PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Taylor Clark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Thompson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Clark
vs
Thompson

180 cm
29
185 lbs
17 - 8 - 1

180 cm
25
176 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Crippler's Corner
Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

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 17 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taylor Clark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Clark throws a body punch but Thompson moves out of range.
Thompson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Clark.
Clark misses with a wild body shot.
Clark walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Thompson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Thompson shoots for a double leg takedown but Clark sprawls well. He's pushed Thompson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Clark throws a hook but Thompson blocks it.
Thompson connects with a crisp jab.
Clark takes a swing at Thompson's ribcage but misses.
Thompson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Clark.
Clark slips a jab from Thompson.
Thompson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Clark misses with a kick to the body.
A head kick misses from Thompson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clark with a nice cross.
Thompson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thompson throws a series of punches but Clark avoids them all with ease.
Thompson tried to score with a low kick but Clark checks it.
Clark drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Clark tries a head kick but it misses.
Clark scores with a crisp jab that stopped Thompson in his tracks.
Thompson misses with a straight left.
Clark checks a leg kick.

Thompson shoots in and gets a takedown into Clark's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Clark keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clark trying to control the position here.
Thompson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thompson wants to pass the guard but Clark is keeping the position.
Thompson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An elbow from Thompson crashes against the mat.

Thompson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Clark manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clark won't allow Thompson to pass to mount.

Thompson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Clark defends it well.
Clark is doing well to control the position and prevent Thompson from advancing to side control.

Thompson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Clark has managed to free his arm - good work.

Thompson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Thompson is thwarting Clark's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thompson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Clark is just riding it out for now. Thompson eventually gives up the hold.

Thompson seems to be looking for submissions.

Thompson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Clark doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thompson.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clark manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Thompson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Clark lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Thompson misses the shot to the body.
Thompson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thompson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Clark was well out of range. Poor timing from Thompson.
Thompson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thompson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Clark checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Clark throws a quick inside leg kick.
Clark swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Thompson throws a nice inside leg kick.
Clark throws a sloppy body shot
and Thompson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clark is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thompson.
A jab lands there for Clark.
Thompson throws a hook to the side of Clark's head but Clark sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Clark chopping away at his opponent's legs.
An inside leg kick from Thompson misses.

Clark gets caught flat footed, as Thompson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

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

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

Clark stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clark throws a leg kick but Thompson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Thompson looks to throw the jab but Clark is out of range.
Thompson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Clark doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thompson takes a swing at Clark's ribcage but misses.

Thompson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Thompson advances position into side control!
Clark is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Thompson asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson is chipping away with strikes.
Clark wants to get back to his feet.
Clark gets back to half guard.
Thompson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is trying to control the action in half guard but Clark is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Clark is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Clark won't allow Thompson to pass to mount.

Thompson is looking for a kimura here.
Clark 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.

Thompson is working for a kimura but Clark is defending it quite comfortably.
Thompson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Thompson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Clark pivots, looking for a leg kick but Thompson is out of range and Clark settles back down.
Clark scores with a kick to the midsection.
No joy there for Thompson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thompson throws a lazy right hand but Clark sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice uppercut there from Clark.
Jab from Thompson.
Clark thumps Thompson with a low kick.
A lazy left from Thompson finds it's target.
Clark ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thompson with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Thompson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Clark counters with a straight right hand.
Thompson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clark misses with a body kick.
Thompson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Clark.
Thompson throws a body punch but Clark moves out of range.
A big left from Thompson misses.
Thompson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Clark defends it nicely.

Thompson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Clark's guard.
Thompson stopping the sweep attempt from Clark.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Clark is retaining full guard.
Taylor Clark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson has gone for a leg lock! Clark slips out almost immediately though and dives into Thompson's guard.
Clark won't allow Thompson to sweep him here.
Clark looking to pass the guard.

Thompson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Thompson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Clark is aware though and is defending well.

Clark gets to his feet - Thompson follows without any prompting.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thompson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Clark.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clark looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Clark throws a hook but Thompson avoids it easily.
Thompson misses with a series of wild punches.
Clark fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Thompson.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Clark. Thompson shrugs it off though.
Clark looks to land a right hand but Thompson moved out of range.
Thompson looks for a takedown but Clark sprawls well.
Thompson on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Taylor Clark is winning the standup battle so far.
Thompson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Clark pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Clark. Clark obviously looking to wear him down.
John Thompson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Clark cracks Thompson with a good jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thompson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Clark as he avoids it easily.
Taylor Clark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Thompson.
Clark is looking to chop away at Thompson's legs.
Clark feints and then cracks Thompson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thompson down.
Thompson throws a head kick but Clark moves out of range.
Clark will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Thompson throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Clark lands a big head kick that sends Thompson tumbling to the mat! Clark takes a step backwards and waves Thompson back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like John Thompson has been cut.

Clark cracks Thompson with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Clark has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Thompson to stand back up!

Thompson is rocked!
Thompson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taylor Clark showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thompson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Thompson!
In his post fight interview, John Thompson started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.