PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Cote (ranked 4730 p4p, 4842 weight class) and Xavier Thibodeaux (ranked 549 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cote
vs
Thibodeaux

180 cm
25
170
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
182
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

MKFC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gabriel Cote!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Xavier Thibodeaux!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cote tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Thibodeaux defends well and Cote ends up having to push Thibodeaux into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Thibodeaux keeps the fight on the outside.
Cote misses with a takedown attempt - Thibodeaux sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And Thibodeaux tries to counter it with a takedown but Cote pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Cote tries to clinch up but Thibodeaux circles away and keeps his distance.
Cote shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Cote. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cote lands a big head kick that sends Thibodeaux tumbling to the mat! Cote takes a step backwards and waves Thibodeaux back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Thibodeaux is rocked!
Cote moves out of range of the body kick.
Thibodeaux is still on wobbly legs! Can Cote finish him?
Cote shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thibodeaux as he jumps to the side.
Nice sprawl there from Thibodeaux as Cote shoots in.
Thibodeaux seems to have recovered his senses.
Cote tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Thibodeaux defends well and Cote ends up having to push Thibodeaux into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
No joy there for Thibodeaux, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cote tries to counter by clinching up but Thibodeaux breaks away and moves out of range.

Thibodeaux has managed to clinch.
Thibodeaux jumps guard but Cote turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Thibodeaux is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Cote to keep the fight standing.
Thibodeaux wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux stalls.
Thibodeaux taking a breather.
Thibodeaux is trying to pull guard but Cote has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Cote's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cote has had enough of the clinch but Thibodeaux keeps him there for the moment.
Thibodeaux is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cote is defending well.

Cote jumps guard.
Thibodeaux throwing strikes but missing.
Thibodeaux trying to control but Cote is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux wanted to stand there but Cote had control of the position.
Thibodeaux really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Cote. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Cote looking for a guillotine here but Thibodeaux defends easily.
Thibodeaux looking to sit in guard and control but Cote gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Thibodeaux wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Cote is now in half guard.
Cote prevents Thibodeaux from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux is in trouble now - Cote has advanced to mount!
Cote controlling his opponent.
Thibodeaux tries to control Cote's body but Cote pushes him off. Thibodeaux squirms to his side and now Cote has his back!
Cote avoiding Thibodeaux 's attempts to control his hands.
Cote controlling well, preventing Thibodeaux from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cote working for the choke.
Thibodeaux tries to escape the position.
Cote avoiding Thibodeaux 's attempts to control his hands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thibodeaux tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cote tries to clinch there but Thibodeaux circles away.
Cote shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thibodeaux as he avoids it easily.
Cote shoots in but Thibodeaux avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thibodeaux fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cote misses with a takedown attempt - Thibodeaux sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Cote. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thibodeaux tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cote paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cote is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thibodeaux can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cote punishes Thibodeaux's body with a nice straight punch.

Thibodeaux has managed to clinch.
Thibodeaux stops a takedown attempt from Cote.

Cote escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thibodeaux throws a sloppy head kick
and Cote counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thibodeaux drives through and clinches with Cote against the cage.

Cote pulls guard effortlessly.
Thibodeaux postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cote is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Cote keeping moving, preventing Thibodeaux from controlling successfully.
Thibodeaux looking to pass the guard.
Thibodeaux wants to control from the top but Cote keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Cote throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Thibodeaux's waist but Thibodeaux gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cote off to one side.

Cote has closed the distance and engaged Thibodeaux in a clinch.
Thibodeaux is struggling to control the position.
Cote jumps guard but Thibodeaux turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cote is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Thibodeaux is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux has Cote pressed against the cage, preventing Cote from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thibodeaux is trying to pull guard but Cote turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Thibodeaux fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thibodeaux creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Cote tries to pull guard but Thibodeaux won't allow it.
Thibodeaux can't get the takedown.
Thibodeaux tries to score a body lock takedown but Cote shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Cote pressing his opponent against the cage.
Cote using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thibodeaux has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thibodeaux tries to break free but Cote pushes him back against the cage.
Thibodeaux drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cote is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Thibodeaux is defending well.
Cote prevents a takedown attempt there.
Thibodeaux fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thibodeaux jumps guard but Cote turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cote jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thibodeaux walks away with a smile on his face. Cote gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cote fails with the takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cote looks for a takedown but Thibodeaux sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gabriel Cote will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Thibodeaux misses with a wild body shot.
Thibodeaux throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Cote counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thibodeaux keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Thibodeaux closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cote tries for a takedown but Thibodeaux manages to get underhooks.
Cote blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thibodeaux tries to break the clinch but Cote is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thibodeaux pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Thibodeaux clinches.
Thibodeaux is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cote pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Thibodeaux looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cote's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Thibodeaux clinches.
Cote tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thibodeaux smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Cote. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Thibodeaux is defended easily by Cote.
Cote lunges at Thibodeaux with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Thibodeaux's hand.
Thibodeaux with a poor takedown
and Cote counters with a left and a right that stings Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cote avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cote fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cote fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thibodeaux has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cote.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch but Cote moves out of range.
Cote shoots in for a takedown but Thibodeaux shows good takedown defense.

Cote closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thibodeaux jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cote walks away with a smile on his face. Thibodeaux gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Cote tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Thibodeaux manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cote shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thibodeaux throws a leg kick but Cote checks it.
Cote seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Cote misses with a takedown attempt - Thibodeaux sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thibodeaux shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cote is trying to defend but Thibodeaux finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Thibodeaux wants to take a breather but Cote is having none of it.
Cote is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cote blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux wants to control but Cote is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Cote is looking to control Thibodeaux's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Cote avoid being mounted?

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Horrible takedown attempt by Cote or perhaps it was just good defense by Thibodeaux, which made it look bad.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thibodeaux.

Cote sneaks out the side door and pushes Thibodeaux away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thibodeaux takes a swing at Cote's ribcage but misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Cote misses the target.
Xavier Thibodeaux has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gabriel Cote is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thibodeaux tries a low kick but Cote avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gabriel Cote.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cote, 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Cote!