PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Konichiwa Jempsa (ranked 5401 p4p, 470 weight class) and Paul Thirkell (ranked 6386 p4p, 508 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jempsa
vs
Thirkell

170 cm
20
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
163 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Konichiwa Jempsa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Thirkell!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jempsa drives through with a takedown into guard.

Thirkell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Jempsa defends well.
Jempsa sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Thirkell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Thirkell is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jempsa stays in close to Thirkell's body and controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jempsa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Thirkell working for a triangle but Jempsa defends it easily.
Jempsa 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.
Jempsa is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thirkell wants to hit a switch here but Jempsa passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Thirkell there!
Jempsa controlling from the full mount.
Jempsa looking to finish Thirkell with some ground and pound. This is bad for Thirkell!
Jempsa trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa avoids the attempt from Thirkell to control.
Jempsa lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thirkell hang on?
Thirkell tries to hold on but Jempsa pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jempsa raining down hammerfists from mount.
Jempsa fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Jempsa looking to finish Thirkell with some ground and pound. This is bad for Thirkell!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thirkell is working to get back to half guard.
Jempsa definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Jempsa lands a big elbow.
Jempsa looking to control and managing it successfully.
Thirkell is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa wants to control the pace but Thirkell is squirming around nicely.
Thirkell sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Thirkell trying to control but Jempsa postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Thirkell can do anything to dispel that myth.
Jempsa drops an elbow to the side of Thirkell's head.
Jempsa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Thirkell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thirkell looks winded!
Jempsa content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thirkell keeps working.
Jempsa lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Jempsa landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Jempsa not doing much here.
Thirkell trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Jempsa manages to pass to mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thirkell regains half guard.
Thirkell is pressing down on Jempsa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jempsa rushes Thirkell and presses him up against the cage.

Jempsa tightens his grip and picks Thirkell up, before dumping him to the ground. Thirkell manages to land in guard.

Thirkell looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jempsa landing with the ground and pound.
Jempsa wants to control from the top but Thirkell keeps moving.

Thirkell is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thirkell looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thirkell keeping moving, preventing Jempsa from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jempsa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Jempsa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thirkell's head.
Jempsa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Jempsa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Thirkell trying to keep a closed guard but Jempsa is proving a slippery customer.
Jempsa scoring with some ground and pound.
Jempsa landing some decent shots from guard.
Jempsa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thirkell's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa working some strikes from top position.
Jempsa chips away with some ground and pound.
Jempsa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thirkell can do to turn this around?
Thirkell keeping moving, preventing Jempsa from controlling successfully.
Jempsa landing with the ground and pound.
Jempsa is in close to Thirkell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Jempsa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Jempsa wants to control from the top but Thirkell keeps moving.
Jempsa stands and throws Thirkell's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Thirkell is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa lands a nice forearm strike.
Jempsa scoring with punches and elbows.
Jempsa in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Jempsa scoring with punches from side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Jempsa is working Thirkell over with some ground and pound from side control.
Thirkell takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Jempsa is staying tight to Thirkell's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Thirkell sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Thirkell wants to improve his position but Jempsa is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jempsa takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Jempsa seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Thirkell for as long as he can get away with.
Jempsa is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Thirkell!
Jempsa takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jempsa landing punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jempsa landing shots from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jempsa content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konichiwa Jempsa dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jempsa drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jempsa lands a couple of digs.
Jempsa lands a couple of elbows.

Thirkell is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jempsa is aware though and is defending well.
Jempsa cracks Thirkell with a solid left hand.
Jempsa with a nice head shot there.
Jempsa lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Jempsa chips away with some ground and pound.

Thirkell is rocked!

Thirkell looking for a guillotine here but Jempsa defends easily.
Konichiwa Jempsa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Jempsa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Thirkell is still in real trouble! Can Jempsa finish him?
Thirkell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Thirkell throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Jempsa escapes and throws Thirkell's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Thirkell seems to have recovered his senses.
Thirkell tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jempsa landing a few strikes.
Jempsa is staying tight to Thirkell's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Jempsa lands a few punches from side control.
Thirkell takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Thirkell is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Jempsa cracks Thirkell with a big elbow. Oh, he's hurt! Jempsa immediately mounts and start dropping bombs! Thirkell is done! The referee jumps in and saves him from any more punishment - a quick and decisive finish by Jempsa!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Konichiwa Jempsa!