PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tomislav Vukovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Thiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vukovic kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is PPK - Resurection. Thiago is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Battle Ready - Otep. 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.

Vukovic
vs
Thiago

190 cm
20
220 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
208 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

WAR Combat Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tomislav Vukovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Thiago!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Russell Pearce and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vukovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Thiago stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Vukovic.
Vukovic looks to land a body kick but Thiago moved away.
Thiago fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vukovic swats away the attempt to clinch by Thiago.
Vukovic circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thiago tries to clinch but Vukovic is having none of it.
Thiago tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Vukovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thiago clinches but Vukovic breaks the clinch
and Vukovic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thiago looks to land a right hand but Vukovic moved out of range.
Thiago throws a combination that misses
and Vukovic counters with a stiff right hand.
Vukovic scores with a crisp jab that stopped Thiago in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago clinches but Vukovic breaks the clinch
and Vukovic counters with a body kick that stops Thiago in his tracks momentarily.

Vukovic has closed the distance and engaged Thiago in a clinch.

Vukovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thiago takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A jab from Vukovic finds it's way through Thiago's defenses.
Thiago tries to clinch
and Vukovic counters with a left and a right that stings Thiago.
Vukovic lands with a right hand.
Thiago tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Vukovic counters with a right hand to the body.
Thiago closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Vukovic counter with a right hand.
Thiago ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thiago wants to clinch but Vukovic slips to the side
and Vukovic counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vukovic thuds a left hand into Thiago's body.
Thiago avoids a kick to the body.
Vukovic lands with a straight right. Thiago didn't see that one coming.

Vukovic pushes Thiago up against the cage in a clinch.

Vukovic breaks from the clinch.
Thiago darts in trying to clinch
and Vukovic counters with a nice low kick that buckles Thiago's knee momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thiago tries to clinch up

and Vukovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Vukovic.
Thiago throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Vukovic blocks an elbow strike.
Thiago creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Vukovic tries to circle away but Thiago has him pinned against the cage.
Vukovic blocks an elbow strike from Thiago.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Vukovic.
Thiago looking to stall.
Vukovic displaying some good clinch control by pressing Thiago up against the cage.
Vukovic lands with a short shot to the head.
Thiago throws an elbow but it misses.
Thiago throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vukovic avoids the elbow strike from Thiago, against the cage.
Vukovic avoids a wild elbow strike from Thiago.

Vukovic breaks from the clinch.
Thiago looks to clinch
enabling Vukovic to counter with a crisp jab.
Vukovic is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Vukovic tests Thiago's chin there with a solid looking shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vukovic avoids the elbow strike from Thiago, against the cage.
Vukovic makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Thiago throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Thiago tries to land a knee to the head but Vukovic blocks with his arms.
Vukovic softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Vukovic avoids the elbow strike from Thiago, against the cage.
Thiago is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Vukovic lands a left hand that snaps the head of Thiago backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vukovic digs a right hand into Thiago's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Thiago's gas tank.
Thiago looks gassed!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Vukovic.
Vukovic blocks an elbow strike from Thiago.
Thiago tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thiago throws an elbow but it misses.
Vukovic working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Vukovic presses Thiago against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Vukovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thiago on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vukovic. Vukovic obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Vukovic moves into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Vukovic.
Vukovic lands a shoulder strike.
Vukovic is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Vukovic.
Nice body punch from Vukovic.
Vukovic manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Vukovic lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Thiago backwards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Vukovic breaks the clinch.
Vukovic with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Vukovic listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomislav Vukovic dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vukovic connects with a crisp jab.
Thiago tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Vukovic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vukovic sizes up Thiago with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Thiago misses with a straight right.
Thiago throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vukovic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vukovic circles away from the clinch attempt
and Vukovic counters with an inside leg kick.
Thiago wants to clinch but Vukovic slips to the side

and Vukovic holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Thiago throws an elbow that misses.
Thiago tries a knee to the head but Vukovic blocks it.
Vukovic lands a body punch.
Thiago is breathing heavily.
Thiago throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vukovic manages to break the clinch.
Paulo Thiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thiago misses with a hook.
Thiago throws a jab but it's blocked by Vukovic.
Vukovic connects with a jab.
Thiago avoids a kick to the body.
Thiago closes the distance but Vukovic moves to the side
and Vukovic counters with a straight right hand.
Thiago clinches but Vukovic breaks the clinch
and Vukovic counters with a thumping low kick.
Thiago closes the distance but Vukovic moves to the side
and Vukovic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Vukovic closes the distance and clinches.
Vukovic blocks the elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thiago misses with an elbow over the top.
Thiago misses with an elbow over the top.

Vukovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thiago tries to clinch up

and Vukovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Vukovic.
Vukovic lands with a left to the head.
Vukovic stalling in the clinch.
Tomislav Vukovic has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Thiago misses with an elbow strike.
Thiago throws an elbow that misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Thiago throws an elbow but misses.
Thiago throws an elbow but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Vukovic.
Thiago is trying to maintain a safe position but Vukovic gets an underhook and turns Thiago into the cage.
Thiago tries a knee to the head but Vukovic blocks it.
A nice left hand lands by Vukovic.
Vukovic lands a hook that snaps the head of Thiago backwards.
Vukovic cracks Thiago with a nice body shot.
A right hand to the body from Vukovic.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vukovic works on Thiago's body with a couple of short punches.
Vukovic pushes Thiago back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Vukovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vukovic throws out a powerful jab.

Vukovic rushes Thiago and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Vukovic.
Thiago looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Vukovic lands a shot to the body.
Vukovic lands with a light punch inside.
Vukovic lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Vukovic drops Thiago onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Thiago is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!

Thiago is rocked!

It looks like Paulo Thiago has been cut.

Vukovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thiago is still on wobbly legs! Can Vukovic finish him?
Vukovic lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Vukovic moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A right-left combo lands from Vukovic.

Vukovic moves into the clinch.
Thiago seems to have recovered his senses.
Thiago has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Vukovic lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Vukovic.
Vukovic is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thiago can do to turn this around?
A right handed body shot lands from Vukovic.

Vukovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Vukovic moves into the clinch.
Vukovic lands a body punch.
Vukovic pushes Thiago back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Vukovic avoids the elbow strike from Thiago, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Vukovic.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vukovic lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Thiago backwards.
Vukovic lands a right hand that snaps the head of Thiago backwards.
Vukovic pushes Thiago back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Vukovic breaks the clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Vukovic.
Vukovic works over Thiago's head and body with a nice combination.
Vukovic's corner calls for a 1-2. Vukovic obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Thiago closes the distance but Vukovic moves to the side
and Vukovic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Thiago has Vukovic up against the cage in a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vukovic lands a hook that snaps the head of Thiago backwards.
Thiago misses with an elbow strike.
Thiago throws an elbow that misses.
Vukovic lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thiago or not.

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

Vukovic rushes Thiago and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomislav Vukovic dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Paulo Thiago's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Thiago on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Thiago takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Vukovic throws a leg kick but Thiago sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Vukovic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Thiago, pushing him back against the cage.
Vukovic lands a shot to the body.
Thiago throws an elbow but it misses.
Thiago looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Vukovic pushes Thiago back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thiago looking to stall.
Vukovic throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Vukovic leaning against his opponent.

Vukovic manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vukovic cracks Thiago with an open hand slap.
Jab from Vukovic.
Vukovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thiago.
Thiago closes the distance but Vukovic moves to the side
and Vukovic counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vukovic turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Vukovic.
Thiago misses with a low kick.
Thiago closes the distance looking to clinch
and Vukovic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thiago darts in trying to clinch
and Vukovic counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thiago closes the distance looking to clinch

and Vukovic counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vukovic lands a body shot in the clinch.

Vukovic breaks from the clinch.
Thiago darts in trying to clinch
and Vukovic counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Vukovic closes the distance and clinches.
Thiago with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Vukovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thiago looks to clinch
and Vukovic connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Vukovic closes the distance and clinches.
Vukovic stalling in the clinch.

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

Vukovic gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vukovic blocks an elbow strike from Thiago.
Thiago throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Thiago throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Vukovic lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thiago or not.
Vukovic lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Thiago taking a breather.
Vukovic looking to stall.
Thiago looking to stall.
Tomislav Vukovic is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vukovic lands with a short shot to the head.
Vukovic taking a breather.
Thiago throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Thiago just misses with a elbow thrown towards Vukovic's brow.
Vukovic tries to stall but Thiago uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Vukovic avoids the elbow strike from Thiago, against the cage.
Vukovic avoids the elbow strike from Thiago, against the cage.
Vukovic blocks an elbow strike.
Thiago creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Vukovic lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Vukovic.
Vukovic throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vukovic lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Vukovic lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Vukovic lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A left hand lands to the body for Vukovic.
The referee calls for Vukovic to work.
Vukovic pushes Thiago back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thiago tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thiago's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Vukovic makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Thiago throws an elbow that misses.
Still in the clinch, Vukovic scores with a nice short uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Vukovic.
Paulo Thiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Vukovic.
Thiago misses with an elbow over the top.
Vukovic works on Thiago's body with a couple of short punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vukovic presses Thiago against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Vukovic gets through Thiago's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Vukovic.
With the fighters up against the cage, Thiago throws an elbow but misses.
Vukovic stalling.
Vukovic is working Thiago over against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomislav Vukovic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vukovic has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:24
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:24
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomislav Vukovic!