PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Raymon Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gracie
vs
Thompson

187 cm
25
170 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

178 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raymon Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt - Thompson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Thompson misses the target.
Thompson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gracie circles away quickly and effectively.
Some wild striking there from Thompson.
Thompson stuffs the takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raymon Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nick Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. Thompson tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thompson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Gracie scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gracie trying to mount his opponent but Thompson defends it.

Thompson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Thompson looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gracie is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Thompson.
Thompson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Thompson.
Thompson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Thompson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Thompson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Thompson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gracie.
Gracie blocks a leg kick.
Thompson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thompson looks to land a combination. Gracie sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Thompson.
A left and a right from Thompson both land. Nice combination.
Thompson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thompson misses with a double jab.
Gracie slips a jab and a cross from Thompson.
Thompson is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thompson throws a push kick but Gracie slaps the foot to one side.
Thompson moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Some wild striking there from Thompson.

Thompson pushes Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.

Thompson manages to break the clinch.
Thompson throws a right and a left that both miss.

Gracie throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Thompson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gracie is in Thompson's guard.

Thompson kicks Gracie off and gets to his feet.
Nick Thompson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thompson throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Thompson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Thompson misses with a wild combination.
Thompson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Thompson.

Gracie closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Thompson to the mat! Thompson manages to get full guard.
Thompson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Gracie drops back, looking for a kneebar! Thompson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Thompson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Thompson!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Thompson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thompson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Thompson dominated 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 looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
No joy there for Thompson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Thompson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thompson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Thompson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gracie backs up against the cage.
Raymon Gracie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gracie.
Thompson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Gracie tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thompson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Gracie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thompson.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Thompson gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie jumps guard but Thompson stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raymon Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Thompson counters with a three punch combo that has Gracie backing up. Gracie nods at Thompson to acknowledge the strikes.
Thompson looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Gracie gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Thompson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thompson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Gracie has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Thompson finds it's way round the side to connect with Gracie's head.
Thompson throws a combination. Gracie tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gracie shoots and misses
and Thompson counters with a two punch combo.
Gracie with a poor takedown
and Thompson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Gracie drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thompson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gracie. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gracie drops back looking for a leg! Thompson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Thompson manages to kick Gracie off! Gracie jumps back into Thompson's guard.

Gracie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Thompson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Thompson has escaped and now he's on top!

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Gracie looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thompson passes into side control.

Thompson stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thompson throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.
Thompson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thompson throws a series of punches but Gracie moves out of range.
Thompson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thompson counters with a left to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gracie.

Thompson rushes Gracie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thompson throws a series of strikes that have Gracie backpedaling.
Nick Thompson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thompson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gracie moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thompson fails to land with a series of punches.

Gracie darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Thompson pushes Gracie off looking to stand but Gracie dives back in and keeps control.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Thompson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Thompson sees it coming and defends easily.

Gracie wants to work for an arm triangle but Thompson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Thompson looks to land a combination but Gracie avoids it well.
Thompson leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Thompson scores with a three punch combo!
Thompson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Thompson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Thompson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thompson cracks Gracie with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Gracie with a poor takedown

and Thompson moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raymon Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thompson breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thompson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gracie backs up against the cage.
Thompson lands a glancing blow to the side of Gracie's head.
Thompson scores with a three punch combo!
Thompson lands a jab to the nose.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie dodges the punch combination from Thompson.
Thompson misses with a double jab.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Thompson circles away easily
and Thompson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed
and Thompson counters with a nice uppercut.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Thompson circles away easily
and Thompson counters with a series of strikes. Gracie will be more careful next time no doubt.
No joy there for Thompson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thompson misses with the combination.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt
and Thompson counters with a stiff right hand.
Thompson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Thompson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gracie.
Gracie misses with an uppercut. Thompson saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie avoids a punch combination nicely.
Gracie misses with a head kick.

Gracie scores with a takedown into Thompson's guard.
Gracie forces his way into half guard.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Thompson defends it well.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Thompson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Raymon Gracie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gracie stops Thompson from getting back to his feet.

Thompson kicks Gracie off and gets back to his feet.
Thompson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thompson wants it to stay on the feet.
Thompson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

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.
Thompson tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Horrible takedown by Gracie or perhaps it was just good defense by Thompson which made him look bad.
Thompson throws a series of punches but Gracie avoids them all with ease.
Nick Thompson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thompson throws a right hand that Gracie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gracie also avoids with ease.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thompson but Thompson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thompson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Gracie 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.

Gracie postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Thompson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gracie, into his guard.

Gracie is looking for a triangle here but Thompson uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Thompson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thompson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Thompson!