PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul Thiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasiliy Povar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago comes into the arena with tubthumping by chumbawamba blaring out of the sound system. Povar is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Freddie Foxxx - Industry Shakedown. Vasiliy Povar has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Thiago
vs
Povar

184 cm
21
185 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

184 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Thiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vasiliy Povar!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Povar gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Thiago prevents Povar from getting back to his feet.
Thiago lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Povar wants to stand but Thiago is controlling the position.
Thiago is working Povar over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Thiago scoring with some ground and pound.
Povar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thiago postures up in Povar's guard and throws a big left but Povar blocks it.
Povar wants to stand up but Thiago is controlling him.
Povar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Thiago postures up in Povar's guard and throws a big left but Povar blocks it.
Povar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Povar looks gassed!
Thiago with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Thiago throwing strikes but missing.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Thiago looks for a takedown but Povar sprawls well.
Paul Thiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Povar shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Thiago is squirming around, avoiding Povar's attempts to control the action.
Thiago throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Thiago gets back to half guard.
Povar is thwarting Thiago's attempts to control the position.
Povar wants to control but Thiago is keeping him busy.

Thiago is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Povar pulls his head out easily.
Povar working Thiago over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thiago moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Povar trying to control the position from guard on top but Thiago is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thiago lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Povar!
Thiago unloading with bombs!
Povar is trying to stand.
Thiago lands a heavy elbow.
Povar really wants to buck Thiago off and get back to his feet.
Thiago working Povar over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago scoring with strikes but Povar is staying in there.
Thiago has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The referee warns Povar that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Thiago fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Thiago cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Thiago looking to finish Povar with some ground and pound. This is bad for Povar!
Povar takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Povar squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Thiago throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Thiago landing strikes from the mount and Povar is in trouble!
Povar wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Thiago with good strikes from the mount here!
Thiago lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Povar tries to buck Thiago off but he can't manage it.
Thiago with a couple of short strikes.
Povar is bucking up trying to escape but Thiago cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
A nice elbow there by Thiago.
Thiago with a couple of short strikes.
Povar tries to buck Thiago off but he can't manage it.
Thiago scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thiago is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Povar.
Thiago is trying hard to land a takedown here. Povar sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Povar is looking to clinch but Thiago is avoiding it.
Povar lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Povar shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Thiago looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Povar wants to stand up but Thiago is controlling him.
Povar avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thiago throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thiago trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thiago postures up in Povar's guard and throws a big left but Povar blocks it.
Thiago trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago throwing strikes but missing.
Thiago with a nice head shot there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Povar throws a head kick that misses.
Povar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thiago avoids it really well and circles away.
Povar looks for a takedown but Thiago sprawls well.
Paul Thiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vasiliy Povar.
Thiago stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thiago wants it to stay on the feet.

Thiago tries to keep at a distance but Povar has taken the fight into the clinch.
Thiago changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Povar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Thiago tries for a takedown but Povar sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Povar looks for a takedown but Thiago sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thiago fails with a takedown attempt.
Povar throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thiago shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Povar pinned against the cage. Povar gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Povar shoots in for a double leg but Thiago sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Povar.
A nice leg kick lands there from Povar.
Povar misses with a wild combination.
Povar scores with a jab to the jaw.
Thiago stuffs the takedown.

Thiago throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Povar was covering up waiting for the punch and Thiago finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Thiago loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Thiago working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thiago in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Povar kicks Thiago off and gets to his feet.
Povar misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Povar shoots in for a double leg but Thiago sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Povar gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Thiago to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Povar is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiago trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thiago scoring with some ground and pound.
Thiago throwing strikes but missing.
Thiago with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thiago throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Povar works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thiago postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Thiago changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Povar looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Povar is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Thiago throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Povar works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Thiago dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Povar slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Thiago closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Povar did well to prevent Thiago getting side control.
Povar keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Povar wants to get back to his feet.
Paul Thiago overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thiago not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Thiago sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Povar defending well though.
Thiago stops Povar from getting back to his feet.
Thiago working over Povar with some ground and pound. Povar looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Povar blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thiago.
Povar is trying to stand up here but Thiago is controlling him well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Thiago looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Thiago won't allow Povar to get back to his feet.
Thiago scoring with some ground and pound.
Thiago lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thiago accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thiago postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Thiago throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Thiago postures up in Povar's guard and throws a big left but Povar blocks it.
Thiago prevents Povar from getting back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thiago changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Povar tries to avoid it but Thiago manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Povar to the ground. Povar escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Povar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thiago avoids it really well and circles away.
Povar keeps Thiago at a distance using the push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Povar tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Povar fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thiago with a lazy takedown attempt
and Povar counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Povar is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thiago sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Paul Thiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vasiliy Povar.
Povar shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thiago sprawls well. Thiago wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Povar gets slowly back to his feet.
Povar fails with a takedown attempt.

Thiago gets the takedown into side control.
Thiago works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Povar pushes Thiago away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Thiago gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Thiago misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Povar avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Thiago.
Thiago misses with the ground and pound.
Thiago in side control, throwing shots but Povar defends.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Thiago changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Povar looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Thiago lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Thiago prevents Povar from escaping the position.
The strikes coming from Thiago are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Thiago misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Povar is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Thiago has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiago throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Thiago creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Thiago fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Povar sprawls well initially but Thiago persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Thiago thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Povar's head.
Thiago missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Povar wants to get back to his feet.
Thiago lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Povar wants to get back to his feet.
Vasiliy Povar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thiago not landing any meaningful shots this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Thiago showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thiago, 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Thiago!