PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between August Thibodeaux (ranked 3509 p4p, 23971 weight class) and Vik Arora (ranked 395 p4p, 557 weight class). August Thibodeaux has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thibodeaux
vs
Arora

195 cm
24
186
3 - 7 - 0

184 cm
21
190
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, August Thibodeaux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vik Arora!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arora throws a body punch but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
Vik Arora seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arora slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Arora thows a left - swing and a miss!
Arora ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thibodeaux moves away.
Arora fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thibodeaux manages to avoid it.
Thibodeaux takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Arora manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thibodeaux moves out of range of the strikes.
Arora just misses with a punch to the body.
Thibodeaux tries to counter with a takedown but Arora is quick to defend against it.
Thibodeaux shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Arora as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thibodeaux ducks under a wild hook from Arora.
Thibodeaux misses with a few strikes there.
Arora ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thibodeaux moves away.
Arora swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
It looked like Thibodeaux was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Arora.
Arora misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thibodeaux gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Arora.
Thibodeaux stalling the fight.

Thibodeaux's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thibodeaux misses with a few strikes there.
Vik Arora is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Arora throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thibodeaux sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Thibodeaux moves into range and clinches up with Arora.
Thibodeaux slows down the pace here.
Thibodeaux stops a takedown attempt from Arora.

Thibodeaux pulls guard effortlessly.
Arora trying to control but Thibodeaux is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux is trying to keep Arora in close.
Thibodeaux keeping full guard, as Arora tries to pass.
Arora prevents Thibodeaux from getting back to his feet.
Arora trying to control the position from guard on top but Thibodeaux is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thibodeaux controls Arora momentarily but Arora frees himself.
Arora prevents Thibodeaux from getting back to his feet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arora content to stall in guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Arora's corner calls for a 1-2. Arora obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Thibodeaux ducks under a wild hook from Arora.
Thibodeaux fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thibodeaux wants to clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thibodeaux.
Arora is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arora wants to control but Thibodeaux postures up.

Thibodeaux has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Arora fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thibodeaux fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thibodeaux shoots in for a takedown but Arora shows good takedown defense.
Thibodeaux is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for August Thibodeaux. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thibodeaux lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Arora backs up against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thibodeaux misses with a head kick.
Thibodeaux fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thibodeaux misses with a takedown
and Arora counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Thibodeaux thinking.
Arora swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thibodeaux takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Arora ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thibodeaux moves away.
Thibodeaux attempts a counter takedown but Arora avoids it well and moves away.
Thibodeaux throws a sloppy head kick and Arora moves out of range easily.
Thibodeaux bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Thibodeaux throws a big counter combination but Arora scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Arora throws a hook but Thibodeaux avoids it easily.
Thibodeaux steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Arora.
Arora misses the shot to the body.
Thibodeaux is looking to counter the offense by Arora and move into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thibodeaux throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Arora's waist but Arora gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thibodeaux off to one side.
Arora throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thibodeaux sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Arora tests Thibodeaux's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Arora looks to land a combination but Thibodeaux avoids it well.
Thibodeaux half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Thibodeaux looks to land a body kick but Arora moved away.
Arora swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arora throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thibodeaux sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Thibodeaux closes the distance and clinches.
Thibodeaux can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for August Thibodeaux. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thibodeaux pulls guard effortlessly.
Arora wants to pass the guard but Thibodeaux is keeping the position.
Thibodeaux is pulling down on Arora's head to control his posture.
Thibodeaux keeping moving, preventing Arora from controlling successfully.
Arora looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thibodeaux is trying to keep Arora in close.

Thibodeaux is looking for a triangle but Arora pushes his legs off easily.
Thibodeaux keeping moving, preventing Arora from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thibodeaux needs to keep his hands up - Arora had a free shot at his head there.
Arora misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Thibodeaux gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Arora connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Arora misses.
It looked like Thibodeaux was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Thibodeaux slips under a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thibodeaux looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
August Thibodeaux is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch up.
Arora waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux darts in looking for a takedown but Arora gets double underhooks and turns Thibodeaux into the cage.
Arora appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Thibodeaux gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Arora.
Thibodeaux is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Arora is defending well.
Thibodeaux with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Arora has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Thibodeaux regains guard immediately.
Arora passes Thibodeaux's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Arora seems content to control.
Arora throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thibodeaux is looking to control Arora's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thibodeaux avoid being mounted?
Thibodeaux tries to get to full guard but Arora has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vik Arora showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Arora stuns Thibodeaux with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Arora misses with a right hand
and Thibodeaux counters with an outside leg kick.
Arora stuns Thibodeaux with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Arora has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Arora connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Horrible takedown attempt by Thibodeaux or perhaps it was just good defense by Arora, which made it look bad.
Vik Arora seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Arora throws a hook to the side of Thibodeaux's head but Thibodeaux sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Arora ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thibodeaux moves away.
It looked like Thibodeaux wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Arora manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A nice side step and Arora releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thibodeaux clinches up against the cage.
Thibodeaux drops down looking for an ankle pick but Arora pulls his leg out and moves away.
Thibodeaux lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Arora misses with a series of wild punches.
Arora punishes Thibodeaux's body with a nice straight punch.
Arora falls off balance throwing a combination

and Thibodeaux counters by clinching up.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Thibodeaux takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Stalling in the clinch from Thibodeaux.
Arora gets through Thibodeaux's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Arora is trying to break the clinch but Thibodeaux is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arora fails to pull guard.
Arora is trying to force a seperation but Thibodeaux has the dominant position.

Arora jumps guard.
Thibodeaux wants to control from the top but Arora keeps moving.
Thibodeaux has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Arora is looking for a triangle but Thibodeaux pushes his legs off easily.
Thibodeaux with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thibodeaux stays in close to Arora's body and controls the position.
Thibodeaux sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Arora's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Arora is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thibodeaux's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thibodeaux's back!
Arora tries to get the hooks in deep but Thibodeaux pushed the leg off.

Arora is looking for the choke from the back position but Thibodeaux is controlling his hands well.
Thibodeaux manages to reverse the position and now he's in Arora's guard. Nice work there by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux stopping the sweep attempt from Arora.
Thibodeaux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thibodeaux won't allow Arora to sweep him here.

Arora looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thibodeaux passes into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux wants to control but Arora is keeping him busy.
Arora is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Thibodeaux will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Arora is looking to control Thibodeaux's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Arora avoid being mounted?
Thibodeaux is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Thibodeaux misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vik Arora.
I've got Arora 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vik Arora!