PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between August Thibodeaux (ranked 2552 p4p, 3425 weight class) and Mabahong Tae (ranked 302 p4p, 376 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Thibodeaux
vs
Tae

195 cm
26
186
6 - 10 - 0

187 cm
27
195
5 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, August Thibodeaux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mabahong Tae!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thibodeaux uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tae.
Tae needs to keep his hands up - Thibodeaux had a free shot at his head there.
Tae connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tae throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tae swings widly with a right hand
and Thibodeaux counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thibodeaux is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Tae checks a low kick from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux with a hook.
Tae works the jab nicely.
Thibodeaux lands a nice shot that snaps Tae's head back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jab from Thibodeaux.
Tae takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Thibodeaux connects with a single shot there.
Tae rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Thibodeaux counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Tae ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tae with a jab.
Tae lands a nice hook to Thibodeaux's body. Thibodeaux takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Thibodeaux lands a body shot.
Thibodeaux checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tae doesn't seem bothered though.
Thibodeaux throws a body shot but no joy.
Thibodeaux ducks under a wild hook from Tae.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tae. Thibodeaux does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tae avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thibodeaux lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
We've been told by Thibodeaux's head coaches at Final Mile that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Tae moves into the clinch successfully.
Tae is trying to stall.
Tae misses with a knee to the head.
Tae with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thibodeaux managing to block the knees to the body from Tae.
Thibodeaux managing to block the knees to the body from Tae.
Tae with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tae lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Thibodeaux as Tae tries to tie him up.
Thibodeaux stalling against the cage.
Thibodeaux stalling the fight.
Tae misses with some punches.
Tae tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thibodeaux stalling in the clinch.
Thibodeaux swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thibodeaux avoiding damage.
A bit of stalling here from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Tae throws a knee to the head but misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Thibodeaux softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Thibodeaux's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thibodeaux throws a solid leg kick but Tae takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Thibodeaux.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux misses with a hook.
Tae wants to counter with a clinch but Thibodeaux pushes him away.
Thibodeaux swats away the attempt to clinch by Tae.
An attempted straight right counter from Thibodeaux misses the target.
Thibodeaux looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tae tries to clinch but Thibodeaux is having none of it.
Thibodeaux swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thibodeaux misses with a looping left.
Tae is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Tae fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
An attempted straight right counter from Thibodeaux misses the target.
Thibodeaux throws a wild body kick that Tae sees coming a mile off.
Nice defenses there by Tae.
Tae showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Tae throws a big shot that misses.
Thibodeaux misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Thibodeaux.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thibodeaux pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tae steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Thibodeaux.
Nice shot by Tae.

Tae has closed the distance and engaged Thibodeaux in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux can't find room to land a body shot as Tae controls the action.
Tae with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tae lands with a light punch inside.
Tae tries a knee to the head but Thibodeaux blocks it.
Tae scores with a shoulder strike.
Thibodeaux blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thibodeaux working aggressively here.
Thibodeaux leaning against his opponent.
Thibodeaux is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thibodeaux lands a body shot.
Thibodeaux misses with the head strike.

Thibodeaux breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thibodeaux cracks Tae with a good jab.
Tae walks into a left hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

August Thibodeaux dominated that round.
That's time! Thibodeaux's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A big right from Thibodeaux misses.
Tae rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thibodeaux moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tae loads up on a big right hand but Thibodeaux slips the punch.
Some wild striking there from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux sets himself, and Tae steps forward looking for the clinch! Thibodeaux avoids it this time.
Tae throws the left hand but Thibodeaux avoids the punch easily.
Thibodeaux appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Tae scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Thibodeaux blocks a low kick nicely.
Thibodeaux throws a wild body kick that Tae sees coming a mile off.
Thibodeaux sets himself, and Tae steps forward looking for the clinch! Thibodeaux avoids it this time.

Tae clinches up with Thibodeaux and pushes him back against the cage.
Thibodeaux fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tae blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tae misses with a knee to the head.
Tae tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thibodeaux's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Thibodeaux tries a body shot but Tae blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tae working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Thibodeaux swings wildly with an uppercut but Tae uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thibodeaux blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tae lands a shoulder strike.
Tae throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thibodeaux avoiding damage as Tae throws knees to the body.
Mabahong Tae seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Tae throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Thibodeaux blocks it with crossed arms.
Come on Thibodeaux - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tae tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thibodeaux lands a body shot.

Thibodeaux breaks the clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Thibodeaux.

It looks like Mabahong Tae has been cut.
Thibodeaux scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Thibodeaux gets tackled into the cage by Tae. Tae maintains the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thibodeaux lands a hook that snaps the head of Tae backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thibodeaux breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tae's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Thibodeaux connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Tae scrambles back to his feet.
Tae misses with the combination.
Thibodeaux scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A nice inside leg kick there by Thibodeaux. That's going to slow Tae down.
Thibodeaux tests Tae's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tae gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Thibodeaux.
Tae looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tae throws the kick towards the body but Thibodeaux avoids it.
Thibodeaux throwing a counter right hand but Tae manages to avoid it.
A jab from Thibodeaux misses.
Thibodeaux scores with a jab to the head.
Tae takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Thibodeaux connects with the punch.
Mabahong Tae is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
No joy there for Tae, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Tae.
Thibodeaux jabs Tae to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tae ducks under a wild hook from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tae wants to slow Thibodeaux down by chopping away at his legs.
Tae takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Nice shot lands for Thibodeaux.
August Thibodeaux is winning the standup battle so far.
An inside leg kick lands from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux throws a jab when Tae was well out of range.
Tae fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thibodeaux manages to avoid it.
Tae listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Tae tries to clinch but Thibodeaux is having none of it.
Tae throws a right and a left that Thibodeaux avoids nicely.
Tae drops his hands momentarily and Thibodeaux takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tae scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Thibodeaux doesn't seem bothered though.
Tae tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tae misses with a two punch combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Thibodeaux breaks from the clinch.
Tae lands with a shot to the body.
Thibodeaux loads up on a big right hand but Tae slips the punch.
Tae steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tae is looking to clinch but Thibodeaux is avoiding it.
It looked like Thibodeaux was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Thibodeaux misses with a looping right.
Tae let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Tae misses with a hook. Thibodeaux ducked under it nicely.
Thibodeaux misses with a head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thibodeaux with the inside leg kick.
Tae looks to land a combination. Thibodeaux sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Thibodeaux looks to throw the jab but Tae is out of range.
Tae has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Thibodeaux plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

August Thibodeaux dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mabahong Tae's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Tae misses with a double jab
and Thibodeaux counters with a nice uppercut.
Thibodeaux has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Tae bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tae. Thibodeaux does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mabahong Tae seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thibodeaux throws out a powerful jab.
Thibodeaux swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tae staying out of range there.
Thibodeaux misses with a looping left.
Thibodeaux sets himself, and Tae steps forward looking for the clinch! Thibodeaux avoids it this time.
Tae needs to keep his hands up - Thibodeaux had a free shot at his head there.
Tae waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thibodeaux.
Tae sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tae wants to clinch up but Thibodeaux keeps it at a distance.
Tae lands a jab-cross combination.
Tae lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Tae feints a jab promting Thibodeaux to slip. Tae then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Thibodeaux slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Thibodeaux is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tae cracks a nice hook into Thibodeaux's ribs.
Oh Thibodeaux is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Thibodeaux lands a front kick.
Thibodeaux seems to have got his legs back now.
Tae takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thibodeaux moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tae misses with a wild combination.
Tae keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thibodeaux.
Sloppy strikes from Tae. Those never looked like landing.
Thibodeaux swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tae tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thibodeaux swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It looked like Thibodeaux wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Thibodeaux throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tae throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thibodeaux sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tae throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thibodeaux scoring well with a low kick there.
Thibodeaux throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Thibodeaux will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A countering left hand to the body from Tae misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tae cracks Thibodeaux with a good jab.
A combination from Thibodeaux does no damage.

Tae moves into the clinch successfully.
Tae tries a knee to the head but Thibodeaux blocks it.

Thibodeaux breaks the clinch.
Thibodeaux scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thibodeaux moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Jab, jab by Thibodeaux - just one landing.
Thibodeaux staying out of range there.
Tae wants to clinch but Thibodeaux slips to the side
and Thibodeaux counters with a straight right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thibodeaux. Tae does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tae moves out of range as Thibodeaux strikes.
Tae cracks Thibodeaux with a right hand to the side of the head.
Tae tries to clinch but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thibodeaux. Tae does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thibodeaux throws a head kick but Tae moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Thibodeaux lands but Tae takes it in his stride.
Tae throws a series of punches but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
Tae lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Thibodeaux circles away quickly and effectively.
Thibodeaux swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tae.
Thibodeaux thuds his right hand into Tae's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Thibodeaux misses the jab.
Thibodeaux lands with an uppercut that bounces Tae off the cage and back into range.
Thibodeaux sizes up Tae with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Tae is rocked!
Thibodeaux misses with a body shot.
Tae is still on wobbly legs! Can Thibodeaux finish him?
Thibodeaux lands a lovely overhand right.
Thibodeaux throws a body shot but no joy.
Tae wants to counter with a clinch but Thibodeaux pushes him away.
Thibodeaux takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Tae seems to have recovered his senses.
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!
A bone on bone clash there as Tae blocks the leg kick.
Thibodeaux moves out of range of the strikes.
Tae staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Thibodeaux misses.
Nice defenses there by Thibodeaux.
Tae misses with a kick to the body.
Thibodeaux pivots, looking for a leg kick but Tae is out of range and Thibodeaux settles back down.
Tae throws a body kick that misses
and Thibodeaux cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Tae clinches.
A shot in the inside from Tae.
Tae working aggressively here.

Thibodeaux pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thibodeaux missing with a left hand there. Tae was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tae steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Thibodeaux.
Tae fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Thibodeaux looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Thibodeaux is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tae can do to turn this around?
A swing and a miss from Tae.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tae blocks a leg kick.
Tae scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Mabahong Tae has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
August Thibodeaux is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thibodeaux stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

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 August Thibodeaux.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thibodeaux, 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... August Thibodeaux!