PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jack Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Kaplan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Kaplan will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Thompson
vs
Kaplan

201 cm
26
270 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
252 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

BLKOUT Clothing
Springfield HW Nutrition

Springfield HW Nutrition

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Kaplan!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaplan looks to land a combination but Thompson avoids it well.
Thompson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kaplan counters with a stiff right hand.
Kaplan stuffs the takedown.
Thompson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thompson.
Thompson lands a decent elbow from side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kaplan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kaplan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Thompson grinds an elbow into Kaplan's temple.
Thompson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thompson working the head with strikes.
Kaplan defending against the ground and pound.
Kaplan is looking for a sweep.
Thompson 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.
Thompson landing strikes.
Kaplan being controlled for a moment.
Thompson is trying to ground and pound but Kaplan uses the momentary lack of control by Thompson to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kaplan's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson throws a strike but Kaplan avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Kaplan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thompson is controlling him.
Thompson lands a couple of elbows.
Kaplan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Thompson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Thompson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kaplan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thompson.
Kaplan keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson working some strikes from top position.
Thompson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thompson is looking to work some ground and pound but Kaplan has wrist control.
Thompson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thompson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Thompson passes Kaplan's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kaplan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thompson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kaplan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thompson.
Thompson lands strikes from half guard.
Kaplan wants to get back to his feet.
Thompson winds up and cracks Kaplan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan is trying to get back to full guard.
Thompson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kaplan flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Thompson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kaplan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thompson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thompson's back!
Thompson looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Thompson turns into Kaplan and is now in his guard.
Kaplan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is working to get back to half guard.
Thompson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Thompson working to try and regain half guard.
Kaplan is trying to control here but Thompson has managed to regain half guard.
Kaplan is trying to control the action in half guard but Thompson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
It looks like Kaplan is going to stand back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson is trying to maintain the position but Kaplan is very close to passing his half guard.
Thompson gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Thompson dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kaplan closes the distance but Thompson moves to the side

and Thompson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Thompson connects with a nice short shot to Kaplan's temple.

It looks like Joe Kaplan has been cut.
Kaplan holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Thompson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kaplan trying to hold on to Thompson's head to control him but Thompson postures up.
Kaplan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Thompson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Thompson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kaplan 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.
Thompson connects with a couple of short punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thompson lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaplan keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Thompson lands a couple of digs.

Kaplan working for a triangle but Thompson defends it easily.
Jack Thompson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kaplan is breathing heavily.
Kaplan keeping full guard, as Thompson tries to pass.
Thompson trying to control but Kaplan is working from the bottom.
Thompson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kaplan's head.
Thompson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kaplan is looking to stand up but Thompson isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kaplan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thompson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Thompson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kaplan is keeping the position for now.
Thompson chips away with some ground and pound.

The cut above Joe Kaplan's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Thompson cracks Kaplan with a solid left hand.
Thompson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kaplan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Thompson is working to get back to half guard.
Kaplan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thompson is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kaplan looking to land elbow strikes but Thompson uses the position to regain half guard.
Kaplan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thompson keeps working.
Thompson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Thompson is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kaplan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
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.
Kaplan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thompson is keeping the position for now.
Kaplan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thompson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kaplan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thompson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kaplan can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Thompson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Joe Kaplan's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kaplan tries a low kick but Thompson avoids it.
Jack Thompson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Thompson scores with a takedown into Kaplan's guard.
Kaplan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thompson.
Thompson advances to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Thompson lands a nice short elbow.
Kaplan taking some punishment here, with Thompson in his half guard.
Thompson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kaplan swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Thompson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kaplan?
Kaplan tries to hold on but Thompson postures up.
Thompson trying to control but Kaplan is having none of it.
Thompson landing shots from mount.

Joe Kaplan's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Joe Kaplan's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Jack Thompson!