PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Thompson (ranked 5801 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominique Washington (ranked 6358 p4p, 0 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.

Thompson
vs
Washington

199 cm
20
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dominique Washington!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Kavanagh and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson cracks the inside of Washington's front leg.

Washington scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Thompson sneaks out the side door and pushes Washington away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Thompson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Washington sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Washington fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thompson sprawls well initially but Washington persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Thompson pushes Washington off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thompson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Washington.
Dominique Washington seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Washington misses with a takedown
and Thompson finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Thompson's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Thompson duly obliges.

It looks like Dominique Washington has been cut.

Washington gets the takedown into side control.
Thompson is trying to control Washington's posture but Washington avoids it.
Thompson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washington is nestled in close to Thompson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Thompson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Washington throws a strike but Thompson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Washington looking for a sweep. Not yet Washington, not yet.
Thompson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Washington not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Washington wants to sweep but no luck.
Washington wants to hit a switch here but Thompson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Washington there!
Washington can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washington tries to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.
Washington blocking the ground and pound.
Washington is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Washington tries to hold on but Thompson postures up.
Washington can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Washington wants to try and get back to his feet.
Washington wants to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.
Thompson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Thompson with the ground and pound from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Washington working to try and regain half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Washington can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington tries to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.
Thompson prevents Washington from getting the reversal.
Thompson lands a big shot there that rocks Washington but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
BOOM! Thompson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Washington regains half guard.
Thompson is breathing heavily.
Thompson is thwarting Washington's attempts to control the position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Thompson connects with a nice short shot to Washington's temple.
Washington tries to get to full guard but Thompson has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Washington is trying to control but can't.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Thompson lands a nice short elbow.
Washington is looking to improve his position.
Washington trying to control from the bottom.
Thompson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Washington tries to kick Thompson off but Thompson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Washington keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson drops an elbow to the side of Washington's head.
Thompson prevents Washington from improving his position.
Washington keeps trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Washington shoots in and bounces Thompson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Washington throws an elbow that misses. Thompson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Washington's guard. Nice move by Thompson!

Washington tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thompson is working Washington over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Washington wants to sweep but no luck.
Thompson 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Washington keeps moving.
Washington avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thompson preventing the sweep.
Joe Thompson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washington trying to control the position.
Thompson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Washington keeps moving.
Washington wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.
Thompson stops Washington from standing up.
Washington preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thompson cracks Washington with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Washington looking for a sweep. Not yet Washington, not yet.
Thompson postures up.
Thompson trying to control but Washington is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Thompson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Washington working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Washington must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thompson has momentary wrist control but Washington slips an elbow through the middle.
Washington scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Thompson controls Washington momentarily but Washington frees himself.
Washington is in close to Thompson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Thompson trying to keep a closed guard but Washington is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington landing some decent shots from guard.
Washington scoring with punches to the head and body.
Washington landing some decent shots from guard.
Washington distracts Thompson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Washington landing some decent shots from guard.
Washington lands a couple of elbows.
Washington working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Washington makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Washington stands up over Thompson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Washington distracts Thompson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Thompson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Washington can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Washington's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Washington landing some decent shots from guard.
Washington lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Washington distracts Thompson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Washington scoring with punches to the head and body.
Washington works over Thompson with some ground and pound from guard.
Washington scoring with punches to the head and body.
Washington with a nice head shot there.
Washington lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Washington is in close to Thompson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Washington postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Washington lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Washington scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominique Washington showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dominique Washington's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Thompson gets caught flat footed, as Washington shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Thompson trying to control the position.
Washington lands a couple of elbows.
Washington chips away with some ground and pound.
Washington throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Washington lands a couple of digs.
Washington postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Washington throws an elbow that misses. Thompson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Washington's guard. Nice move by Thompson!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Washington is trying to keep Thompson in close.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Washington keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washington is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Washington looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thompson is one step ahead there.
Washington really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thompson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Washington is looking to stand up but Thompson isn't so interested in that idea.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Thompson is working Washington over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Thompson trying to control but Washington is working from the bottom.
Thompson won't allow Washington to sweep him here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Washington drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Washington cracks Thompson with a big right hand but Thompson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Thompson is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Washington's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Washington lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Washington lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Washington slips a nice elbow through Thompson's hands, connecting with Thompson's forehead.
Thompson tries to get to full guard but Washington has control of the leg.
Washington winds up and cracks Thompson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Washington looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Thompson has hold of Washington's hands but Washington slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Thompson is looking to improve his position.
Thompson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Washington seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Washington scores with a couple of nice shots.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Washington lands a nice short elbow.
Washington working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Washington winds up and cracks Thompson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Washington working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Washington lands strikes from half guard.
Nice strikes from Washington there.
Washington landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Thompson wants to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Washington connects with a nice short shot to Thompson's temple.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Washington working Thompson over with strikes.
Washington lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Washington lands a nice short elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dominique Washington comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Washington has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominique Washington!
A very excited looking Dominique Washington made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.