PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Riendeau (ranked 1522 p4p, 3158 weight class) and August Thibodeaux (ranked 212 p4p, 368 weight class). August Thibodeaux will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Riendeau
vs
Thibodeaux

163 cm
30
184
8 - 3 - 0

195 cm
23
186
3 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Eric Riendeau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, August Thibodeaux!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thibodeaux darts in looking for a takedown but Riendeau gets double underhooks and turns Thibodeaux into the cage.
Riendeau throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thibodeaux misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Riendeau lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Riendeau fails with an attempt to clinch.
Thibodeaux has a takedown stuffed.
A little feinted left hand from Riendeau on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Eric Riendeau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of August Thibodeaux.
Riendeau tries to clinch but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
Riendeau misses with an uppercut
and Thibodeaux counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Riendeau clinches with his opponent.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Riendeau.
A frustrated look appears on Thibodeaux's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Thibodeaux blocks an uppercut.
Riendeau misses with a punch on the inside.
Thibodeaux jumps guard but Riendeau turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thibodeaux manages to break the clinch.

Riendeau instigates a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Riendeau fails to land.
A right hook to the body lands for Riendeau.
Riendeau digs a right hand into Thibodeaux's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Thibodeaux's gas tank.
Riendeau throws a head punch that misses.
Riendeau lands a body punch.
Riendeau tries to throw a body punch but Thibodeaux avoids it by throwing Riendeau back against the cage.
Riendeau misses with a body punch.
Riendeau lands an uppercut.
Thibodeaux prevents a body shot from Riendeau.
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 Riendeau walks away with a smile on his face. Thibodeaux gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Riendeau gets a clinch.
Riendeau cracks Thibodeaux with a nice body shot.
Thibodeaux blocking some punches.
Riendeau lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thibodeaux or not.
Thibodeaux looks winded!
Thibodeaux is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Thibodeaux blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux blocking some punches.
Riendeau lands a shoulder strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thibodeaux blocks a body shot from Riendeau.
Riendeau misses with a hook to the ribs.

Thibodeaux escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Riendeau rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Thibodeaux counters with a nice low kick that buckles Riendeau's knee momentarily.
Riendeau throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Thibodeaux! But no joy.
Riendeau looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Thibodeaux dives in for a single leg takedown but Riendeau sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Thibodeaux tries to close the distance and clinch but Riendeau swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A head kick from Thibodeaux lands but Riendeau takes it in his stride.
Riendeau throws a jab but it's blocked by Thibodeaux.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Thibodeaux - that will leave a mark!
Thibodeaux swats away the attempt to clinch by Riendeau.
Riendeau fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thibodeaux manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Riendeau gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Thibodeaux tries for a takedown but Riendeau manages to get underhooks.
Thibodeaux taking a breather.
Thibodeaux blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Riendeau scores with a nice hook to the head.
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 Riendeau walks away with a smile on his face. Thibodeaux gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice defenses there by Thibodeaux.

Riendeau has closed the distance and engaged Thibodeaux in a clinch.
Riendeau blocking some punches.
Thibodeaux tries to pull guard but Riendeau holds him up against the cage and eventually Thibodeaux drops back down to his feet.
Thibodeaux tries to pull guard but Riendeau won't allow it.
Riendeau lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Thibodeaux jumps guard but Riendeau turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Riendeau tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Riendeau scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riendeau misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Thibodeaux breaks from the clinch.
Riendeau clobbers Thibodeaux with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Riendeau forces Thibodeaux back against the cage and clinches.
Riendeau lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Riendeau working aggressively here.
Riendeau can't find room to land a body shot as Thibodeaux controls the action.
Riendeau lands a right hand.
Thibodeaux can't get the takedown.
Riendeau struggles to land a body shot inside as Thibodeaux controls his hands.
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 Riendeau walks away with a smile on his face. Thibodeaux gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Thibodeaux shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Riendeau defends it nicely.
Riendeau doesn't manage to clinch there - Thibodeaux circles away.
Riendeau tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thibodeaux counters with a left to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Riendeau dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A looping hook to the body misses from Riendeau. Thibodeaux does a little dance to reset his feet.
Riendeau clobbers Thibodeaux with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Riendeau 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.

Riendeau has managed to clinch.
Riendeau has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A right hand to the body from Riendeau.

Thibodeaux breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Riendeau misses with a body punch
enabling Thibodeaux to counter with a crisp jab.
Thibodeaux keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Riendeau clinches.
Riendeau misses with the head strike.
Thibodeaux jumps guard but Riendeau stands there with Thibodeaux around his waist. Thibodeaux gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thibodeaux blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Riendeau scores with a nice short uppercut.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Thibodeaux escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thibodeaux avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riendeau clinches with his opponent.
Riendeau scores with a shoulder strike.

Thibodeaux breaks from the clinch.
Thibodeaux scores with a leg kick.
Eric Riendeau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thibodeaux misses with a takedown attempt - Riendeau sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Riendeau tries to clinch up.

Riendeau takes the fight into the clinch.
Eric Riendeau has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Riendeau misses with some punches.
Riendeau misses with a punch to the body.
Riendeau doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Riendeau is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thibodeaux can do to turn this around?
Thibodeaux drops down looking for an ankle pick but Riendeau pulls his leg out and moves away.
Eric Riendeau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of August Thibodeaux.
Riendeau wants to clinch.
August Thibodeaux is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Riendeau misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thibodeaux.
Riendeau tries to clinch up but Thibodeaux circles away and keeps his distance.
Eric Riendeau is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Riendeau has managed to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thibodeaux wants to break free but Riendeau has control.
Nice body punch from Riendeau.
Thibodeaux changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Riendeau fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A low kick lands for Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux moves out of range of the strikes.
Thibodeaux changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Riendeau tries to clinch up.
Riendeau moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromThibodeaux.

Riendeau pushes Thibodeaux up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riendeau misses with a hook from the clinch.

Thibodeaux breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Riendeau tries to clinch but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
Thibodeaux moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
August Thibodeaux seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Riendeau slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Riendeau tries to bum rush Thibodeaux with a series of wild strikes but Thibodeaux uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Riendeau swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Riendeau pushes Thibodeaux up against the cage in a clinch.
Riendeau working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Riendeau misses with the head strike.

Thibodeaux breaks from the clinch.
Riendeau tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thibodeaux swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Riendeau fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thibodeaux uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Riendeau.
Thibodeaux wants to counter with a clinch but Riendeau pushes him away.
Riendeau tries to clinch but Thibodeaux moves away
and Thibodeaux counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Riendeau thinking.
Thibodeaux looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Riendeau misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Riendeau doesn't manage to clinch there - Thibodeaux circles away.
Riendeau tries to clinch there but Thibodeaux circles away.
Riendeau scores with a shot to the body.
Thibodeaux darts in looking for a takedown but Riendeau gets double underhooks and turns Thibodeaux into the cage.

Thibodeaux tries to keep at a distance but Riendeau has taken the fight into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Riendeau.
A head punch on the inside from Riendeau fails to land.
Riendeau doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Thibodeaux manages to break the clinch.
Thibodeaux is looking to clinch but Riendeau is avoiding it.
Thibodeaux shoots for a takedown but Riendeau saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Riendeau wants to clinch but Thibodeaux slips to the side
and Thibodeaux counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Riendeau tries to clinch up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Riendeau dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Riendeau gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Riendeau tries to work over Thibodeaux's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Riendeau tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Thibodeaux breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thibodeaux misses with a jab, cross combination.
Riendeau is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thibodeaux feints the counter takedown.
Riendeau takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Thibodeaux dives in for a single leg takedown but Riendeau sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Riendeau misses with a lunging right hand
and Thibodeaux counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch up but Riendeau circles away and keeps his distance.

Riendeau closes the distance and clinches.
Riendeau prevents Thibodeaux from breaking the clinch.
Riendeau lands with a light punch inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Riendeau.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Riendeau fails to land.
Riendeau swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thibodeaux is looking to take this one to the mat.
Riendeau lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Thibodeaux backwards.
Riendeau makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Riendeau goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Riendeau.
Thibodeaux is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thibodeaux.
Riendeau keeps control of Thibodeaux as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Riendeau can't find room to land a body shot as Thibodeaux controls the action.
Thibodeaux goes for a takedown in the clinch but Riendeau prevents it.
Eric Riendeau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of August Thibodeaux.
Riendeau lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Riendeau scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riendeau cracks Thibodeaux with a nice body shot.
Thibodeaux takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Riendeau tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Riendeau gets through Thibodeaux's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Riendeau works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Riendeau scores with a nice hook to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Riendeau misses with a punch on the inside.
Riendeau blocking some punches.
Riendeau misses with a punch on the inside.
Thibodeaux is trying to break the clinch but Riendeau is controlling him.
Thibodeaux taking a breather.
A head punch on the inside from Riendeau fails to land.
Riendeau misses with a punch to the body.

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

Riendeau forces Thibodeaux back against the cage and clinches.
Riendeau has Thibodeaux pressed against the cage, preventing Thibodeaux from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thibodeaux misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riendeau lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Thibodeaux backwards.
Riendeau swings wildly with an uppercut but Thibodeaux uses good head movement to avoid it.
Riendeau misses with some punches.
Thibodeaux is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Riendeau is defending well.
Riendeau digs a right hand into Thibodeaux's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Thibodeaux's gas tank.
Riendeau makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Thibodeaux has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Riendeau is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A right handed body shot lands from Riendeau.
Riendeau lands with a light punch inside.
Riendeau misses with the head strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Riendeau.
Riendeau tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Riendeau throws a head punch that misses.
Riendeau lands a left hand.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thibodeaux obliges.
Thibodeaux missing with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

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

Riendeau drops Thibodeaux with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Thibodeaux looks back up at him and smiles so Riendeau waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Thibodeaux is rocked!
Riendeau fakes a right and follows up with a big left that drops Thibodeaux to one knee - oooooh, he's wobbly! Thibodeaux looks to clinch but Riendeau throws him off and pummels him into the canvas! Thibodeaux taps out under the strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Eric Riendeau!
Eric Riendeau spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.