PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between George Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson has chosen Bodies as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rogers
vs
Thompson

187 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, George Rogers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Richard Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rogers instigates a clinch.
Thompson stalling against the cage.
Rogers is pushing Thompson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rogers keeps control of Thompson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Thompson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rogers pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rogers trying to land knees to the body.
Rogers tries to pull guard but Thompson won't allow it.
Thompson gets underhooks to prevent Rogers's takedown attempt.
Thompson lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rogers shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rogers trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Rogers tries to free his leg and advance position but Thompson is retaining full guard.
Rogers trying to move into half guard but instead Thompson has managed to sweep!
Rogers preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thompson trying to control but Rogers is working from the bottom.

Rogers 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson wants to get up but he can't break Rogers's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Rogers knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thompson on the ground.
Thompson stays in close to Rogers's body and controls the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rogers is looking to clinch but Thompson is avoiding it.
Thompson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rogers pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rogers closes the distance and clinches up with Thompson, looking for a takedown. Rogers pushes Thompson against the cage but Thompson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Rogers. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thompson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Rogers is breathing heavily.
Thompson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Thompson looking for a guillotine here but Rogers defends easily.
Thompson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rogers manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Thompson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Thompson postures up.
Thompson wants to control from the top but Rogers keeps moving.

Rogers isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Thompson stacks Rogers on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Thompson!
Thompson gets to mount! Rogers was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Thompson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rogers hang on?
Rogers tries to reverse the position but Thompson maintains control.
Thompson looking to control but Rogers is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thompson working Rogers over with strikes here.

Rogers defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Thompson.
Rogers tries to hold on but Thompson postures up.
Thompson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson lands a nice shot to the head.
Thompson tries to control but Rogers wriggling away.
Thompson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Thompson landing strikes from the mount.
Rogers is trying to escape the mount.
Thompson breaks from Rogers's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rogers wants to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Thompson wants to finish this one by submission but Rogers is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Thompson.
Rogers is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rogers shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thompson as he jumps to the side.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thompson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rogers gets caught flat footed, as Thompson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Thompson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rogers is trying to control the position but Thompson postures up.

Rogers is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Thompson gets to his feet. Rogers looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rogers shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Thompson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rogers!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rogers taking shots to the head.
Rogers on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rogers tries to get out of the position.
Thompson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rogers can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Thompson avoids the attempt from Rogers to control.
Thompson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rogers hang on?
Thompson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thompson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rogers throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Thompson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thompson landing punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thompson lands a heavy elbow.
Thompson dominating with strikes here.
Rogers is desperately trying to improve his position but Thompson has a good base and remains in mount.
Rogers is squirming around, avoiding Thompson's attempts to control the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thompson working the ground and pound effectively.
Rogers wants to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.
Thompson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Thompson lands a heavy elbow.
Rogers is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rogers wants to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.
Thompson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rogers tries to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.

Thompson working for a submission but Rogers is keeping him at bay.
Richard Thompson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thompson looking to control but Rogers is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rogers tries to hold on but Thompson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thompson controlling his opponent.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Thompson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rogers tries to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.
Thompson trying to control but Rogers is having none of it.
A nice elbow there by Thompson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Thompson tries to clinch but Rogers is having none of it.
Thompson cracks Rogers with an open hand slap.
Rogers tries for a takedown but Thompson circles away easily
and Thompson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Thompson tries to clinch up but Rogers circles away and keeps his distance.
Thompson tries to clinch but Rogers is having none of it.
Rogers tries for a takedown but Thompson circles away easily
and Thompson counters with an outside leg kick.
Thompson lands with an overhand left.

Thompson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rogers has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Thompson has passed into side control.
Rogers is letting Thompson control him for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thompson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Thompson wants to stand but Rogers has his arm trapped.
Rogers wants to control but Thompson postures up.
Rogers looks to move to half guard but instead Thompson has passed into mount! Damn!
Rogers is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Thompson with good strikes from the mount here!
Rogers is trying to escape the mount.
George Rogers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thompson tries to control but Rogers wriggling away.
Thompson controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Thompson looking to finish Rogers with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rogers!
Thompson connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rogers can't escape the position.
Thompson tries to control but Rogers wriggling away.
Rogers can't escape the position.
Thompson landing strikes from the mount.
Rogers keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rogers wants to control but Thompson is having none of it.
Rogers keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rogers bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Rogers throwing strikes but missing.
Thompson wants to stand up but Rogers is controlling him.
Thompson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Richard Thompson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thompson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

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