PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zues Egan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Claude Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson has chosen If Rap Gets Jealous by K'naan as his entrance music. Claude Thompson is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Egan
vs
Thompson

167 cm
30
143 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
155 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zues Egan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Claude Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Egan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thompson throws out the jab.
Egan misses with a low kick.
Thompson tries to bum rush Egan with a series of wild strikes but Egan uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thompson misses with a looping right.
Thompson has his takedown stuffed
and Egan counters with a solid body kick.
Egan tries a head kick but it misses.
Thompson throws a jab but it's blocked by Egan.
Egan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thompson.
Egan misses with a low kick.
Nice takedown defense from Egan. No joy for Thompson on that attempt.
Thompson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Egan thows a body kick. Thompson tries to catch it but that hurt him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thompson. Egan does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thompson misses with a leg kick
and Egan counters with a head kick. That will keep Thompson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Thompson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thompson misses with a double jab.
Sloppy strikes from Thompson. Those never looked like landing.
Nice defenses there by Egan.
Egan fakes the leg kick and cracks Thompson in the body.
Thompson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Claude Thompson has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Egan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Egan takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Thompson scores with a jab to the head.
Thompson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Egan swings for the body but Thompson moves out of range.
Egan throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thompson.
Thompson lands a nice shot that snaps Egan's head back.
Thompson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Egan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Egan cracks the inside of Thompson's front leg.
Thompson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Egan throws a chopping leg kick but Thompson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Egan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thompson blocks a leg kick.
Thompson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zues Egan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Claude Thompson.
A head kick misses from Egan.
Egan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Some bone on bone action there as Thompson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Thompson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Egan throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson fails to land with a series of punches.
Thompson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Thompson scores with the left hand. Egan knows he should have avoided that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Egan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Zues Egan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thompson misses with a wild combination.
Thompson misses with a combination
and Egan counters with a low kick, right behind Thompson 's knee.
Thompson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thompson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thompson slips a jab and a cross from Egan.
Thompson lands a high kick!
Egan is looking to score with low kicks.
Thompson throws a body kick the misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Thompson tries for a takedown but Egan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Egan throws a low kick but Thompson avoids it.
Thompson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thompson looks gassed!
Egan misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Egan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Egan misses with a body kick.
Thompson shoots in looking for a takedown but Egan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thompson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Thompson throws out a loose jab but Egan uses good head movement to avoid it.

Thompson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Egan's half guard.
Thompson throws a strike but Egan avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Thompson is looking to work some ground and pound but Egan has wrist control.
Thompson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Egan is pulling down on Thompson's head. It's preventing any offense from Thompson, at least for the moment.
Egan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thompson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thompson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thompson tries to free his leg and advance position but Egan is retaining full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Thompson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Egan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thompson postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thompson postures up in Egan's guard and throws a big left but Egan blocks it.
Thompson is looking to work some ground and pound but Egan has wrist control.
Thompson throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claude Thompson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Claude Thompson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thompson scores with a jab to the head.
Good leg kick by Egan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Thompson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Egan can pounce on him.
Zues Egan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Egan cracks Thompson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Thompson misses with an uppercut. Egan saw that one coming.
Egan throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Thompson lands a jab to Egan's midsection.
Egan lands with a slapping head kick.
Egan throws a solid leg kick but Thompson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Egan.

Thompson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Thompson lands in his opponent's guard.
Thompson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thompson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Egan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Egan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Egan's head.
Thompson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thompson won't allow Egan to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Egan is on top in guard.

Thompson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Egan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Thompson is proving hard to escape from.
Egan wants to control from the top but Thompson keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Egan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Egan stopping the sweep attempt from Thompson.
Egan wants to pass the guard but Thompson is keeping the position.
Thompson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Thompson working for a triangle but Egan defends it easily.

Thompson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Egan defends it easily.
Egan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Egan wants to control from the top but Thompson keeps moving.
Egan trying to stand up but can't free himself from Thompson's guard.
Thompson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thompson looking for a sweep. Not yet Thompson, not yet.

Thompson is looking for a triangle here but Egan uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Claude Thompson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thompson sneaks back into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Thompson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thompson is trying to get back to full guard.
Egan trying to control from half guard but Thompson is working away.

Egan seems to be working for a kimura but Thompson defends the submission attempt.
Thompson is trying to maintain the position but Egan is very close to passing his half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thompson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claude Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Claude Thompson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Thompson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Egan.
Egan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thompson.
A combination from Thompson does no damage.
Thompson just misses with a punch to the body.
Thompson feints and then cracks Egan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Egan down.
Claude Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Thompson crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Egan - the referee stops the clock and Thompson gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Egan. Thompson manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Thompson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Thompson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Egan's guard.
Thompson forces his way into half guard.
Thompson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Thompson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Egan has managed to free his arm - good work.
Egan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson wants to pass the guard but Egan is defending well.
Egan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thompson.
Thompson thows a huge punch but Egan dodges it nicely.
Egan is trying to maintain the position but Thompson is very close to passing his half guard.

Thompson is looking for a kimura but Egan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thompson to get the leverage.
Thompson thows a huge punch but Egan dodges it nicely.
Thompson drops an elbow to the side of Egan's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Egan's head.
Egan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thompson.
Thompson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Thompson works his way into full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Egan holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Thompson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Thompson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Thompson goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Egan is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson working for a triangle but Egan defends it easily.
Egan is looking to stand up but Thompson won't let him.
Zues Egan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Thompson looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Egan has picked Thompson up and slammed him! Thompson can't keep hold of the triangle and Egan manages to pass to side control!
Egan looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Thompson is avoiding damage well.
Egan sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Thompson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Thompson is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Egan stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Thompson fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Egan has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Thompson misses with an uppercut.
Thompson lands with an overhand left.
Thompson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thompson misses with the combination.
Egan walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Thompson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Thompson checks the leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Egan misses with a low kick.
Egan thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Thompson if he has to take too many more of those.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice leg kick lands there from Egan.
Claude Thompson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Thompson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Claude 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claude Thompson!
Claude Thompson decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.