PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Cox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dom Thompson (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.

Cox
vs
Thompson

185 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 Tokyo, Shawn Cox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dom Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson misses with a hook
and Cox counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Thompson thinking.
Some wild striking there from Thompson.
Thompson shoots in for a double leg but Cox sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thompson is looking to clinch.
Thompson throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Cox shoots for a takedown but Thompson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Cox drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thompson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thompson trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Dom Thompson.
Thompson shoots for a takedown but Cox saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Cox misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cox fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn Cox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cox throws a good cross that connects.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cox.
Cox tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thompson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thompson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thompson wants it to stay on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cox.
Cox is breathing heavily.
Thompson connects with an inside leg kick.

Thompson feints and as Cox raises his hands in defense, Thompson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thompson slips nicely into half guard.
Thompson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Cox blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thompson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cox keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cox trying to hold on to Thompson's head to control him but Thompson postures up.
Thompson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Thompson stands up and beckons Cox to join him on the feet.
Thompson missing with a left hand there. Cox was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson connects with a high kick.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cox swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Thompson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cox gets back to half guard.

Cox makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cox gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Thompson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Cox is retaining full guard.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Cox keeps moving.
Thompson slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Thompson dominated that round.
That's time! Cox's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Thompson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cox to the mat! Cox manages to get full guard.
Cox working a defensive guard but Thompson passes into half guard.
Thompson wants to stand but Cox has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Cox is looking for a sweep. Thompson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cox preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Cox is trying to get back to full guard.
Thompson passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson trying to control but Cox is having none of it.
Cox is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson trying to control but Cox is having none of it.
Cox tries to lock up and control but Thompson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Thompson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cox's face.
Thompson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cox is bucking up trying to escape but Thompson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thompson thowing shots but they're missing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson goes for an armbar but Cox turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Cox.
Cox working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thompson's head.

Thompson has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Cox is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Thompson.
Cox trying to control the position but Thompson is working away.
Thompson is looking to regain half guard here but Cox keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cox is looking to take a break and control but Thompson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cox working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Cox trying to control the action but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Cox has control of an arm but Thompson manages to advance to Cox's back!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson throwing wild punches that miss their target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Thompson tries to clinch but Cox is having none of it.
Thompson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Cox fails to land the takedown.
Thompson thows a body shot but no joy.

Cox has Thompson up against the cage in a clinch.
Thompson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cox is defending well for now.
Cox keeps control of Thompson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Thompson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Thompson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Cox controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox postures up.
Cox stopping the sweep attempt from Thompson.
Thompson looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Shawn Cox wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cox shoots for a takedown but Thompson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cox lands with a slapping head kick.
Cox has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shawn Cox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thompson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cox.
Cox avoids the body shot from Thompson.

Cox has taken the fight to the clinch.

Cox pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cox shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thompson as he avoids it easily.

Thompson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cox's half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Thompson wants to work for an arm triangle but Cox is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cox keeps working.
Thompson working the head and body with strikes.

Thompson escapes and gets back to his feet.
Thompson dives in and grabs Cox's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cox pushes down on Thompson's head and hops out.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cox as he jumps to the side.

Cox has taken the fight to the clinch.
Cox changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Thompson fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cox swivels and escapes.
Cox throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Thompson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Cox counters with a left and a right that stings Thompson.
Thompson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cox looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dom Thompson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Cox moves into range and clinches up with Thompson.
Shawn Cox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dom Thompson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Thompson has had enough of the clinch but Cox keeps him there for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dom Thompson.
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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

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