PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Titus Lesnar (ranked 1800 p4p, 222 weight class) and Ricky Thompson (ranked 236 p4p, 35 weight class). Lesnar's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Next Big Thing. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lesnar
vs
Thompson

190 cm
28
265
11 - 7 - 0

190 cm
28
280
14 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Mile High

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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Titus Lesnar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricky Thompson!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Paul Tew and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lesnar defends it nicely.
Lesnar throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Thompson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lesnar is looking to stand up but Thompson isn't so interested in that idea.
Thompson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thompson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thompson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Thompson trying to control but Lesnar is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lesnar wants to stand and escape but Thompson is having none of it.
Thompson chips away with some ground and pound.
Thompson connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thompson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lesnar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thompson.
Lesnar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thompson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thompson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lesnar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thompson throwing strikes but missing.
Lesnar wants to stand and escape but Thompson is having none of it.
Thompson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lesnar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lesnar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thompson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thompson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lesnar's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson postures up in Lesnar's guard and throws a big left but Lesnar blocks it.
Thompson is looking to work some ground and pound but Lesnar has wrist control.
Thompson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Thompson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lesnar utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thompson cracks Lesnar with a solid left hand.
Thompson throws a strike but Lesnar rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Lesnar working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Lesnar lands a couple of digs.
Lesnar working some strikes from top position.
Thompson wants to sweep here but Lesnar controlling him for the moment.
Thompson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lesnar manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lesnar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson won't allow Lesnar to get back to his feet.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Lesnar keeps moving.
Thompson postures up in Lesnar's guard and throws a big left but Lesnar blocks it.
Thompson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thompson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thompson trying to control but Lesnar is working from the bottom.
Lesnar wants to stand and escape but Thompson is having none of it.
Thompson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lesnar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lesnar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thompson.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Lesnar keeps moving.

That's four 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.
Thompson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thompson landing some decent shots from guard.

It looks like Titus Lesnar has been cut.
Thompson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lesnar's head.
Thompson passes into half guard.
Thompson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lesnar's head.
Thompson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Thompson throwing shots but Lesnar is blocking nicely.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Thompson working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thompson working the head and body with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thompson ducks under a wild hook from Lesnar.
The fighters circle momentarily. Lesnar darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Lesnar throws a good cross that connects.
Lesnar swings for the body but Thompson moves out of range.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lesnar sprawls well. Lesnar wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thompson gets slowly back to his feet.
Lesnar will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lesnar misses with a takedown

and Thompson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lesnar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thompson.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Lesnar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thompson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lesnar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson postures up and lands a big shot to Lesnar's brow.
Thompson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thompson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Thompson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lesnar wants to stand but Thompson is controlling the position.
Thompson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Thompson trying to move into half guard but instead Lesnar has managed to sweep!

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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lesnar is not content to let Thompson control the position.
Thompson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Thompson lands with a punch from half guard.
Thompson throwing shots but Lesnar is blocking nicely.
Thompson wants to control but Lesnar is keeping him busy.
Nice strikes from Thompson there.
Thompson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ricky Thompson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lesnar is trying to stand back up but Thompson is controlling him
Lesnar avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thompson.
Lesnar is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Thompson scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lesnar defending well though.
Thompson is trying to control. Lesnar wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thompson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Thompson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Lesnar blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thompson.
Lesnar is staying active underneath Thompson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lesnar looks like he's trying to stand up.
Thompson slips a nice elbow through Lesnar's hands, connecting with Lesnar's forehead.

Titus Lesnar's cut is getting worse.
Lesnar blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thompson.
Lesnar wants to get back to his feet.
Thompson wants to take a breather but Lesnar is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lesnar is not content to let Thompson control the position.
Lesnar is trying to stand back up but Thompson is controlling him
Thompson 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.

Titus Lesnar's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Lesnar tries to kick Thompson off but Thompson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Thompson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Jeez, Titus Lesnar's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Titus Lesnar's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Ricky Thompson!