PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Connors (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Mike Connors has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Mike Connors seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Connors
vs
Thompson

197 cm
25
242 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
275 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Connors!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Billy Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Thompson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Connors.
Connors throws a hook but Thompson blocks it.
Connors misses with a wild body shot.

Connors takes the fight into the clinch.
Connors using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thompson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Connors dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Connors escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson throws a right and a left that Connors avoids nicely.
Connors fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thompson avoids it really well and circles away.

Connors clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson is pressed up against the cage. Connors has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Thompson down to the mat. Thompson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Connors. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thompson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Billy Thompson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thompson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Connors moves out of range of the strikes.
Connors walks into a straight right hand from Thompson.
Connors misses with a jab to the body
letting Thompson counter with a right hand.
Thompson lands a jab to the nose.
Connors avoids the body shot from Thompson.
Connors looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Connors staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson works Connors's body with a nice hook.
Thompson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Connors.
Connors throws a right hand that Thompson ducks under and follows up with a left that Thompson also avoids with ease.
Thompson misses with a two punch combination.
Connors takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A combination from Connors does no damage.
Thompson fails to land with a series of punches.
Connors bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Thompson throws a hook but Connors blocks it.
Thompson throws a body shot but no joy.
Thompson lands with a right hand.
Thompson throws a head kick but Connors moves out of range.
Connors misses with a takedown attempt - Thompson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Thompson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thompson.
Thompson scores with a sloppy right hand. Connors should have avoided that one.
Thompson lands with an overhand left.
Thompson fails to land with a series of punches.
Thompson tries to clinch but Connors moves out of range.
Thompson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Connors doesn't seem bothered though.
Thompson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Thompson loads up on a big right hand but Connors slips the punch.
Nice body punch from Thompson.
Connors misses with a series of wild punches.
Connors throws a shot from downtown. Thompson moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connors avoids a kick to the body.
Thompson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Billy Thompson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thompson with a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Connors throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thompson.
Thompson looks for the body kick but Connors saw that one coming.
Thompson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thompson scores with a jab.
Thompson with a nice cross.
Thompson throws a right hand that Connors ducks under and follows up with a left that Connors also avoids with ease.
Thompson looks winded!
Connors throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Connors shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thompson as he avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Connors.
Thompson tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Connors is able to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy 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 bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Connors's head.
Thompson tries to bum rush Connors with a series of wild strikes but Connors uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Connors swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Thompson counters with a nice body shot.
Connors slips a jab from Thompson.
Connors tries to clinch there but Thompson circles away.
Thompson fails to land with a series of punches.
Thompson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Connors.
A right-left combo lands from Connors.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Connors looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Connors throws a leg kick that misses.
Connors takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connors closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thompson circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thompson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Thompson throws a sloppy head kick and Connors moves out of range easily.
Thompson misses with a double jab
and Connors counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Connors walks into a jab.
Good exchange - Thompson coming out on top.
Thompson thuds his right hand into Connors's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Connors walks into a jab.
Connors misses with a double jab
and Thompson counters with a two punch combo.
Thompson misses with a low kick as Connors jumps back.
Connors wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Connors works over Thompson's head and body with a nice combination.
Connors throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Thompson counters with a left to the body.
Thompson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thompson misses with a straight right.
Thompson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thompson lands with a nice body punch.
Connors shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Thompson swinging wildly here.
Thompson throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connors looks to land a combination but Thompson avoids it well.
Thompson throws a head kick but Connors moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Connors. Thompson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Connors keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thompson.
Thompson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Connors throws a right and a left that both miss.
Connors tries to clinch but Thompson moves out of range.
Thompson with a hook.
Thompson thuds a left hand into Connors's body.
Thompson misses with a wild body shot.
Connors throws a right and a left that Thompson avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connors will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Connors is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thompson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thompson lands a right hook to the body.
Thompson lunges at Connors with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Connors's hand.
Thompson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thompson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Thompson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Connors slips under a jab.
Good exchange - Thompson coming out on top.
Connors avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thompson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Thompson slaps away a takedown attempt from Connors, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Billy Thompson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thompson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Connors eats them both and turns towards Thompson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Thompson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Connors wants to clinch up but Thompson keeps it at a distance.
Thompson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Connors doesn't seem bothered though.
Thompson throws a sloppy head kick and Connors moves out of range easily.
Thompson misses with a head kick.

Thompson closes the distance and pushes Connors back into the cage.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Connors. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thompson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thompson connects with a body shot.
Connors misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Thompson.
Connors tries to clinch but Thompson is having none of it.
Mike Connors is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thompson's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Thompson duly obliges.
Thompson tried to score with a low kick but Connors checks it.
Connors misses with a body shot.
Thompson swinging wildly here.
Thompson loads up on a big right hand but Connors slips the punch.
Connors tries to clinch but Thompson is having none of it.
Thompson throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Connors swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Thompson misses.
Connors tries to clinch but Thompson is having none of it.
Thompson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Connors in his tracks.
Connors on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nice jab there from Thompson.
Thompson misses with the combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Connors closes the distance and clinches.
Connors tries to land a knee to the head but Thompson blocks with his arms.
I was talking to Connors's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Connors fails to pull guard.
Connors fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Billy Thompson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Connors. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Connors pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Connors fails in his attempt to clinch.
Connors tries to bum rush Thompson with a series of wild strikes but Thompson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Connors swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Thompson counters with a straight right hand.
Thompson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Connorss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Thompson lands with a nice body punch.
Connors tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Connors lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thompson circles away quickly and effectively.
Thompson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Connors stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Connors misses with a two punch combination.
Thompson scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thompson drives through and clinches with Connors against the cage.
Thompson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Connors is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A frustrated look appears on Thompson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Connors lands a good knee to the midsection. Thompson won't want to take too many of those.
Mike Connors has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thompson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

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