PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Art Thompson (ranked 23516 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek Ray (ranked 5063 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thompson
vs
Ray

199 cm
26
215 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

186 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Art Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Derek Ray!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ray shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ray showed some decent athleticism there.
Ray controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thompson actively working from the bottom here.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Ray controlling from mount.
Thompson avoids a strike by Ray and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Ray's guard! Fantastic escape!
Thompson is looking to work some ground and pound but Ray has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson postures up.
Thompson is looking to work some ground and pound but Ray has wrist control.
Ray pulls Thompson in to control the position.
Thompson preventing the sweep.
Ray managing to control the position.
Ray trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray pulls Thompson in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Ray shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Well, if Ray is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Ray blocks the strikes from Thompson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Ray seems content to control.
Ray is looking to advance position but Thompson won't allow it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Ray is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thompson has managed to free his arm - good work.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ray gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Ray dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

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

Ray manages to pull guard.
Ray wants to sweep but no luck.

Ray is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thompson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ray's guard.
Ray looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson postures up in Ray's guard and throws a big left but Ray blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Ray manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Ray feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Ray avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ray is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ray trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson is looking for a triangle here but Ray uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ray misses with the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ray looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Thompson is avoiding damage well.

Ray tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Ray goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Thompson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Ray but great work by Thompson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Ray works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Ray flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Ray wants to get back to full guard.
Thompson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ray is positioning himself well to prevent Thompson advancing to mount.
Ray is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ray is looking to control Thompson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ray avoid being mounted?
Ray is trying to stand up here but Thompson is controlling him well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ray manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ray has a closed guard, preventing Thompson from standing up.
Ray is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ray is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Thompson has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Derek Ray showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Ray gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ray wants to get back to striking at distance but Thompson won't allow it.
Ray is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Ray decides to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ray preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Ray has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Thompson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ray paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Decent striking displayed by Ray there.

Ray gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ray tries to break the clinch but Thompson is controlling the position.

Ray is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Thompson can't fight it off and eventually Ray manages to take the fight to the floor. Thompson looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ray is standing up over Thompson. Thompson looks to escape but Ray dives into side control.

A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray advances nicely into full mount.

Ray get's back to his feet.

Thompson tries to sprawl but Ray drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thompson is staying active underneath Ray, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ray wants to advance to full mount but Thompson doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Ray gets to his feet. Thompson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ray closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Thompson to the mat! Thompson manages to get full guard.

Thompson has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Ray has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Come on Ray - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Thompson avoiding damage as Ray throws knees to the body.
Ray misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thompson.

Ray wants the takedown. Thompson is fighting it off but Ray persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Thompson's guard against the cage.

Thompson has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Ray is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Ray takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thompson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ray to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray is trying to break free.

Ray 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.
Ray is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ray has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ray escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thompson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thompson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thompson stopping the sweep attempt from Ray.

And that's the end of the fight!
Derek Ray comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ray has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Ray!