PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rugby Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helios Garcius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thompson
vs
Garcius

180 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rugby Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Helios Garcius!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcius dives in and grabs Thompson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thompson pushes down on Garcius's head and hops out.
Thompson shoots in for a double leg but Garcius sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Thompson clinches.
Garcius gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Thompson.

Thompson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Thompson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Garcius tries to free his leg and advance position but Thompson is retaining full guard.
Garcius throwing strikes from guard but Thompson blocks nicely.
Garcius trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thompson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Thompson is trying to keep Garcius in close.

Thompson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Garcius has passed into half guard!
Thompson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Thompson tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcius lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Garcius not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Garcius is trying to control. Thompson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thompson tries to get to full guard but Garcius has control of the leg.

Garcius is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Thompson sees it coming and defends easily.
Thompson is looking to control Garcius's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thompson avoid being mounted?
Garcius scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Garcius stalling away here and it's allowed Thompson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Thompson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Garcius tries to free his leg and advance position but Thompson is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson wants to sweep but no luck.

Garcius stands up and waves to Thompson to follow him.
Garcius is looking to clinch but Thompson is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcius looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thompson is fending him off so far but Garcius persists. Nope, Thompson circles away and we're back to standing.
Garcius's jab looks to have found its range, popping Thompson under the eye.
Helios Garcius seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garcius misses with a two punch combination.
Thompson fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rugby Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson wants to clinch.
Garcius misses with a two punch combination.

Garcius scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Garcius looks winded!
Garcius landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Garcius looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Thompson throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is looking for a sweep.
Garcius 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.
Garcius trying to control the action but Thompson is working from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thompson is looking to reverse the position.
Thompson keeps Garcius under control for a moment.
Garcius wants to control but Thompson is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helios Garcius 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.

Thompson shoots in for a takedown but Garcius shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Garcius gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Garcius bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thompson's guard.

Garcius stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Garcius takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
The fight stays on the outside here - Garcius looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Thompson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Thompson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Garcius is looking for a sweep. Thompson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Garcius moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson is looking to stand up but Garcius won't let him.
Garcius has control of Thompson's left arm, preventing Thompson from doing any damage.
Thompson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Garcius is keeping the position for now.

Thompson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Garcius is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Thompson, into his guard.
Garcius trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcius looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Garcius wants to control from the top but Thompson keeps moving.
Garcius loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Thompson is looking for a triangle but Garcius pushes his legs off easily.
Thompson has his hands on Garcius's head, controlling the position.
Garcius scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thompson is on top in guard.
Thompson throwing strikes but missing.
Thompson prevents Garcius from getting back to his feet.
Garcius wants to sweep but no luck.
Garcius wants to stand but Thompson is controlling the position.
Garcius is breathing heavily.
Garcius working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thompson.

Garcius manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Garcius wants to clinch up but Thompson keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcius doesn't manage to clinch there - Thompson circles away.

Thompson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Garcius!
Thompson looking to control but Garcius is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thompson prevents Garcius from getting the reversal.
Thompson looking to control and managing it successfully.
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!
BOOM! Thompson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garcius really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
A nice elbow there by Thompson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rugby Thompson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Garcius misses with the combination.
Garcius throws a series of punches but Thompson moves out of range.
Garcius is looking to clinch but Thompson is avoiding it.
Thompson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Garcius avoids it really well and circles away.
Garcius bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Thompson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Thompson shoots in looking for a takedown but Garcius manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thompson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice sprawl there from Thompson as Garcius shoots in.
Garcius tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Thompson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Garcius shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thompson as he avoids it easily.
Garcius takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Garcius fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thompson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Thompson throws a punch but it's blocked by Garcius.
Garcius trying to control the position but instead, Thompson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Garcius into the cage.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Garcius looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Garcius changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thompson tries to avoid it but Garcius manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thompson to the ground. Thompson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rugby Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helios Garcius.
Thompson shoots in but Garcius avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Garcius looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Garcius slaps away a takedown attempt from Thompson, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Garcius stuffs the takedown.
Garcius has a takedown stuffed.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Thompson jumps guard.
Thompson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Garcius!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Garcius is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcius sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Thompson content to control rather than advance.
Thompson prevents Garcius from improving his position.
Thompson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Thompson is trying to control the action in half guard but Garcius is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Thompson wants to pass the guard but Garcius is defending well.
Garcius has his hands clasped together around Thompson's back. He's all about the action.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rugby Thompson just wasn't active enough.
Garcius tries to clinch there but Thompson circles away.

Garcius closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Thompson to the mat! Thompson manages to get full guard.

Garcius avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Garcius drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Thompson dives on top into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Garcius wants to stand up but Thompson is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Helios Garcius.
I think Garcius 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Helios Garcius!