PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xernas Sly (ranked 6023 p4p, 4199 weight class) and Jamal Thibodeaux (ranked 563 p4p, 431 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sly
vs
Thibodeaux

170 cm
25
155
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
25
152
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Xernas Sly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jamal Thibodeaux!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Santiago Holmes and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thibodeaux looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A swing and a miss from Sly.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sly misses the jab.
Sly looks to land a left hand but Thibodeaux moved out of range nicely.
Thibodeaux missing with a left hand there. Sly was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thibodeaux has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Sly is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Thibodeaux lands a jab.
Sly throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thibodeaux sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thibodeaux throws a body punch but Sly moves out of range.
Thibodeaux scores with a one two! Sly had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sly closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Sly misses with a wild body shot.

Thibodeaux fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sly, pushing him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thibodeaux.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thibodeaux lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sly working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sly stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Thibodeaux throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Thibodeaux lands a shot to the body.
Thibodeaux throws a head punch that misses.
Thibodeaux lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short uppercut from Sly.
Sly misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thibodeaux looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sly lands a right hand that snaps the head of Thibodeaux backwards.
Sly lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thibodeaux throws a head punch that misses.
Sly is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Sly blocking some punches.
Thibodeaux blocks an uppercut.
Thibodeaux misses with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Sly scores with a nice short uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Thibodeaux.

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

Thibodeaux rushes Sly and presses him up against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Sly scores with a nice short uppercut.
Thibodeaux swings wildly with an uppercut but Sly uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thibodeaux swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux prevents a body shot from Sly.
Thibodeaux misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thibodeaux throws a head punch that misses.
Thibodeaux looking to throw knees to the head but Sly is blocking nicely.
Thibodeaux lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Sly fails to land.
Thibodeaux misses with the head strike.
Sly misses with a punch on the inside.
Sly works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Thibodeaux lands a left hand.
Sly tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thibodeaux's elbow.
Sly misses with the head strike.
Thibodeaux swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sly.
Thibodeaux blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thibodeaux.

Sly escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thibodeaux slips a jab from Sly.
Thibodeaux uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sly.
Sly scores with a shot to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sly.
Thibodeaux throws a combination. Sly tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Jab by Thibodeaux.
Sly missing with a left hand there. Thibodeaux was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Thibodeaux moves into range and clinches up with Sly.
Thibodeaux swings wildly with an uppercut but Sly uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sly is stalling here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sly lands a nice uppercut.
Sly pushes Thibodeaux back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thibodeaux tries to land a knee to the head but Sly blocks with his arms.
Sly scores with a nice hook to the head.
Thibodeaux takes a shot to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sly.
A short body shot lands from Thibodeaux as the two fighters clinch.
Sly can't find room to land a body shot as Thibodeaux controls the action.
Sly misses with some punches.
Thibodeaux swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thibodeaux throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sly blocks it with crossed arms.
Sly lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux tries a knee to the head but Sly blocks it.
Sly goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sly swings wildly with an uppercut but Thibodeaux uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sly presses Thibodeaux against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sly leaning against his opponent.
Sly working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thibodeaux softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sly throws a punch but it's blocked by Thibodeaux.
Sly fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sly blocks an uppercut.
Sly tries to throw a body punch but Thibodeaux avoids it by throwing Sly back against the cage.
Sly scores with a shoulder strike.
Thibodeaux makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sly lands a shoulder strike.
A short body shot lands from Sly as the two fighters clinch.
Still in the clinch, Thibodeaux scores with a nice short uppercut.
Thibodeaux misses with a hook from the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thibodeaux creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sly lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Thibodeaux tries a body shot but Sly blocks it.
Sly lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Thibodeaux goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thibodeaux misses with a punch on the inside.
Thibodeaux cracks Sly with a nice body shot.
Sly tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sly blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thibodeaux throws a head punch that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jamal Thibodeaux will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thibodeaux connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sly momentarily.
Sly uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thibodeaux.
A combination from Thibodeaux does no damage.
Sly with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sly slips under a jab.
Thibodeaux misses with a series of wild punches.
Thibodeaux defending well as Sly loads up on a big left hand.
Thibodeaux on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Thibodeaux uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sly.
Sly misses with a hook
and Thibodeaux counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thibodeaux lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sly misses with a hook. Thibodeaux ducked under it nicely.
Sly throws out a loose jab but Thibodeaux uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sly loads up on a big right hand but Thibodeaux slips the punch.
Xernas Sly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sly throws a big shot that misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Thibodeaux misses.
Jamal Thibodeaux seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sly misses with an uppercut
and Thibodeaux counters with a nice uppercut.
Sly takes a swing at Thibodeaux's ribcage but misses.
Sly moves forwards but Thibodeaux connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sly ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sly throws a shot from downtown. Thibodeaux moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux scores with a punch to the head.
A jab from Sly misses.
Sly loads up on a big right hand but Thibodeaux slips the punch.
Sly is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Sly scores with a decent looking hook.
No joy there for Thibodeaux, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thibodeaux lands a jab to the nose.
Sly ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thibodeaux moves away.

Thibodeaux gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thibodeaux throws a head punch that misses.
Thibodeaux misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sly misses with a punch to the body.
A short uppercut from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux tries a body shot but Sly blocks it.
Thibodeaux prevents a body shot from Sly.
Sly blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Sly fails to land.
Nice body punch from Sly - that landed with a thud.
Thibodeaux can't find room to land a body shot as Sly controls the action.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Thibodeaux lands a shot to the body.
Sly lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thibodeaux or not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Thibodeaux fails to land.
Thibodeaux misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thibodeaux working aggressively here.
Sly works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Thibodeaux doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Still in the clinch, Sly scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sly lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sly lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Sly swings wildly with an uppercut but Thibodeaux uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sly lands a right hand.
Thibodeaux lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thibodeaux throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sly misses with a punch to the body.
Sly prevents a body shot from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Thibodeaux misses with some punches.
Thibodeaux misses with some punches.
Thibodeaux misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Thibodeaux blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sly misses with a punch to the body.
Xernas Sly has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sly working aggressively here.
Thibodeaux lands a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sly.
A short right from Thibodeaux on the inside.
Sly tries to break the clinch but Thibodeaux is controlling the position.
A head punch on the inside from Thibodeaux fails to land.
Sly doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right from Sly on the inside.
Sly lands with a light punch inside.
Sly has a couple of punches blocked by Thibodeaux.
Sly lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sly lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Thibodeaux blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Thibodeaux.
Sly misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sly misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sly misses with a hook to the ribs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thibodeaux misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thibodeaux lands a nice shot to the body.
Thibodeaux lands a right hand that snaps the head of Sly backwards.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sly lands a right hand.
A left hand lands to the body for Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux pushes off an throws an elbow but Sly leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sly lands with a short shot to the head.
Sly works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Thibodeaux gets through Sly's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A short left from Thibodeaux.
Sly pushes Thibodeaux back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thibodeaux fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sly working aggressively here.
Thibodeaux throws a head punch that misses.
Sly tries to circle away but Thibodeaux has him pinned against the cage.

Sly breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch but Sly is having none of it.
Sly tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thibodeaux was well out of range. Poor timing from Sly.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thibodeaux throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Thibodeaux moves into the clinch successfully.
Sly scores with a shot to the side of Thibodeaux's head.
Thibodeaux lands a body punch.
Sly softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jamal Thibodeaux will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Thibodeaux darts in and clinches Sly up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Sly prevents a body shot from Thibodeaux.
Sly digs a right hand into Thibodeaux's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Thibodeaux's gas tank.
Sly throws a punch but it's blocked by Thibodeaux.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sly creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Thibodeaux misses with a knee strike.
A short uppercut from Sly.
Sly misses with a punch to the body.
Thibodeaux takes a shot to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thibodeaux creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Sly manages to break the clinch.
Sly throws a looping overhand right but Thibodeaux ducks down to avoid it.
Thibodeaux swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sly has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thibodeaux ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thibodeaux lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A telegraphed right hand from Thibodeaux misses the target.
Thibodeaux ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thibodeaux swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sly has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sly steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux slips a straight right by Sly.
Good shot there by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux misses the jab.
Sly lands with a straight right. Thibodeaux didn't see that one coming.
Thibodeaux is looking to clinch.
Thibodeaux throws a shot to the body.
Sly displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thibodeaux throws out the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sly. Thibodeaux does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thibodeaux looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sly jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A big right from Sly misses.
Sly on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sly keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sly uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux moves out of range as Sly strikes.
A nice side step and Thibodeaux releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Thibodeaux misses with a straight left.
Thibodeaux throws the left hand but Sly avoids the punch easily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Thibodeaux.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thibodeaux misses with a hook.
Xernas Sly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jamal Thibodeaux is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sly misses with a looping left.
Thibodeaux ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Thibodeaux punishes Sly's body with a nice straight punch.
Thibodeaux scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Thibodeaux throws a right hand that Sly ducks under and follows up with a left that Sly also avoids with ease.
Sly looks to throw the jab but Thibodeaux is out of range.
Thibodeaux throws a body punch but Sly moves out of range.
Thibodeaux looks to land a right hand but Sly moved out of range.
Thibodeaux missing with a left hand there. Sly was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A little feinted left hand from Sly on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sly throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Thibodeaux.
Sly looks to land a right hand but Thibodeaux moved out of range.
A left lands for Thibodeaux.
Danga de danga de dang - Thibodeaux scores with a four punch combination!
Thibodeaux keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sly.
Thibodeaux cracks a nice hook into Sly's ribs.
The fighters circling - Sly throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thibodeaux staying out of range there.
Sly throws an off balance right hand
and Thibodeaux counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Sly misses.
Thibodeaux looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Thibodeaux fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sly manages to avoid it.
Sly on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A jab from Thibodeaux misses.
Thibodeaux scores with the left hand. Sly knows he should have avoided that one.
Sly throws a poor cross that misses
and Thibodeaux counters with a stiff right hand.
Thibodeaux is looking to clinch.
Sly misses the shot to the body.
It seemed like Thibodeaux was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Thibodeaux moves out of range of the strikes.
Sly swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sly works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Thibodeaux connects with a body shot.
Thibodeaux throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sly throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thibodeaux bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thibodeaux lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thibodeaux digs a good body shot into Sly's ribs.
A left and a right from Thibodeaux both land. Nice combination.
Sly looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Sly takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sly jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sly swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thibodeaux is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Thibodeaux ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A jab from Thibodeaux finds it's way through Sly's defenses.
Thibodeaux uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sly.
Thibodeaux slips under a jab.
Thibodeaux let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Sly misses with a left hand
and Thibodeaux counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thibodeaux slips under a jab.
Thibodeaux doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Thibodeaux connects with a right hand. Sly shakes it off.
A big right from Sly misses.
Sly takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Sly takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Thibodeaux lands a slapping body shot.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch but Sly is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thibodeaux lands a jab to the head.
Sly throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sly looks to land a right hand but Thibodeaux moved out of range.
Thibodeaux cracks Sly with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sly loads up on a big right hand but Thibodeaux slips the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jamal Thibodeaux comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thibodeaux 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jamal Thibodeaux!