PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jd Almanez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Almanez has chosen Rock Hood by Shinobi Ninja as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Thompson
vs
Almanez

180 cm
28
176 lbs
15 - 9 - 1

190 cm
29
190 lbs
19 - 17 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Granite chin

Sparta Fightware

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 15 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 17 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jd Almanez!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Patrick Alders and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch lands to the side of Thompson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Almanez scores with a jab to the head.
A big right from Thompson misses.
Almanez scores with a nice right hand.
Thompson misses with a wild body shot.
Thompson checks a low kick from Almanez.

Thompson scores with a takedown into Almanez's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Almanez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Thompson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Almanez keeps moving.

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

Almanez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Almanez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Almanez keeps moving.

Almanez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thompson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Almanez prevents Thompson from improving position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almanez is trying to control Thompson's posture but Thompson avoids it.

Thompson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Almanez has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Thompson but great work by Almanez.
Almanez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Thompson is trying to control Almanez's posture but Almanez avoids it.
Almanez wants to control but Thompson is keeping him busy.
Almanez working away.
Thompson tries to buck Almanez off but Almanez is having none of it.
Almanez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Almanez working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson parries the strikes from Almanez easily there. Almanez is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Thompson to escape.
Thompson is looking for a sweep.
Almanez laying and praying for a moment but Thompson takes advantage and regains half guard.
Thompson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Almanez.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Almanez is looking for submissions but instead, Thompson has regained full guard.
Almanez postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Thompson is trying to keep Almanez in close.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Almanez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thompson keeping full guard, as Almanez tries to pass.

Thompson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thompson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Almanez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

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

Thompson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Almanez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson trying to control the position.
Almanez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thompson has momentary wrist control but Almanez slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jd Almanez dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Almanez with a jab.
Almanez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thompson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Almanez blocks a jab.
Thompson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
John Thompson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thompson misses with the combination.
Thompson takes a swing at Almanez's ribcage but misses.
Almanez misses with a straight left.
Almanez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Thompson's calf.
Almanez throws a sloppy head kick and Thompson moves out of range easily.
Thompson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Almanez ducks under a wild hook from Thompson.
Thompson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thompson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thompson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Almanez.
John Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Thompson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Almanez works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almanez lands with an uppercut that bounces Thompson off the ropes and back into range.
Thompson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Almanez.
Thompson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Thompson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Almanez.
Almanez connects with a right hand. Thompson shakes it off.
Thompson throws a shot from downtown. Almanez moves away and avoids it.
Thompson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Almanez was well out of range. Poor timing from Thompson.
Jd Almanez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice jab there from Almanez.
Almanez tries a head kick but it misses.
Thompson takes one on the button.
Almanez connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Thompson is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Almanez's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Thompson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Almanez misses with a looping left.
Almanez walks into a straight right hand from Thompson.
Thompson lands with a right hand.
Almanez lands a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thompson misses with a hook. Almanez ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson throws a jab but it's blocked by Almanez.

Almanez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thompson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Almanez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thompson!
Jd Almanez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thompson wants to hold on but Almanez pushes him away.

Thompson defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Almanez.
Almanez tries to control but Thompson wriggling away.
Almanez scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almanez lands with some strikes.
Thompson tries to hold on but Almanez pushes him away.
Almanez connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Almanez has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Thompson's face.
Almanez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thompson is looking to escape.
Thompson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Thompson tries to roll over but Almanez keeps him under control.
Thompson manages to get to full guard.
Almanez distracts Thompson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Almanez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Almanez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thompson can't keep his opponent in guard - Almanez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Thompson wants to control but Almanez is keeping busy.

Almanez seems to be looking for submissions.
Thompson trying to control from the bottom.
Thompson wants to improve his position but Almanez is controlling well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Almanez wants to pass the guard but Thompson is defending well.
Thompson tries to get to full guard but Almanez has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jd Almanez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 straight punch to the body, keeping Almanez at a distance.
Thompson throws out a loose jab but Almanez uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Almanez misses.
Almanez throws a leg kick but Thompson sees it coming and moves out of range.
Almanez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thompson.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Thompson checks a leg kick.
Almanez moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Thompson lands with an overhand left.
Almanez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Almanez jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Thompson moves away from the strike by Almanez.
Thompson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thompson looks to land a combination but Almanez avoids it well.
Almanez catches Thompson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Jd Almanez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Almanez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thompson checks a low kick from Almanez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson takes a swing at Almanez's ribcage but misses.
Thompson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Almanez lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Almanez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Almanez throws a shot from downtown. Thompson moves away and avoids it.
Thompson staying out of range there.
A good leg kick by Almanez.
Almanez blocks a jab.

Thompson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Almanez did well to prevent Thompson getting side control.

Thompson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Almanez is looking for a sweep. Thompson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jd Almanez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almanez is looking to control Thompson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Almanez avoid being mounted?
Thompson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Almanez wants to control but Thompson is keeping busy.
Almanez wants to get back to his feet.
Thompson trying to pass the guard but Almanez defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Thompson wants to take a breather but Almanez is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Almanez feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Thompsons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Almanez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Almanez has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Almanez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thompson.
Some wild striking there from Almanez.
Almanez jabs Thompson right on the nose. Thompson blinks but takes it well.
Almanez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thompson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thompson. Almanez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thompson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Almanez.
Thompson misses with an uppercut. Almanez saw that one coming.
Almanez looks to land a right hand but Thompson moved out of range.
Thompson throws out a loose jab but Almanez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Almanez misses with a head kick.
Almanez is looking to slow Thompson down with leg kicks.
Thompson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almanez scores with a sloppy right hand. Thompson should have avoided that one.
Almanez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thompson.
Almanez throws a jab when Thompson was well out of range.
John Thompson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Almanez misses the jab.
Thompson throws a combination. Almanez tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Thompson misses with a lunging right hand
and Almanez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
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 steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Almanez.
Almanez connects with a looping right hand.
Almanez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thompson avoids the head kick by Almanez.
Almanez misses the jab.
Almanez swinging wildly here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson walks into a straight right hand from Almanez.
Almanez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thompson.
A jab from Almanez finds it's way through Thompson's defenses.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jd Almanez.
Well Almanez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jd Almanez!
An out of breath and clearly excited Jd Almanez thanked Sparta Fightware for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).