PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sauvage Thibodeaux (ranked 1422 p4p, 849 weight class) and Robert Kelly (ranked 180 p4p, 112 weight class). Kelly has chosen Rnb (feat. Bandit Gang Marco) as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Robert Kelly was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Thibodeaux
vs
Kelly

180 cm
23
195
9 - 4 - 0

178 cm
25
200
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Conviction

Champion Apparel

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sauvage Thibodeaux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Robert Kelly!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thibodeaux drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kelly 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.
Thibodeaux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thibodeaux with a nice head shot there.
Thibodeaux missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Kelly has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Thibodeaux is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kelly.
Thibodeaux throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thibodeaux tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Thibodeaux has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kelly tries to bench press Thibodeaux off him but Thibodeaux keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kelly keeps working.
Thibodeaux creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Thibodeaux goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kelly has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Thibodeaux but great work by Kelly.
Kelly cracks Thibodeaux with a big right hand but Thibodeaux just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Thibodeaux wants to control but Kelly postures up.
Thibodeaux managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kelly.
Kelly has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thibodeaux defending against the ground and pound.
Thibodeaux throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Thibodeaux can't do much from the bottom here.
Kelly throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thibodeaux is trying to get back to half guard.
Kelly is looking to take a break and control but Thibodeaux is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kelly wants to take a breather but Thibodeaux manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Kelly.
Thibodeaux pulls Kelly in close to his closed guard and prevents Kelly from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Thibodeaux has his foot on Kelly's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kelly works his way back into a safe position though.
Kelly trying to control the position from guard on top but Thibodeaux is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thibodeaux is trying to keep Kelly in close.
Kelly stands up over Thibodeaux, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Thibodeaux is looking for a triangle but Kelly pushes his legs off easily.

Thibodeaux is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kelly is aware though and is defending well.
Thibodeaux seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kelly works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kelly lands strikes from half guard.
Kelly trying to control the action but Thibodeaux is working from the bottom.
Thibodeaux wants to get back to full guard.

Thibodeaux looking for submissions off his back.
Thibodeaux trying to control from the bottom.
Kelly missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thibodeaux keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Thibodeaux trying to hold on to Kelly's head to control him but Kelly postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Robert Kelly will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kelly paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Thibodeaux closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kelly quickly recovers to half guard.
Thibodeaux throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Kelly to regain full guard.
Kelly 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.
Thibodeaux throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Kelly has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thibodeaux can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thibodeaux landing some decent shots from guard.
Thibodeaux wants to control from the top but Kelly keeps moving.
Sauvage Thibodeaux overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kelly working for a triangle but Thibodeaux defends it easily.
Thibodeaux scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kelly controls Thibodeaux momentarily but Thibodeaux frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thibodeaux accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thibodeaux looking to sit in guard and control but Kelly gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Thibodeaux is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kelly is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thibodeaux is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kelly defends well.
Kelly throws a big elbow that misses.

Thibodeaux is looking for a triangle but Kelly pushes his legs off easily.
Thibodeaux 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.
Kelly throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kelly postures up.
Thibodeaux is pulling down on Kelly's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thibodeaux throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kelly pushing down on Thibodeaux's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kelly throwing shots but Thibodeaux is blocking nicely.
Kelly is nestled in close to Thibodeaux, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kelly throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Thibodeaux is working on a guillotine. He's managed to get to full guard and he's really squeezing tight! Kelly is tapping! Great win for Thibodeaux!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Sauvage Thibodeaux!
Sauvage Thibodeaux seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.