PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nick Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiago Neto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thompson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Kreator - Extreme Aggressions. The key to victory for Nick Thompson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Thompson
vs
Neto

185 cm
19
192 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

192 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tiago Neto!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Thompson does no damage.
Thompson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Thompson lands a jab-cross combination.
Thompson swings for the body but Neto moves out of range.
Neto looks for a takedown but Thompson sprawls well.
Horrible takedown by Neto or perhaps it was just good defense by Thompson which made him look bad.
Thompson's corner calls for a 1-2. Thompson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Neto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Neto keeps the fight on the outside.
Thompson lands a jab.
Thompson looks to land a combination. Neto sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Neto slips a jab and a cross from Thompson.
Nice sprawl there from Thompson as Neto shoots in.
Nick Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Neto.
Thompson misses with a few strikes there.
Neto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thompson as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Neto.
Nick Thompson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Neto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thompson tries to avoid it but Neto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thompson to the ground. Thompson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thompson sizes up Neto with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Thompson throws a series of punches but Neto avoids them all with ease.
Neto shoots in and drives through. Thompson sprawls well.
Neto looks gassed!
Neto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thompson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thompson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Neto manages to avoid it.
Thompson tries to clinch up but Neto circles away and keeps his distance.
Thompson tries to bum rush Neto with a series of wild strikes but Neto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thompson moves in looking to clinch but Neto pushes him off.
Thompson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thompson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Neto.
Neto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nick Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Thompson pushes Neto up against the cage in a clinch.
Neto looking for a takedown.
Neto tries to pull guard but Thompson won't allow it.

Thompson manages to break the clinch.
Neto misses with a takedown attempt - Thompson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nice takedown defense from Thompson. No joy for Neto on that attempt.
Thompson connects with the punch.
Thompson tries to bum rush Neto with a series of wild strikes but Neto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Neto throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thompson's waist but Thompson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Neto off to one side.
Thompson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thompson lands a jab to Neto's midsection.
Thompson throws a one two combo.
Thompson is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson tries a head kick but it misses.
Thompson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Neto slips a jab and a cross from Thompson.
Thompson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No joy there for Thompson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thompson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thompson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Neto checks it well.

Neto scores with a takedown into Thompson's guard.
Neto distracts Thompson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Thompson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neto working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Thompson's head.
Neto trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Thompson is adopting a defensive guard.
Neto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Neto throwing strikes but missing.
Neto won't allow Thompson to get back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Neto shoots in for a double leg but Thompson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thompson throws a body punch but Neto moves out of range.
Neto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thompson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Neto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thompson swivels and escapes.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch but Neto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Neto staying out of range there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thompson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Neto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Thompson pinned against the cage. Thompson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Thompson lands a two punch combo.
Thompson is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Neto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Neto tries for a takedown but Thompson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nick Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Neto.

Thompson has Neto up against the cage in a clinch.
Thompson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Neto lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson gets underhooks to prevent Neto's takedown attempt.
Thompson scores a nice knee to the body.
Thompson landing knees to the head.
Thompson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Neto backwards.
Neto tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thompson smiles and moves away.
Thompson tries to clinch there but Neto circles away.
Thompson misses with the combination.
Nick Thompson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thompson stuffs the takedown.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thompson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Neto shoots in looking for a takedown. Thompson tries to sprawl out of it but Neto keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thompson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Neto avoids the head kick by Thompson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thompson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Neto was well out of range. Poor timing from Thompson.
Neto has a takedown stuffed.
Thompson lands with a shot to the body.
Thompson tries to clinch there but Neto circles away.
Neto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thompson is fending him off so far but Neto persists. Nope, Thompson circles away and we're back to standing.
Thompson misses with a straight right.
Thompson looks to score with a jab to the body but Neto is just out of range.
Thompson throws a series of punches but Neto avoids them all with ease.
Thompson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Neto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thompson as he avoids it easily.
Neto looks for a takedown but Thompson sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neto doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Neto.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch but Neto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thompson wants to clinch.
Thompson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Neto was well out of range. Poor timing from Thompson.
Neto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thompson as he jumps to the side.
Thompson is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Neto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thompson tries to avoid it but Neto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thompson to the ground. Thompson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thompson lands a jab-cross combination.
Thompson is looking to clinch but Neto is avoiding it.
Thompson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Thompson has Neto up against the cage in a clinch.
Neto is trying to break free.
Neto changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Thompson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Thompson tries to close the distance and clinch but Neto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neto shoots in for a double leg but Thompson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A head kick misses from Thompson.
Neto misses with a takedown attempt - Thompson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Thompson dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Thompson misses with a few strikes there.
Thompson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Neto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Neto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thompson tries to clinch but Neto is having none of it.
Thompson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Neto 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.
Neto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thompson but Thompson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters circling - Thompson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thompson stuffs the takedown attempt from Neto. Neto gets slowly back to his feet.
Nick Thompson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tiago Neto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson connects with a body shot.

Thompson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Neto goes for a takedown in the clinch but Thompson prevents it.
Thompson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Neto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thompson.
Thompson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Thompson landing some nice looking knees to the body.

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

Thompson clinches up against the cage.
Neto drops down looking for an ankle pick but Thompson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Thompson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Neto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thompson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson lands with a straight right. Neto didn't see that one coming.
Neto shoots for a takedown but Thompson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thompson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thompson looks to land a right hand but Neto moved out of range.
Neto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thompson but Thompson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thompson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Neto's calf.
Neto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thompson tries to bum rush Neto with a series of wild strikes but Neto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thompson tries to clinch there but Neto circles away.
Thompson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Neto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thompson tries to avoid it but Neto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thompson to the ground. Thompson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thompson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson misses with a body kick.
Thompson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Neto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thompson as he jumps to the side.
Thompson throws a good cross that connects.
Thompson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Neto moves out of range of the strikes.
Neto shoots for a double leg takedown but Thompson sprawls well. He's pushed Neto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Thompson throws a right and a left that Neto avoids nicely.
Thompson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thompson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Neto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thompson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Neto has him pressed against the cage.
Thompson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Neto has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Neto is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Thompson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Neto avoiding damage as Thompson throws knees to the body.

Thompson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thompson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Neto looks for a takedown but Thompson sprawls well.
A thudding body kick lands there by Thompson!
Thompson throws a series of punches but Neto avoids them all with ease.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Neto shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thompson as he avoids it easily.
Thompson stuffs the takedown attempt from Neto. Neto gets slowly back to his feet.
Tiago Neto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nick Thompson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thompson scores with a three punch combo!

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Thompson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thompson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

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