PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Cole Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julian Bashir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Julian Bashir will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Thompson
vs
Bashir

182 cm
25
166 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

182 cm
28
155 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Determined

[CBK] The Smashwear Corporation

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Cole Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Julian Bashir!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Chris Saunders and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bashir looks to land a left hand but Thompson moved out of range nicely.
Bashir jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Thompson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

It looks like Cole Thompson has been cut.
Thompson has a takedown stuffed.
Thompson misses with a takedown attempt
and Bashir counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A right-left combo lands from Thompson.
Bashir throws the left hand but Thompson avoids the punch easily.
Thompson doesn't manage to clinch there - Bashir circles away.
Thompson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cole Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson ducks right into an uppercut from Bashir.
Bashir fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thompson misses with a wild body shot.
Thompson defending well as Bashir loads up on a big left hand.
Bashir lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Thompson shoots in and gets a takedown into Bashir's guard.
Bashir looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thompson is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bashir swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Thompson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A swing and a miss from Bashir.
Cole Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thompson.

Thompson decides to stand back up. Thompson steps back and let's Bashir get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson moves out of range of the strikes.
Bashir misses with a straight left.
Thompson misses with a two punch combination.
Thompson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thompson shoots in and drives through. Bashir sprawls well.
Bashir waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thompson.
Thompson tries to clinch but Bashir moves out of range.
Bashir swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thompson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Bashir swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bashir keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thompson shoots in looking for a takedown but Bashir manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thompson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashir avoids the body shot from Thompson.
Thompson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A slow jab from Bashir misses its intended target.
Bashir throws a jab when Thompson was well out of range.
Thompson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bashir connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Thompson scrambles back to his feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Bashir misses the target.
Bashir catches Thompson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Thompson gets a double leg takedown into Bashir's guard.
Thompson is looking to advance position but Bashir has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Thompson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Bashir 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 is wriggling around trying to escape.

Bashir wants to finish this one by submission but Thompson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Bashir.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thompson wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Thompson is looking to improve his position but Bashir isn't that keen on the idea.

Bashir jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Thompson manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Thompson tries to escape but Bashir is in control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bashir working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Julian Bashir will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Cole Thompson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Bashir. No joy for Thompson on that attempt.
Bashir misses with an uppercut. Thompson saw that one coming.
Bashir throws the left hand but Thompson avoids the punch easily.
Thompson pushes Bashir away with a front kick.
Bashir keeps the fight on the outside.
Horrible takedown by Thompson or perhaps it was just good defense by Bashir which made him look bad.
Bashir throws a lazy right hand but Thompson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bashir misses the jab.
Bashir lands a two punch combo.
Bashir might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Thompson gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson effectively controlling the action here.
Thompson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bashir pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cole Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bashir throws a hook but Thompson avoids it easily.
Thompson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Bashir misses with a two punch combination.
Thompson fails to land with a series of punches.
A slow jab from Bashir misses its intended target.
Bashir jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bashir thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch but Bashir swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Julian Bashir seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thompson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to clinch.
Bashir misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thompson shoots for a takedown but Bashir saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bashir misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thompson throws a right hand that Bashir ducks under and follows up with a left that Bashir also avoids with ease.

Thompson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bashir to the mat! Bashir manages to get full guard.
Cole Thompson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thompson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bashir wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.
Thompson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bashir is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson gets to his feet. Bashir looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Thompson tries to clinch up but Bashir circles away and keeps his distance.
Bashir misses with a two punch combination.
Bashir lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bashir misses with a left hand

and Thompson counters with a shoot takedown. Bashir fights it but they end up in guard.
Bashir not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bashir wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.
Thompson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thompson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bashir for as long as he can get away with.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Thompson pushes down on Bashir's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Thompson wants to free his trapped foot but Bashir is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bashir is staying active underneath Thompson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cole Thompson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Cole Thompson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Thompson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Thompson.
Bashir thows a left - swing and a miss!
The fighters circling - Bashir throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thompson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thompson shoots for a takedown but Bashir saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Thompson instigates a clinch.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bashir misses with a combination

and Thompson counters with a shoot takedown. Bashir fights it but they end up in guard.
Bashir controlling Thompson's posture.
Bashir being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson trying to control the position from guard on top but Bashir is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bashir not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A big right from Bashir misses.
Bashir circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thompson takes one to the chin there.
Bashir throws an overhand right that lands on Thompson's shoulder, as Thompson tries to avoid the shot.
A combination from Bashir does no damage.
Bashir misses with a looping left.
Thompson slips a jab and a cross from Bashir.
Thompson fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bashir as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cole Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thompson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bashir was covering up waiting for the punch and Thompson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Bashir looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bashir not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson is pushing down on Bashir's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bashir is fighting to maintain full guard but Thompson has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson uses his free foot to push down on Bashir's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Bashir.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thompson trying to control but Bashir is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Thompson.
Thompson wants to control the pace but Bashir is squirming around nicely.
Thompson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Bashir because Thompson loaded up on that one.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Thompson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Bashir avoids a series of strikes thrown by Thompson.
BOOM! Thompson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Thompson controlling from mount.
Thompson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bashir is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Bashir is in a horrible position here. Thompson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thompson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson with good strikes from the mount here!
Julian Bashir has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thompson tries to control but Bashir wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cole Thompson showed his dominance in that final round.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for Cole Thompson!
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight for Cole Thompson!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Cole Thompson!

Cole Thompson wins by unanimous decision!
Cole Thompson thanked the fans post fight for their support.