PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Titus Lesnar (ranked 823 p4p, 475 weight class) and Ricky Thompson (ranked 113 p4p, 74 weight class). Lesnar's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Next Big Thing. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Lesnar
vs
Thompson

190 cm
26
265
8 - 3 - 0

190 cm
27
280
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Titus Lesnar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ricky Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Santiago Holmes and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson throws a leg kick but Lesnar sees it coming and moves out of range.
Thompson has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Lesnar jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thompson with the counter takedown but Lesnar avoids it easily.
Lesnar connects with a right hand. Thompson shakes it off.
Lesnar shoots in but Thompson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lesnar lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Good standup being displayed there by Lesnar as he connects with a hook.
Horrible takedown attempt by Thompson or perhaps it was just good defense by Lesnar, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lesnar gets a double leg takedown into Thompson's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Thompson looking for a sweep. Not yet Thompson, not yet.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Lesnar from controlling successfully.
Lesnar stopping the sweep attempt from Thompson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesnar postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Thompson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Lesnar 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.
Thompson is trying to control the position but Lesnar postures up.
Lesnar works over Thompson with some ground and pound from guard.
Thompson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thompson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lesnar controls the pace.
Lesnar trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lesnar landing with the ground and pound.
Lesnar lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar postures up in Thompson's guard and throws a big left but Thompson blocks it.
Thompson is trying to control the position but Lesnar postures up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lesnar's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lesnar definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Lesnar connects with a couple of short punches.
Thompson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Lesnar puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson is trying to get back to full guard.
Thompson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Thompson.
Lesnar working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thompson's head.
Lesnar's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lesnar makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thompson has Lesnar pulled in close to control his posture.
Thompson wants to sweep here but Lesnar controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to hit a sweep here but Lesnar passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Thompson there!
Thompson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lesnar controlling the position easily from mount.
Thompson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lesnar can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thompson is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson can't escape the position.
Lesnar lands a big shot there that rocks Thompson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Thompson is looking to improve his position but Lesnar isn't that keen on the idea.
Thompson keeps trying to improve his position.
Lesnar with a couple of short strikes.
Lesnar raining down hammerfists from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice elbow there by Lesnar.
Thompson tries to reverse the position but Lesnar maintains control.
Lesnar has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Thompson's face.
Thompson tries to reverse the position but Lesnar maintains control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Titus Lesnar dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lesnar blocks a head kick by Thompson.
Thompson throws a hook to the side of Lesnar's head but Lesnar sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lesnar misses with a body shot.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lesnar appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Lesnar throws a poor cross that misses

and Thompson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lesnar's guard.
Thompson postures up in Lesnar's guard and throws a big left but Lesnar blocks it.
Lesnar is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lesnar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lesnar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thompson throwing strikes but missing.
Thompson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thompson preventing the sweep.
Thompson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thompson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lesnar looking to control.
Thompson landing some decent shots from guard.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Lesnar keeps moving.
Titus Lesnar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thompson scoring with some ground and pound.
Thompson throwing strikes from guard but Lesnar blocks nicely.
Thompson won't allow Lesnar to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thompson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lesnar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thompson.
Thompson throws a strike but Lesnar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Lesnar postures up.
Lesnar stopping the sweep attempt from Thompson.
Lesnar trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Thompson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lesnar gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lesnar working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar is in close to Thompson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Thompson trying to control the position.
Lesnar won't allow Thompson to sweep him here.
Lesnar is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lesnar working some strikes from top position.
Lesnar won't allow Thompson to sweep him here.
Thompson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Thompson is keen to just control but Lesnar is a slippery customer.
Thompson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Thompson misses with a head shot. Lesnar uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thompson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lesnar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lesnar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thompson can do to turn this around?
Thompson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thompson lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Thompson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thompson postures up and lands a big shot to Lesnar's brow.

It looks like Titus Lesnar has been cut.
Thompson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thompson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lesnar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Lesnar is retaining full guard.
Thompson chips away with some ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Titus Lesnar's cut.
That's time! Lesnar's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Thompson scores with a head kick. Lesnar tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Lesnar tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Thompson defends well and Lesnar ends up having to push Thompson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Thompson tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Thompson is trying to trip Lesnar. He has hold of a leg but Lesnar is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Thompson persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Thompson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thompson stands and throws Lesnar's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Thompson lands a nice forearm strike.
Thompson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Thompson.
Thompson throwing strikes but Lesnar manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thompson is trying to get back to half guard.
Lesnar scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lesnar scoring with punches and elbows.
Thompson is looking to regain half guard here but Lesnar keeps moving and retains side control.
Lesnar working the ground and pound.
Lesnar scoring with punches from side control.
Lesnar trying to control the action but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Lesnar cracks Thompson with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Lesnar connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Thompson some visible discomfort.
Lesnar is putting a hurting on Thompson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Lesnar is chipping away with strikes.
Lesnar working the ground and pound.
Thompson is looking to regain half guard here but Lesnar keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Lesnar grinds an elbow into Thompson's temple.
Lesnar scoring with punches from side control.
Lesnar cracks Thompson with a big elbow.

Thompson is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lesnar works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Thompson is still in real trouble! Can Lesnar finish him?
Thompson is looking to regain half guard here but Lesnar keeps moving and retains side control.
Thompson seems to have recovered his senses.
Thompson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Lesnar gets to mount! Thompson was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Lesnar scoring with strikes but Thompson is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar wants to control the pace but Thompson is squirming around nicely.
Lesnar is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Thompson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Lesnar with a couple of short strikes.
Thompson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thompson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Thompson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Lesnar takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Thompson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lesnar pulls his head out easily.
Thompson wants to improve his position but Lesnar is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Lesnar has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Thompson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lesnar breaks from Thompson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Lesnar lands a big elbow.
Lesnar landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thompson is looking to get to half guard.
Lesnar wants to control the pace but Thompson is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Titus Lesnar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lesnar has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Titus Lesnar!
Titus Lesnar was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.