PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Blasko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson has chosen Kreator - Extreme Aggressions as his entrance music. John Blasko had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Blasko
vs
Thompson

180 cm
26
195 lbs
14 - 13 - 0

185 cm
24
192 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

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 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Blasko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blasko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Blasko gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Blasko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thompson.
Blasko blocks the body kick.
Blasko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thompson.

Blasko decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Blasko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Thompson is staying active underneath Blasko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Blasko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Blasko is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Blasko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blasko slips a nice elbow through Thompson's hands, connecting with Thompson's forehead.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet.
Blasko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Thompson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Blasko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thompson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thompson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Blasko.
Blasko slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blasko looking to sit in guard and control but Thompson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Thompson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Thompson won't allow Blasko to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blasko is looking to stand up but Thompson isn't so interested in that idea.
Blasko wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.
Thompson postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Thompson moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

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.
Blasko wants to clinch.
Thompson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Thompson slips under a jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Thompson.
Blasko fails with the takedown.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
A head kick misses from Thompson.
Blasko takes a shot to the body in his stride.
The fight stays on the outside here - Blasko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch but Blasko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thompson tests Blasko's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Thompson lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Blasko avoids the head kick by Thompson.
Blasko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nick Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Blasko bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Thompson is trying to control Blasko's posture but Blasko avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nick Thompson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Blasko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thompson throws a head kick but Blasko moves out of range.

Thompson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Blasko wants to get back to striking at distance but Thompson won't allow it.
Thompson lands an elbow inside that Blasko shrugs off.
Blasko avoids a wild elbow strike from Thompson.
Blasko takes an elbow to the forehead.
Thompson scores with a shot to the side of Blasko's head.
Thompson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Blasko.
A body shot lands from Thompson.
Thompson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Blasko looking for a takedown.
Blasko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Blasko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A right hand to the body from Thompson.
Thompson lands an elbow inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Blasko.
Thompson lands an elbow just above Blasko 's eye.
Thompson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Blasko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Thompson.
Thompson lands an elbow that stopped Blasko in his tracks for a moment.
Blasko managing to block the knees to the body from Thompson.
Blasko is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thompson is keeping busy.
Thompson tries to land knees in the clinch but Blasko avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson tries to land knees in the clinch but Blasko avoids the damage to the body.
A short left from Thompson.
Thompson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Blasko is defending well for now.
Thompson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thompson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Blasko fails to pull guard.
Thompson lands an elbow inside.

Blasko jumps into guard, dragging Thompson to the mat.

Thompson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Blasko has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thompson has managed to get both his arms back between Blasko's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blasko wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Blasko keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Blasko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Blasko working for a triangle but Thompson defends it easily.
Thompson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Blasko keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blasko is trying to control the position but Thompson postures up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Blasko tries to strike from the bottom.
Blasko wants to sweep here but Thompson controlling him for the moment.

Blasko working for a triangle but Thompson defends it easily.
Blasko throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Blasko throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Thompson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Blasko keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thompson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Blasko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thompson avoids it really well and circles away.
Thompson wants to clinch up but Blasko keeps it at a distance.
Thompson swinging wildly here.
Thompson is looking to clinch.

Thompson moves into the clinch.
Thompson trying to land knees to the body.
Thompson throws a head punch that misses.
Thompson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Blasko's defenses.
Thompson lands a nice knee to the body.
Thompson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Thompson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Thompson lands a nice uppercut.
Thompson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Blasko takes an elbow to the temple.
Nice elbow from Thompson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A left hand lands to the body for Thompson.
Thompson gets through Blasko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Thompson lands an elbow just above Blasko 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson misses with a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Thompson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Blasko avoiding damage as Thompson throws knees to the body.
Still in the clinch, Thompson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Thompson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Blasko takes an elbow to the forehead.
Thompson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Thompson lands with a short shot to the head.
Thompson lands with a right to the head.
Thompson lands with a short shot to the head.
Thompson lands a good knee to the midsection. Blasko won't want to take too many of those.
Thompson blocks an uppercut.
Thompson lands a good knee to the midsection. Blasko won't want to take too many of those.
Blasko is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thompson is keeping busy.
Thompson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Thompson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Blasko's defenses.
Thompson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Blasko avoids it.
Blasko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thompson missing with knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Thompson.
Thompson lands a damaging elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Thompson.
Thompson is leaning against Blasko and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thompson obliges.
Blasko wants to get back to striking at distance but Thompson won't allow it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Thompson.
Thompson missing with knees to the body.
Blasko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Thompson lands a body shot in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thompson.
Blasko works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Blasko takes an elbow to the temple.
Thompson misses with a body punch.
Blasko pushes off an throws an elbow but Thompson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Thompson misses with a body punch.
Thompson throws an elbow that misses.
Thompson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Blasko avoids it.
Thompson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Blasko tries to pull guard but Thompson holds him up against the cage and eventually Blasko drops back down to his feet.
Blasko blocks a body shot from Thompson.
Blasko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blasko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Crunch! Thompson slams his shin into Blasko's torso.
Thompson misses with a body kick.
Blasko misses with a combination
and Thompson counters with a good, hard body kick but Blasko shrugs it off.
Thompson ducks under a wild hook from Blasko.

Thompson closes the distance and clinches.
Thompson throws an elbow that misses.
Thompson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Blasko blocks it with crossed arms.
Blasko blocks a body shot from Thompson.
Blasko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Blasko dodges an elbow strike from Thompson.
Thompson missing with knees to the body.
Thompson lands a nice elbow.

Blasko breaks the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Blasko is defended easily by Thompson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Blasko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson throws a front kick aimed at Blasko's knee but Blasko avoids it well.
John Blasko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Blasko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thompson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Nick Thompson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Thompson.
Blasko takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Thompson thumps Blasko with a low kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Thompson!
Thompson misses with a wild combination.
Thompson thows a body shot but no joy.
Thompson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Nick Thompson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Blasko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thompson misses with a body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Blasko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thompson lands a body shot.
Blasko takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Thompson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Thompson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thompson winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 26:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:29

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