PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darren Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsu Imai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thompson
vs
Imai

193 cm
20
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
211 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Darren Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Katsu Imai!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson is looking to chop away at Imai's legs.
Imai keeps the fight on the outside.
Thompson moves in looking to clinch but Imai pushes him off.
Imai swats away the attempt to clinch by Thompson.
Thompson wants to clinch.
Thompson looks for a takedown but Imai sprawls well.
Thompson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Imai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thompson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Imai stuffs the takedown attempt from Thompson. Thompson gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darren Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown by Thompson or perhaps it was just good defense by Imai which made him look bad.
Imai checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imai misses with a head kick.

Imai drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Thompson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Imai gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Imai is looking to advance position but Thompson has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Imai tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thompson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Imai on the ground.
Imai manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Imai trying to control from the bottom.
Thompson prevents Imai from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imai makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Imai.
Imai throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Imai working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thompson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thompson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thompson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Imai manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Thompson has Imai in his guard.
Thompson is breathing heavily.
Imai tries to free his leg and advance position but Thompson is retaining full guard.
Thompson can't keep his opponent in guard - Imai advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Imai.
Imai moves into full mount! Thompson won't be happy about that!

Imai looking to secure an arm triangle but Thompson defends it well.
Imai punishing his opponent with strikes.
Imai cracks Thompson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Imai working Thompson over with strikes here.
Imai trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Imai is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imai landing punches.
Thompson tries to hold on but Imai postures up.
Thompson is trying to escape the mount but Imai keeps good control and instead manages to take Thompson's back.
Imai doesn't have the hooks in and Thompson manages to turn into his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Imai is on top in guard.
Imai won't allow Thompson to sweep him here.
Imai trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson can't keep his opponent in guard - Imai advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Imai wants to control but Thompson is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsu Imai dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Imai shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Thompson's guard.
Imai has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thompson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Imai!

Thompson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Imai wants to control but Thompson is having none of it.
Imai sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Imai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Imai gets back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Imai is looking for a triangle but Thompson pushes his legs off easily.
Thompson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Imai keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.

Imai has his foot on Thompson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Thompson works his way back into a safe position though.
Imai lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Imai is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Thompson is not content to let Imai control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Imai seems to be looking for submissions.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet.
Imai takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Thompson trying to control from the bottom.
Katsu Imai has got the better of the ground game so far.
Imai moves into full mount! Thompson won't be happy about that!
Imai avoids the attempt from Thompson to control.
Thompson tries to reverse the position but Imai maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Imai looking to secure an arm triangle but Thompson defends it well.

Imai quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Imai but it's paid off an Thompson is forced to tap! Nice work by Imai.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Katsu Imai!