PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ross Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Orton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thompson
vs
Orton

167 cm
24
279 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
269 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 Sydney, Ross Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Randy Orton!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Orton clinches up against the cage.
Orton is trying to drag Thompson to the mat but Thompson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Thompson breaks from the clinch.

Orton bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Thompson sneaks out the side door and pushes Orton away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Orton moves to clinch but Thompson breaks away
and Thompson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Orton dives in and scores a takedown into Thompson's guard.

Orton gets to his feet. Thompson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Thompson avoids the head kick by Orton.
As Orton tries to get set, Thompson tries to push him back and clinch up but Orton manages to avoid the attempt.
Orton shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thompson pinned against the cage. Thompson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Orton closes the distance and clinches.
Orton jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thompson walks away with a smile on his face. Orton gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ross Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Orton.
Orton defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Thompson.
Orton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Thompson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Orton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Orton keeping moving, preventing Thompson from controlling successfully.
Thompson really is a fat lump.
Orton is controlling Thompson's posture.
Thompson throws a big right hand that misses.
Orton wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Orton being controlled here, momentarily.

Thompson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Orton has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Thompson has managed to get both his arms back between Orton's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Thompson is looking to work some ground and pound but Orton has wrist control.
Orton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thompson.
Thompson postures up.
Thompson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thompson distracts Orton with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Thompson is working Orton over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Orton throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Orton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thompson throws a head kick but Orton moves out of range.
Orton blocks a head kick by Thompson.

Orton scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Thompson kicks Orton off and gets back to his feet.
Orton works Thompson's body with a nice hook.

Thompson gets a clinch.
Orton tries to pull guard but Thompson won't allow it.
Thompson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Orton gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Thompson tries to break the clinch but Orton is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ross Thompson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thompson checks a leg kick.
Thompson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Orton sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Thompson somewhat.
Orton doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thompson counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Orton moves into range and clinches up with Thompson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson has had enough of the clinch but Orton keeps him there for the moment.
Thompson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Orton gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Thompson.
Thompson is trying to break the clinch but Orton is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orton prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ross Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Orton is trying to pull guard but Thompson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Orton breaks from the clinch.
Thompson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Despite the aggression on Orton's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Orton clinches up against the cage.

Thompson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Orton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Orton pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Orton throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orton misses with a two punch combination.
Horrible takedown attempt by Orton or perhaps it was just good defense by Thompson, which made it look bad.
Orton fails with the takedown
letting Thompson counter with a right hand.
Orton dives in for a single leg takedown but Thompson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Orton is breathing heavily.
Thompson stuffs the takedown.
Thompson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Orton tries to avoid it but Thompson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Orton to the ground. Orton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Orton misses the shot to the body.
Thompson feinted with a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thompson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thompson keeps the fight on the outside.
Thompson appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Thompson fails with a takedown attempt.
Thompson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Orton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Randy Orton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Orton moves to clinch but Thompson breaks away
and Thompson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Orton wants to clinch
and Thompson counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orton throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Ross Thompson has been cut.
Orton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Thompson counter with a right hand.
Thompson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Orton is fending him off so far but Thompson persists. Nope, Orton circles away and we're back to standing.
Orton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Orton lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thompson circles away quickly and effectively.
Thompson tries to counter with a takedown but Orton is quick to defend against it.
Nice straight punches there by Thompson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thompson.
Randy Orton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thompson keeps the fight on the outside.
Orton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Randy Orton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ross Thompson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Thompson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Orton looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Thompson taking a breather here.
Orton regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Orton is trying to get back to full guard.
Orton is staying active underneath Thompson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Orton trying to hold on to Thompson's head to control him but Thompson postures up.
Orton tries to kick Thompson off but Thompson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Thompson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Orton is trying to stand back up but Thompson is controlling him
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Thompson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Orton shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Orton moves in looking to clinch but Thompson pushes him off.
Orton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Orton wants it to stay on the feet.
Thompson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Orton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thompson.
Orton wants to counter with a clinch but Thompson pushes him away.

Orton shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Orton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Orton is thwarting Thompson's attempts to control the position.
Ground and pound from Orton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orton looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Thompson is trying is best to control the position here.

Orton is looking for a kimura but Thompson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Orton to get the leverage.
Thompson tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Orton slows the pace down in half guard.
Orton slips a nice elbow through Thompson's hands, connecting with Thompson's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Orton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thompson keeps working.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Orton tries for a takedown but Thompson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Orton misses with a right hand
and Thompson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Orton dives in and grabs Thompson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thompson pushes down on Orton's head and hops out.
Ross Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Randy Orton.
Thompson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Orton avoids it really well and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Randy Orton.
I think Orton has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!