PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Drako Vladamir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Thaiday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Vladamir
vs
Thaiday

195 cm
23
265 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

190 cm
25
270 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

BLKOUT Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Drako Vladamir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Thaiday!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vladamir is looking to clinch but Thaiday is avoiding it.
Vladamir misses with a double jab.

Thaiday shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Thaiday throws a big right hand that misses.
Vladamir can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Thaiday controls the pace.
Vladamir working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thaiday.
Thaiday postures up.
Thaiday is looking to work some ground and pound but Vladamir has wrist control.
Vladamir looking to control.
Vladamir looking to hit a scissor sweep but Thaiday is one step ahead there.
Thaiday must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thaiday has gone for a leg lock! Vladamir slips out almost immediately though and dives into Thaiday's guard.
Vladamir wants to control from the top but Thaiday keeps moving.
Vladamir trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Thaiday is looking to stand up but Vladamir isn't so interested in that idea.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Thaiday can do anything to dispel that myth.
Thaiday trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Thaiday is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thaiday lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Vladamir!
Vladamir regains half guard.
Vladamir is trying to get back to full guard.
Thaiday not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Thaiday sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vladamir defending well though.
Thaiday seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Vladamir does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Thaiday there.
Vladamir keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thaiday wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vladamir keeps working.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Vladamir slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Vladamir trying to control the position.
Vladamir avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thaiday in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Thaiday pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vladamir is keeping the position for now.
Thaiday throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vladamir works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vladamir has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Thaiday has passed into side control.
Thaiday laying and praying for a moment but Vladamir takes advantage and regains half guard.
Thaiday trying to control from half guard but Vladamir is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vladamir avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Thaiday.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Vladamir tries to clinch but Thaiday is having none of it.
Vladamir wants to clinch.
Drako Vladamir is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thaiday will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vladamir misses with a combination

and Thaiday counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Thaiday stalling.
Vladamir is staying active underneath Thaiday, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thaiday is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thaiday not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Thaiday is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vladamir has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thaiday is pressing down on Vladamir's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vladamir is holding on for now.
Thaiday is breathing heavily.
Vladamir wants to get back to his feet.
Vladamir on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Thaiday not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Thaiday is thwarting Vladamir's attempts to control the position.
Thaiday trying to control from half guard but Vladamir is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Thaiday in particular looking to stall.
Vladamir gets full guard.
Thaiday throws a big right hand that misses.
Vladamir avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thaiday thows a big elbow that misses.
Vladamir utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vladamir avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Thaiday is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Vladamir is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Vladamir has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thaiday wants to sweep but no luck.
Vladamir stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thaiday swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vladamir wants to control from the top but Thaiday keeps moving.
Vladamir wanted to stand there but Thaiday had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thaiday keeping moving, preventing Vladamir from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Drako Vladamir just wasn't active enough.

Thaiday tries to keep at a distance but Vladamir has taken the fight into the clinch.
Vladamir blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Thaiday.

Vladamir breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Vladamir closes the distance and clinches.
Thaiday is trying to maintain a safe position but Vladamir gets an underhook and turns Thaiday into the cage.
Thaiday wants a takedown but no success here.
A hook to the body from Vladamir.

Vladamir pulls guard effortlessly.
Vladamir keeping full guard, as Thaiday tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Thaiday showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Vladamir's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Vladamir misses with a takedown attempt - Thaiday sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thaiday dodges the punch combination from Vladamir.
Thaiday misses with a double jab

and Vladamir counters with a takedown into side control.
Thaiday manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Vladamir has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Thaiday suckers Vladamir into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Thaiday is now in Vladamir's guard!
Thaiday scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thaiday loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thaiday takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thaiday is looking to work some ground and pound but Vladamir has wrist control.
Thaiday wants to control from the top but Vladamir keeps moving.
Vladamir looking for a sweep. Not yet Vladamir, not yet.
Thaiday looking to pass the guard.
Thaiday trying to control but Vladamir is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thaiday working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thaiday tries to free his leg and advance position but Vladamir is retaining full guard.
Vladamir is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thaiday is controlling him.
Thaiday seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sam Thaiday was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Vladamir scores with a takedown into Thaiday's guard.
Vladamir wants to stand but Thaiday has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thaiday is working an open guard so Vladamir takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Thaiday throws a right hand that Vladamir ducks under and follows up with a left that Vladamir also avoids with ease.
Vladamir takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Thaiday scores with a takedown into Vladamir's guard.
Vladamir keeping moving, preventing Thaiday from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thaiday throwing strikes from guard but Vladamir blocks nicely.
Drako Vladamir has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sam Thaiday is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thaiday stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vladamir swivels though and keeps the full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Vladamir working a defensive guard here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vladamir doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Vladamir with a lazy takedown attempt

and Thaiday counters with a single leg into guard. Vladamir didn't expect that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thaiday wants to control from the top but Vladamir keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sam Thaiday.
I've got Thaiday 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Thaiday!