PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitch Connel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mitch Connel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thompson
vs
Connel

196 cm
20
189 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mike Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mitch Connel!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thompson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Thompson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Connel keeps working.

Thompson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Connel rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Thompson's guard! Nice work there by Connel!
Connel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Thompson has his feet on Connel's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
We've been hearing reports that Thompson has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Connel gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thompson to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Thompson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thompson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Connel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thompson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Connel working a defensive guard but Thompson manages to pass into side control anyway.
Connel looks winded!
Connel is not content to let Thompson control the position.
Thompson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Thompson slows the pace down.
Thompson trying to control the position but Connel is working away.
Thompson working the ground and pound.
Thompson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Connel some visible discomfort.
Thompson controlling the position.

Thompson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Connel, who protects the arm well.
Connel tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thompson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connel is not content to let Thompson control the position.

Thompson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Connel, who protects the arm well.
Connel takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Thompson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Thompson fails with the takedown.
Thompson closes the distance and clinches up with Connel, looking for a takedown. Thompson pushes Connel against the cage but Connel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Thompson shoots in but Connel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Connel has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Thompson is landing a low percentage of strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson wants to clinch.

Thompson darts in and clinches Connel up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Thompson.
Thompson is looking to break free of the clinch but Connel has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Connel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Thompson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Connel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Thompson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Connel gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A short right from Connel.

Connel pulls guard successfully.
Connel is breathing heavily.
Thompson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thompson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thompson wants to work for an arm triangle but Connel is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Thompson is trying to control. Connel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Connel has hold of Thompson's hands but Thompson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Thompson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Connel trying to control from the bottom.
Thompson is keen to just control but Connel is a slippery customer.
Still in half guard, Thompson seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mike Thompson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Thompson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thompson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Connel enables Thompson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Connel manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Thompson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Thompson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Connel for as long as he can get away with.
Connel is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Thompson dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Thompson taking a breather here.

Thompson has hold of Connel's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Connel seems comfortable defending it but Thompson has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Connel is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Connel is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Thompson couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mike Thompson!