PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antua Safao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Safao has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Safao
vs
Thompson

208 cm
25
267 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

220 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Antua Safao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Paul Thompson!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thompson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Safao's half guard.
Thompson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Thompson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Thompson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Safao controls his leg.
Safao is trying to stand up here but Thompson is controlling him well.
Safao is breathing heavily.
Well, if Thompson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Safao is trying to stand.
Thompson is trying to control the action in half guard but Safao is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Thompson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Thompson is looking to advance position but Safao won't allow it.
Safao is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Paul Thompson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Safao shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thompson throws a push kick but Safao slaps the foot to one side.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thompson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thompson.
Safao might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Thompson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Thompson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thompson working the ground and pound but Safao is defending the strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Thompson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to stand but Safao has his arm trapped.
Thompson controls the position.
Thompson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Thompson trying to control the action but Safao is working from the bottom.
Thompson wants to stand but Safao has his arm trapped.
Safao on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Safao tries to get out of the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thompson trying to control the position but Safao is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Safao knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thompson on the ground.
Thompson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Thompson is looking to take a break and control but Safao is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thompson moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Paul Thompson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Thompson shoots in but no luck this time.
Antua Safao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Safao as Thompson shoots in.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch but Safao swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Safao tries for a takedown but Thompson circles away easily
and Thompson counters with a series of strikes. Safao will be more careful next time no doubt.

Thompson rushes Safao and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thompson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Antua Safao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Thompson.
Thompson goes for a takedown attempt but Safao pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Thompson shoots in but no luck this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Safao dives in for a single leg takedown but Thompson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Thompson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thompson is looking to clinch but Safao is avoiding it.
Thompson shoots in and drives through. Safao sprawls well.
Thompson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Thompson has managed to clinch.

Thompson successfully pulls guard.
Safao stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thompson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thompson 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 seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Thompson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Safao defending well though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson slows the pace down in half guard.

Thompson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Safao is staying active underneath Thompson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thompson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Paul Thompson.
Safao leaves Thompson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Thompson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Safao shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Safao tries to move into range but Thompson moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Thompson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Antua Safao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Thompson.

Safao drives through with a takedown into Thompson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Safao chips away with some ground and pound.
Thompson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Safao is one step ahead there.
Safao missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Safao scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Safao throws a big right hand that misses.
Safao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thompson is keeping the position for now.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet but Safao is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Thompson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Safao throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thompson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thompson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Safao's guard.
Safao wants to stand up but Thompson is controlling him.

Thompson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Safao looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Safao looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Safao!
Thompson is trying to control Safao's posture but Safao avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Safao lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Thompson down.
Thompson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Safao off and has taken his back!
Safao is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Safao is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Safao's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Thompson.

Thompson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Thompson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Safao shoots in but Thompson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Thompson clinches.

Thompson jumps into guard, dragging Safao to the mat.

Thompson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Safao can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thompson controlling Safao's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Safao loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Safao avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Safao postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Thompson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Safao doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Safao manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Safao chips away with some ground and pound.
Safao has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thompson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson looking for a guillotine here but Safao defends easily.
Safao postures up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Safao working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thompson wants to get back to his feet but Safao is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Safao tries to free his leg and advance position but Thompson is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson looking to control.
Safao trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Safao not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Paul Thompson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Thompson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Safao looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Thompson throws a combination. Safao tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Safao looks for a takedown but Thompson sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antua Safao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Safao shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Safao shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thompson sprawls well. Thompson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Safao gets slowly back to his feet.
Safao looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thompson is fending him off so far but Safao persists. Nope, Thompson circles away and we're back to standing.

Thompson clinches up against the cage.
Antua Safao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thompson tries to stall but Safao uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Thompson pulls Safao into guard.
Thompson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Paul Thompson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Safao throwing strikes from guard but Thompson blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Thompson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thompson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

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