PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Thompson (ranked 156 p4p, 74 weight class) and Needle Dick (ranked 29 p4p, 12 weight class). Dick has chosen Watch where you're going, Needle Dick! as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thompson
vs
Dick

190 cm
29
280
17 - 10 - 0

190 cm
29
278
17 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition
New Standard

UNDEFEATED

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricky Thompson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Needle Dick!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, John Mangel and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Dick misses the target.
Dick moves out of range of the body kick.
Thompson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ricky Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson misses with a hook. Dick ducked under it nicely.
Dick rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Thompson counters with a takedown into side control.
Dick felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Thompson scores with punches from side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dick can do anything to dispel that myth.
Dick takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Thompson tries to advance to mount but can't.
Dick is trying to get back to half guard.
Dick takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Thompson tries to score with some ground and pound. Dick controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dick is looking to regain half guard here but Thompson keeps moving and retains side control.
An elbow from Thompson crashes against the mat.
Thompson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dick keeps working.
Thompson working away.
Dick avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Thompson.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dick wants to control but Thompson postures up.
Thompson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Dick sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Thompson cracks Dick with a big right hand but Dick just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Thompson cracks Dick with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Thompson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Dick some visible discomfort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dick is looking for a sweep.
Thompson working the ground and pound.
Dick struggling a bit here.
Thompson misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Dick 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.
Thompson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Dick takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Dick parries the strikes from Thompson easily there. Thompson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Dick to escape.
You can see the frustration on Dick's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dick is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Dick's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Thompson scoring with punches and elbows.
You can see the frustration on Dick's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Thompson trying to control the action but Dick is working from the bottom.
Dick tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dick wants to control but Thompson postures up.
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.
Thompson lands a decent elbow from side control.
Thompson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Thompson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Dick down.
Dick is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Thompson landing a few strikes.
Thompson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dick keeps working.
Dick tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dick is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thompson landing strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Thompson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A leg kick checked by Dick.
Thompson slips a straight right by Dick.
Thompson dives in and grabs Dick's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dick pushes down on Thompson's head and hops out.
Thompson fails with the takedown
and Dick counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dick missing with a left hand there. Thompson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Dick enables Thompson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Dick manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Thompson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dick is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thompson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dick can do to turn this around?
Dick tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thompson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dick trying to keep a closed guard but Thompson is proving a slippery customer.
Thompson is looking to advance position but Dick has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Thompson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Thompson regains half guard.
Thompson is looking for a sweep. Dick is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dick is looking to take a break and control but Thompson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dick prevents Thompson from improving his position.
Thompson is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Brooklyn Mixed Martial Arts, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Thompson moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson looking for a sweep. Not yet Thompson, not yet.
Dick showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Thompson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dick looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Thompson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dick's guard.

Dick trying to control the position.
Dick avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dick utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dick not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dick working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thompson.
Thompson looking to pass the guard.
Thompson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thompson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Thompson lands with a punch from half guard.
Thompson 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.
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 Dick's temple.
Dick wants to control but Thompson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Dick tries to roll over but Thompson keeps him under control.
Thompson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Thompson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thompson throwing shots but Dick is blocking nicely.
Thompson working the head and body with strikes.
Thompson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Thompson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dick is staying active underneath Thompson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Thompson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Dick lands a nice shot that snaps Thompson's head back.
Thompson throws a hook but Dick avoids it easily.
A jab from Dick misses.
Thompson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dick throws a shot from downtown. Thompson moves away and avoids it.
Thompson misses with a body shot.
Dick misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dick keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dick looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Thompson staying out of range there.

Thompson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dick to the ground. Thompson is now in Dick's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thompson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
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.
Dick is not content to let Thompson control the position.
Ricky Thompson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thompson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson is keen to just control but Dick is a slippery customer.
Still in half guard, Thompson seems content to control.
Thompson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dick wants to improve his position but Thompson is controlling well.
Thompson trying to control the pace.
Thompson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thompson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Dick is refusing to be controlled, as Thompson sits in half guard.
Dick has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thompson is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson winds up and cracks Dick with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Thompson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thompson is trying to control. Dick wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dick desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Dick works his way to full guard. Good work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thompson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thompson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Dick tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thompson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Thompson wants to control but Dick is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dick managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Thompson.
Thompson working the ground and pound.
Thompson scores with punches from side control.
Dick tries to buck Thompson off but Thompson is having none of it.
Dick parries the strikes from Thompson easily there. Thompson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Dick to escape.
Thompson working the ground and pound but Dick is defending the strikes.
Dick is trying to escape the position but Thompson is controlling the position.
Thompson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Dick some visible discomfort.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thompson working away.
Dick tries to improve position but can't.
Thompson working the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Thompson clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Thompson goes for a double leg but Dick avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Dick continues to drive forward.
Dick misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dick gets underhooks to prevent Thompson's takedown attempt.
Thompson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dick just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson prevents Dick from breaking the clinch.
Dick goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dick throws a head punch that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dick.
Thompson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dick doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Thompson pulls Dick into guard.
Thompson looking for a sweep. Not yet Thompson, not yet.
Thompson is trying to keep Dick in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dick won't allow Thompson to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dick wants to control from the top but Thompson keeps moving.
Dick preventing the sweep.
Thompson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Dick working a defensive guard here.
Dick trying to control the position here.
Thompson lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dick controls Thompson momentarily but Thompson frees himself.
Thompson working some strikes from top position.
Thompson trying to control but Dick is working from the bottom.
Dick utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thompson won't allow Dick to sweep him here.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Dick defends well and Thompson ends up having to push Dick into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Thompson tries to pull guard but Dick forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Dick misses with a body punch.
Thompson has Dick pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dick manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dick gets underhooks to prevent Thompson's takedown attempt.
Dick is pressed up against the cage. Thompson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dick down to the mat. Dick avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Dick lands a nice shot that snaps Thompson's head back.

It looks like Ricky Thompson has been cut.
Dick throws a lazy right hand but Thompson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thompson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Thompson slips under a jab.
Needle Dick is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dick ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thompson slips a straight right by Dick.
Dick throws a hook but Thompson blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson swings widly with a right hand
and Dick counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
No joy there for Thompson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thompson fails with the takedown

and Dick moves into the clinch.
Thompson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thompson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Thompson is trying to drag Dick to the mat but Dick just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Thompson is trying to pull guard but Dick turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dick stops a takedown attempt from Thompson.
Dick gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Thompson.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Dick misses with a punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Needle Dick dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Ricky Thompson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dick thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thompson shoots and misses
and Dick counters with a nice uppercut.
Thompson walks into a straight right hand from Dick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thompson. Dick does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dick throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thompson misses with a straight left.
Dick throws the left hand but Thompson avoids the punch easily.
Thompson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Dick misses the target.

Thompson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Thompson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dick tries to get to full guard but Thompson has control of the leg.
Thompson thows a huge punch but Dick dodges it nicely.
Dick tries to roll over but Thompson keeps him under control.
Thompson wants to control but Dick is keeping him busy.
Needle Dick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Thompson is nestled in close to Dick, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Thompson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Thompson is thwarting Dick's attempts to control the position.
Thompson working the head and body with strikes.
Dick manages to get to full guard.
Thompson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thompson lands a couple of elbows.
Dick controlling Thompson's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Thompson stopping the sweep attempt from Dick.
Thompson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thompson landing with the ground and pound.
Thompson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Dick keeps moving.
Thompson wants to pass the guard but Dick is keeping the position.

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 wants to control from the top but Dick keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Dick controls Thompson momentarily but Thompson frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dick uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Thompson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Thompson walks into a jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thompson misses with a double jab.
Ricky Thompson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dick showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thompson.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ricky Thompson.
I think Thompson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 49:45
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 49:45
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 49:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Thompson!
Ricky Thompson is the new heavyweight champion!