PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Thaiday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Kaplan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thaiday
vs
Kaplan

190 cm
31
270 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

185 cm
29
252 lbs
10 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Thaiday!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Kaplan!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaplan looks for the body kick but Thaiday saw that one coming.
Kaplan throws an overhand right that lands on Thaiday's shoulder, as Thaiday tries to avoid the shot.
Thaiday takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kaplan throws a lazy uppercut
and Thaiday counters with a left to the body.

Kaplan has Thaiday up against the cage in a clinch.

Kaplan decides to pull guard.
Kaplan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thaiday looking to sit in guard and control but Kaplan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kaplan throws a big right hand that misses.
Kaplan wants to control from the top but Thaiday keeps moving.
Kaplan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaplan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kaplan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kaplan wants to control from the top but Thaiday keeps moving.
Thaiday looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thaiday is working hard here to advance position.
Kaplan advances position into side control!
Kaplan misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Thaiday on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Thaiday tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Kaplan seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Thaiday knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kaplan on the ground.
Thaiday managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kaplan.
Kaplan 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.
Kaplan lands an elbow.
Kaplan tries to move into full mount but can't pass Thaiday's legs.
Kaplan throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Kaplan working the head with strikes.
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!
Kaplan trying to control the position but Thaiday is working away.
Kaplan grinds an elbow into Thaiday's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan working the strikes but Thaiday uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Kaplan is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Thaiday tries to roll over but Kaplan keeps him under control.
Kaplan winds up and cracks Thaiday with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kaplan scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kaplan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thaiday keeps working.
Kaplan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thaiday defending well though.
Ground and pound from Kaplan.
Kaplan trying to control from half guard but Thaiday is working away.
Kaplan is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Kaplan is looking to take a break and control but Thaiday is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kaplan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Thaiday has his hands clasped together around Kaplan's back. He's all about the action.
Kaplan is nestled in close to Thaiday, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kaplan throws a strike but Thaiday avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Kaplan is working Thaiday over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kaplan moves in looking to clinch but Thaiday pushes him off.
Kaplan throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Thaiday on the side of the head.

It looks like Sam Thaiday has been cut.
Kaplan scores with a nice right hand.

Kaplan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kaplan thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Kaplan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thaiday in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thaiday is trying desperately to improve position.
Kaplan raining down hammerfists from mount.
Kaplan working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kaplan with good strikes from the mount here!
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Kaplan. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaplan raining down shots from the mount!
Thaiday avoids a strike by Kaplan and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Kaplan's guard! Fantastic escape!
Thaiday being controlled here momentarily.
Thaiday wants to control from the top but Kaplan keeps moving.
Kaplan wants to stand and escape but Thaiday is having none of it.

Thaiday drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kaplan manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Thaiday has Kaplan in his guard.
Kaplan trying to control but Thaiday is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thaiday tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kaplan wants to control from the top but Thaiday keeps moving.

Kaplan gets to his feet - Thaiday follows without any prompting.
Joe Kaplan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kaplan takes a swing at Thaiday's ribcage but misses.
Kaplan throws a hook but Thaiday avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thaiday throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kaplan misses with a double jab.
Thaiday misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kaplan.
Kaplan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kaplan defending well as Thaiday loads up on a big left hand.
Thaiday avoids a punch combination nicely.
Some wild striking there from Kaplan.
Kaplan misses with a left hand
and Thaiday counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thaiday digs a good body shot into Kaplan's ribs.
Kaplan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thaiday.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan throws a predictable looking body shot
and Thaiday counters with a nice uppercut.
Thaiday swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kaplan works the jab nicely.
Kaplan moves in looking to clinch but Thaiday pushes him off.
Joe Kaplan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kaplan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kaplan misses with a low kick as Thaiday jumps back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thaiday throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kaplan.
Kaplan misses with a kick to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Thaiday gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kaplan tries to clinch there but Thaiday circles away.
Kaplan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Kaplan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sam Thaiday's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Thaiday throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Kaplan throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Thaiday counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kaplan scores with a hook to the body. Thaiday takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thaiday slips a jab and a cross from Kaplan.
Kaplan wants to clinch up but Thaiday keeps it at a distance.
Kaplan tries to clinch up but Thaiday circles away and keeps his distance.
Thaiday with a jab.
Kaplan misses with a low kick.
Kaplan misses with a jab, cross combination.
A combination from Kaplan does no damage.
Kaplan fails to land with a series of punches.
Kaplan misses with a combination
and Thaiday counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thaiday slips under a jab.
Thaiday sizes up Kaplan with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kaplan ducks right into an uppercut from Thaiday.
Kaplan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kaplan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thaiday dodges the punch combination from Kaplan.
Thaiday 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.
A combination from Kaplan does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thaiday takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kaplan lands a lovely overhand right.
Kaplan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thaiday swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice defenses there by Thaiday.
Thaiday ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kaplan tries to score with a low kick but Thaiday moves his leg out of the way.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kaplan misses with a body shot.
Kaplan tries to clinch but Thaiday is having none of it.
Kaplan falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Thaiday counter with a right hand.
Kaplan pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Thaiday back to the cage. Kaplan follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Thaiday counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kaplan misses with an uppercut
and Thaiday counters with a one-two to the body.
Thaiday has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Sam Thaiday's cut is getting worse.
Kaplan tries to bum rush Thaiday with a series of wild strikes but Thaiday uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kaplan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kaplan swings widly with a right hand
and Thaiday counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Kaplan gets the takedown into side control.
Thaiday tries to control but Kaplan manages to take his back.
Thaiday holding both Kaplan 's hands and preventing any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kaplan lands shots from the back.
Sam Thaiday has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan lands a shot to the body.
Kaplan landing with strikes.

Sam Thaiday's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Sam Thaiday's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Joe Kaplan!