PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sean Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Atkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thompson
vs
Atkins

184 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sean Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jake Atkins!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Thompson. No joy for Atkins on that attempt.
Thompson tries to clinch but Atkins is having none of it.
Thompson throws the kick towards the body but Atkins avoids it.
Thompson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Atkins counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Atkins stays in close to Thompson's body and controls the position.
Thompson seems keen to control Atkins's posture.
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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thompson pushes Atkins off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Atkins bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Thompson sneaks back into half guard.
Atkins prevents Thompson from standing back up.
Thompson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Thompson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Atkins wants to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.
Atkins looks gassed!
Atkins might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Thompson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Atkins can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atkins tries to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.
Thompson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Atkins tries to hold on but Thompson postures up.
Thompson tries to control but Atkins wriggling away.
Thompson breaks from Atkins's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkins is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Thompson tries to control but Atkins wriggling away.
Thompson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Atkins is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Thompson controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Sean Thompson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Atkins misses with a takedown

and Thompson counters by clinching up.
Thompson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Thompson gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Atkins tries to score a body lock takedown but Thompson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sean Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Atkins.
Thompson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Atkins gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Thompson decides to pull guard.
Atkins wanted to stand there but Thompson had control of the position.
Thompson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Atkins from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jake Atkins will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thompson moves into the clinch.
Thompson wants a takedown.
Thompson jumps guard but Atkins stands there with Thompson around his waist. Thompson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Atkins can't get the takedown.

Thompson breaks from the clinch.
Thompson delivers a nice body kick.

Thompson feints and as Atkins raises his hands in defense, Thompson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Atkins keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkins controlling Thompson's posture.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Atkins keeps moving.
Atkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thompson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thompson passes to full mount!
Atkins swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's two 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.
Atkins tries to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.
Thompson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Thompson wants to take his opponent's back but Atkins doesn't allow it.
Thompson controlling his opponent.

Thompson has control of Atkins's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Atkins regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Atkins tries to hold on but Thompson postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson working for a submission but Atkins is keeping him at bay.
Thompson throws a strike there. Atkins manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.

Atkins has one foot on Thompson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Thompson misses with a takedown attempt

and Atkins counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is trying to stand up here but Atkins is controlling him well.

Thompson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thompson trying to hold on to Atkins's head to control him but Atkins postures up.
Atkins is pressing down on Thompson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thompson is holding on for now.
Thompson is trying to control but can't.
Thompson gets back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Thompson is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Thompson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Thompson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Atkins counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Thompson!
Atkins prevents Thompson from getting the reversal.
Atkins tries to control but Thompson wriggling away.
Atkins tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Poor strikes thrown by Atkins there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Atkins tries to push Thompson's head away but Thompson is holding on tight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Thompson somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Atkins.
Atkins shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Thompson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Atkins is pulling down on Thompson's head to control his posture.

Thompson stands up from Atkins's guard - Thompson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Atkins shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Thompson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thompson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Atkins moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Atkins looking for a sweep. Not yet Atkins, not yet.
Thompson looking to sit in guard and control but Atkins gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thompson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Atkins distracts Thompson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Atkins thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is trying to keep Atkins in close.
Thompson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Atkins lands with a slapping head kick.

Thompson darts in and clinches Atkins up against the cage.
Atkins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thompson smiles and moves away.
Sean Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Atkins.

Thompson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson trying to control but Atkins is working from the bottom.
Thompson is fighting to break Atkins's control of his arms but Atkins is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Atkins keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson distracts Atkins with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Atkins 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean Thompson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thompson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

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