PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Douglass James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Thomson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomson has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Mark Thomson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

James
vs
Thomson

200 cm
21
275 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

195 cm
20
272 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Douglass James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Thomson!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thomson swats away the attempt to clinch by James.
James showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thomson.
Thomson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thomson misses with a series of wild punches.
Thomson loads up on a big right hand but James slips the punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomson throws out a loose jab but James uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thomson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thomson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Thomson looks gassed!
James moves into full guard.

James is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
James working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thomson.

James throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

James throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
James is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

James is working for a kimura but Thomson is defending it quite comfortably.
James thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Thomson's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomson blocking the ground and pound attempt from James.

James is working for a kimura but Thomson is defending it quite comfortably.
Thomson is trying to stand.
Thomson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
It looks like James is going to stand back up.
Thomson wants to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James fails with an attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Thomson misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomson throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
James fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thomson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts James as he jumps to the side.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
James wants to clinch up but Thomson keeps it at a distance.
Thomson circles away from the clinch attempt.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomson circles away.
James moves in looking to clinch but Thomson pushes him off.
Thomson throws out a leg kick but James moves out of range and Thomson only half commits.
Thomson throws a shot to the body.
Thomson scores with a three punch combo!
A leg kick checked by James.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thomson misses with a series of wild punches.
James moves in looking to clinch but Thomson pushes him off.
Thomson throws a right and a left that James avoids nicely.
James moves away from the strike by Thomson.
Thomson misses with a double jab.
James tries to clinch but Thomson is having none of it.
James tries to close the distance and clinch but Thomson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thomson tries to bum rush James with a series of wild strikes but James uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
James tries to clinch up but Thomson circles away and keeps his distance.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Douglass James will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Thomson circles away from the clinch attempt.
James is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thomson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thomson misses with a jab, cross combination.
James tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thomson shoots in and drives through. James sprawls well.
Thomson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thomson is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thomson throws a right and a left that James avoids nicely.
Thomson swats away the attempt to clinch by James.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is looking to clinch but Thomson is avoiding it.
Thomson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - James looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thomson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thomson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

James is rocked!
Thomson lands with an uppercut that bounces James off the cage and back into rage.
Oh James is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Douglass James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James fails in his attempt to clinch.

James moves into the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, James throws an elbow but misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by James.
James seems to have got his legs back now.
James prevents Thomson from breaking the clinch.

Thomson breaks the clinch.
James doesn't manage to clinch there - Thomson circles away.
Thomson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thomson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thomson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Thomson.
No joy there for Thomson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
James tries to close the distance and clinch but Thomson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
James is looking to clinch.
Thomson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
James tries to clinch up but Thomson circles away and keeps his distance.
James is looking to clinch but Thomson is avoiding it.
James moves in looking to clinch but Thomson pushes him off.
James is looking to clinch but Thomson is avoiding it.
Thomson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but James moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
James avoids the body shot from Thomson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? James is fending him off so far but Thomson persists. Nope, James circles away and we're back to standing.
James wants to clinch up but Thomson keeps it at a distance.
James is looking to clinch but Thomson is avoiding it.
James tries to clinch there but Thomson circles away.
Thomson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by James.
Thomson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Douglass James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Thomson.
James moves in looking to clinch but Thomson pushes him off.
Douglass James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Thomson moves into the clinch.
Thomson avoids the elbow strike from James, against the cage.

Thomson breaks the clinch.
James closes the distance but Thomson moves to the side
and Thomson counters with an inside leg kick.

Thomson clinches up with James and pushes him back against the cage.
James misses with a knee to the head.

Thomson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James tries to clinch but Thomson moves away
and Thomson counters with a nice uppercut.
James tries to clinch up but Thomson circles away and keeps his distance.
James clinches but Thomson breaks the clinch
and Thomson counters with a two punch combo.

James closes the distance and clinches.
Thomson wants to break the clinch but can't.
James throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thomson blocks it with crossed arms.
James gets underhooks to prevent Thomson's takedown attempt.
James misses with an elbow strike.
James with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thomson can't break the clinch.

Thomson breaks from the clinch.
James moves in looking to clinch but Thomson pushes him off.
James tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thomson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
James closes the distance but Thomson moves to the side
and Thomson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
James tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Thomson moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Thomson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jab by Thomson.
James tries to clinch up
and Thomson makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
James tries to clinch but Thomson moves away

and Thomson counters by clinching up.
Thomson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
James tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
James tries to land a knee to the head but Thomson blocks with his arms.
James tries a knee to the head but Thomson blocks it.
Thomson tries to break the clinch but James is controlling the position.
James looking to throw knees to the head but Thomson is blocking nicely.
James lands an elbow just above Thomson 's eye.
Thomson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Thomson tries to break the clinch but James is controlling the position.
James connects with a nasty looking knee right to Thomson's face.
James keeps control of Thomson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
James keeps control of Thomson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
James misses with an elbow over the top.

Thomson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed James clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Thomson is trying to stick to James's back but James is turning into Thomson. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Thomson's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by James.
Thomson is trying to control the position but James postures up.

James is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Thomson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Thomson has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomson tries to stand but James is controlling from the bottom.
James throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
James lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thomson!
James with shots to the head and body - Thomson looks very uncomfortable down there.
Thomson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James looking to finish Thomson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Thomson!
Thomson taking shots to the head.
BOOM! James connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Thomson is rocked!
James looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Thomson is still in real trouble! Can James finish him?
Thomson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with James. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
James lands a nice shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James lands a nice shot to the head.
James lands with some strikes.
James scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Thomson?
James has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James working the ground and pound effectively.
James lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Thomson hang on?
James unloading with bombs!
Thomson is desperately trying to improve his position but James has a good base and remains in mount.
James in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
James breaks from Thomson's wrist control and lands an elbow.
A nice elbow there by James.
James unloads with some shots from mount but Thomson bucks and avoids them well.
Thomson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
James with the ground and pound from mount.
James postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Thomson looks a forlorn figure.
James with good strikes from the mount here!
James working away from the top, dropping strikes.

James with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Thomson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James lands a big shot there that rocks Thomson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
James punishing his opponent with strikes.
BOOM! James connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Thomson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

James is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Thomson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
James fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

James has hold of Thomson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Thomson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Thomson is working to get back to half guard.

James looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James punishing his opponent with strikes.
James postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Thomson bigstyle! Two more strikes land for James and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Douglass James!