PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Lapuz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lapuz
vs
Thompson

150 cm
26
135 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

GRAND Royal Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Lapuz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Benjamin Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson throws a right hand that Lapuz ducks under and follows up with a left that Lapuz also avoids with ease.
Lapuz looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Thompson misses with a takedown attempt - Lapuz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thompson tries to bum rush Lapuz with a series of wild strikes but Lapuz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lapuz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lapuz wants it to stay on the feet.
Some wild striking there from Thompson.
Thompson darts in trying to clinch

and Lapuz counters with a single leg into guard. Thompson didn't expect that.
We've been hearing good reports from Lapuz's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Thompson has an active guard here but Lapuz has managed to pass into half guard.

Thompson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lapuz is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Thompson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lapuz.
Thompson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Thompson looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Thompson tries to get to full guard but Lapuz has control of the leg.

Thompson looking for submissions off his back.

Thompson looking for a kimura from the bottom but Lapuz passes into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson manages to get back to half guard.
Thompson moves into full guard.

Thompson isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Lapuz stacks Thompson on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Lapuz!
Thompson tries to bench press Lapuz off him but Lapuz keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Thompson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lapuz loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Thompson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lapuz passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Thompson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lapuz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thompson.
Thompson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lapuz circles away quickly and effectively.
Thompson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lapuz moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sloppy strikes from Thompson. Those never looked like landing.
Benjamin Thompson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thompson fails to land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lapuz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Thompson actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson tries to get to full guard but Lapuz has control of the leg.

Thompson looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Lapuz pushes past his half guard into mount!
Lapuz throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Thompson is looking to improve his position but Lapuz isn't that keen on the idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson actively working from the bottom here.

Lapuz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thompson is just riding it out for now. Lapuz eventually gives up the hold.
Thompson is trying to maintain the position but Lapuz is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Thompson is trying to stand up here but Lapuz is controlling him well.
Thompson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Thompson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lapuz passes into half guard.

Thompson actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Thompson misses with a takedown

and Lapuz counters with a shoot takedown. Thompson fights it but they end up in guard.

Thompson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Lapuz escapes and throws Thompson's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Thompson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Lapuz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Thompson regains half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thompson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lapuz pulls his head out easily.

Thompson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lapuz pulls his head out easily.
Thompson trying to control from the bottom.
Lapuz tries to pass to full mount but Thompson defends it.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lapuz pulls his head out easily.

Thompson actively working from the bottom here.

Lapuz is working for a kimura but Thompson is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thompson is looking to improve his position.
Thompson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

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 looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Thompson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
John Lapuz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benjamin Thompson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Thompson wants to improve his position but Lapuz is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benjamin Thompson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thompson 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

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