PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Frank James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

James
vs
Thompson

180 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Fast

Abtastic Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Frank James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Thompson!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James moves into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Thompson.
Thompson trying to stall but James improves his position.
James gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Thompson.
James prevents a takedown attempt there.
James looking to throw knees to the head but Thompson is blocking nicely.
Thompson can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James jumps guard but Thompson stands there with James around his waist. James gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Thompson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. James is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Frank James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Thompson.

James drags the fight down to the ground.
Thompson lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James controls Thompson momentarily but Thompson frees himself.

James had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Thompson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. James Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Thompson's back instead.

James has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Thompson has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Thompson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
James unloading with bombs!
Thompson can't escape the position.

James is working for a guillotine from mount but Thompson frees his head quite easily.
Thompson is in all sorts of trouble here.
James avoids the attempt from Thompson to control.
James trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, James cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is in all sorts of trouble here.
James with the ground and pound from mount.
James raining down shots from the mount!
James looking to control but Thompson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Thompson gets back to half guard.

James is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Thompson is looking to improve his position.
Thompson is refusing to be controlled, as James sits in half guard.
James has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

James is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Thompson has managed to free his arm - good work.
James is breathing heavily.
Thompson trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells James's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
James content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Thompson wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.

James drops back, looking for a kneebar! Thompson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Thompson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Thompson!
Thompson works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
James manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Thompson prevents James from improving his position.
Thompson wants to pass to mount but James is defending the position.

James looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
James trying to control but Thompson postures up.
Thompson is tying to control. James wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thompson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Thompson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed James's head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thompson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
James wants to clinch.
Thompson just misses with a punch to the body.

Thompson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank James dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James with a lazy takedown attempt
and Thompson counters with an inside leg kick.
James gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thompson counters with a thumping low kick.
James with a lazy takedown attempt
and Thompson counters with a slapping leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James has his takedown stuffed
and Thompson counters with a low kick, right behind James 's knee.
Some bone on bone action there as James checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
James clinches but Thompson breaks the clinch
and Thompson counters with a body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson scores with a leg kick.
Thompson wants to clinch.
James Thompson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James tries to clinch up.
James takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Thompson throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Thompson drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thompson wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
James thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

James is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Thompson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. James is keeping the position for now.
Thompson pushes down on James's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Thompson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Thompson wants to pass the guard but James is defending well.
James has hold of Thompson's hands but Thompson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
James is trying to stand.
Thompson wants to take a breather but James is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James trying to control but Thompson postures up.
Thompson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
James is looking to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
James has his takedown stuffed
and Thompson counters with a low kick, right behind James 's knee.
Thompson fails to land the takedown.
Thompson shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
James tries for a takedown but Thompson circles away easily
and Thompson counters with a body kick that stops James in his tracks momentarily.

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.
James takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Thompson tries to land a front kick but James steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
James is looking to clinch.
Thompson misses with a low kick.

Thompson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Thompson is tying to control. James wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thompson controlling the pace.

James has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Thompson escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Thompson!
The strikes coming from Thompson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Thompson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

James fails with an attempt to clinch.
A leg kick checked by James.

James clinches with his opponent.
Thompson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
James stalling against the cage.

Thompson breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thompson with a lazy takedown attempt

and James counters with a nice double leg into guard.
James wants to stand but Thompson is controlling his posture from full guard.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thompson is keeping the position for now.
Thompson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
James scoring with some ground and pound.
Thompson wants to sweep here but James controlling him for the moment.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thompson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in James's guard.

James wriggles free and stands up.

James closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - James lands in his opponent's guard.
James wants to pass the guard but Thompson is keeping the position.

James avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
James slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is trying to improve his position.

James tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no James has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Thompson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Thompson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Frank James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
James thows a huge punch but Thompson dodges it nicely.
James trying to control from Thompson's half guard. Thompson has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Thompson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Thompson trying to control the action but James is working from the bottom.
James is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for James!
Thompson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can James hang on?
James tries to lock up and control but Thompson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Thompson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as James is looking to escape.
Thompson with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

Thompson is working for a guillotine from mount but James frees his head quite easily.
Thompson wants to control the pace but James is squirming around nicely.
James bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Thompson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Thompson seems to be looking for submissions.

James looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Thompson.
Thompson is trying to control the action in half guard but James is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
James is looking to improve his position.
Thompson trying to control from half guard but James is working away.
Thompson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control James kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
James tries to roll over but Thompson keeps him under control.
James is looking to control Thompson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can James avoid being mounted?

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thompson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nice takedown defense from James. No joy for Thompson on that attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank James showed his dominance in that final round.
I think James has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Frank James!