick to defend against it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Thompson or perhaps it was just good defense by Wolfie, which made it look bad.
Wolfie misses with a double jab.

Thompson moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wolfie throws a right hand that Thompson ducks under and follows up with a left that Thompson also avoids with ease.
Thompson is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Wolfie throws a leg kick
and Thompson counters with a thumping low kick.
Wolfie shoots in for a takedown but Thompson shows good takedown defense.
Thompson throws a big counter head kick but Wolfie avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Wolfie enables Thompson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Wolfie manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Wolfie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thompson can do to turn this around?
Thompson wants to control from the top but Wolfie keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thompson passes into half guard.
Wolfie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Wolfie is looking to sweep but instead, Thompson has passed into half guard.
Wolfie wants to control but Thompson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson not doing much here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wolfie is trying to control but Thompson manages to pass to mount!
Thompson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson prevents Wolfie from getting the reversal.
Thompson content just to control the position here.
Wolfie tries to lock up and control but Thompson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Thompson tries to control but Wolfie wriggling away.
Wolfie is looking to improve his position but Thompson isn't that keen on the idea.
Thompson tries to control but Wolfie wriggling away.

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.
Wolfie slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Wolfie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Thompson decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
A punch combination from Thompson misses.
Thompson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thompson is looking to clinch.
Thompson connects with a crisp jab.
Stephen Thompson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wolfie tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Thompson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wolfie 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 James Ackerman scores the fight for Stephen Thompson!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Aaron Wolfie!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Aaron Wolfie!

Aaron Wolfie wins by split decision!
Aaron Wolfie bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.