PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dre Thompkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommi Neponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tommi Neponen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Thompkins
vs
Neponen

170 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
177 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dre Thompkins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tommi Neponen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Neponen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Neponen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Neponen is working Thompkins over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Neponen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Neponen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Neponen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Thompkins is pulling down on Neponen's head to control his posture.
Thompkins knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Neponen on the ground.

Neponen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Neponen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Neponen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
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.
Thompkins is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Neponen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thompkins tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Neponen misses with a head kick.
Thompkins shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Neponen defends it nicely.
Neponen circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thompkins is looking to clinch but Neponen is avoiding it.
Dre Thompkins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Neponen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Neponen tries to clinch up but Thompkins circles away and keeps his distance.
Thompkins tries for a takedown but Neponen circles away easily

and Neponen counters with a head kick that drops Thompkins!

Thompkins is rocked!
Thompkins can't keep his opponent in guard - Neponen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Thompkins is staying active underneath Neponen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Neponen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Neponen is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Thompkins!
Thompkins tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Neponen looking for a guillotine from mount but Thompkins is having none of it.
Neponen blocks Thompkins's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neponen looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Neponen looks gassed!

Neponen working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Thompkins wants to hold on but Neponen pushes him away.
Neponen trying to control but Thompkins is having none of it.
Thompkins is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

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.

Neponen looking for a guillotine from mount but Thompkins is having none of it.

Neponen is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Thompkins is surviving well by controlling Neponen's body position as best he can.
Thompkins can't escape the position.
Neponen wants to take Thompkins's back here but Thompkins is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Neponen wants to control the pace but Thompkins is squirming around nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompkins tries to hold on but Neponen postures up.
Thompkins is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommi Neponen 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.

Neponen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thompkins wants to slow Neponen down by chopping away at his legs.
Neponen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Neponen darts in trying to clinch

and Thompkins counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Thompkins looks to land a strike but Neponen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Thompkins wants to control from the top but Neponen keeps moving.
Thompkins is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Neponen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompkins is looking to stand up but Neponen won't let him.
Neponen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thompkins manages to get himself to full guard.
Neponen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thompkins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Neponen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Thompkins's guard.
Thompkins is trying to stand back up but Neponen is controlling him

Neponen seems to be working for a kimura but Thompkins defends the submission attempt.
Neponen is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Thompkins actively working from the bottom here.
Neponen trying to control from half guard but Thompkins is working away.
Thompkins is trying to stand back up but Neponen is controlling him
Thompkins on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Thompkins tries to get out of the position.
Neponen is looking to take a break and control but Thompkins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thompkins is looking for a sweep. Neponen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Neponen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Thompkins sees it coming and defends easily.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Neponen tries for a takedown but Thompkins circles away easily

and Thompkins counters with a takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompkins wants to stand but Neponen has his arm trapped.

Thompkins thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Neponen can't do much from the bottom here.
Thompkins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Neponen keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Neponen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Thompkins's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Thompkins throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Thompkins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Neponen keeps working.
Neponen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Neponen.
Thompkins has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Neponen is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dre Thompkins dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Neponen tries a head kick but it misses.
Thompkins closes this distance looking for a takedown but Neponen circles away.
Thompkins will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thompkins throws a sloppy head kick
and Neponen counters with a monster head kick that knocks Thompkins out cold! He topples like fallen a tree, crashing to the mat! Timbeeeeeerrr!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Tommi Neponen!