PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Komodo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mano Thao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thao has chosen Sabotage as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Komodo
vs
Thao

195 cm
20
265 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

197 cm
27
215 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Komodo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mano Thao!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thao is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Komodo.
A head kick misses from Thao.
Komodo throws a front kick that sends Thao stumbling back into the cage.
Nice uppercut there from Thao.
Thao throws a nice outside leg kick.
Good work by Komodo as he checks the leg kick.
Komodo on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Komodo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Komodo throws a half hearted mid kick.
Komodo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thao ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Komodo moves away.
A low kick from Thao misses

and Komodo moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thao wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Komodo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Mano Thao has been cut.
Komodo prevents Thao from breaking the clinch.
Thao has had enough of the clinch but Komodo keeps him there for the moment.
Nice elbow from Komodo.
Komodo pushes off an throws an elbow but Thao leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Thao looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Thao blocks an elbow strike.
Thao blocks an elbow strike.
Thao blocks the elbow strike.
Thao blocks the elbow strike.
Komodo misses with an elbow strike.
Komodo has Thao pressed against the cage, preventing Thao from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thao is trying to break free.
Komodo lands a damaging elbow.

That has opened up Mano Thao's cut even more.
Komodo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thao's efforts to push away.
Thao is trying to push Komodo away but Komodo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thao has had enough of the clinch but Komodo keeps him there for the moment.
Komodo throws an elbow that misses.
Thao can't break the clinch.
Thao utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Komodo prevents a body shot from Thao.
Thao wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Komodo has him pressed against the cage.
Thao looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Thao blocks the elbow strike.
Komodo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Komodo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Thao's brow.
Komodo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Thao has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Thao wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thao has had enough of the clinch but Komodo keeps him there for the moment.
Thao wants to break free but Komodo has control.
Thao blocks the elbow strike.
Komodo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Thao is trying to force a seperation but Komodo has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Komodo.
Komodo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Komodo throws an elbow that misses.
The referee calls for Komodo to work.
Komodo misses with an elbow strike.
Thao has had enough of the clinch but Komodo keeps him there for the moment.
Thao tries to break the clinch but Komodo is controlling the position.
Thao blocks the elbow strike.
Thao avoids the elbow strike from Komodo, against the cage.
Thao wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Komodo lands a nice elbow.

The cut above Mano Thao's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Komodo misses with an elbow over the top.
Komodo throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Komodo pushes off an throws an elbow but Thao leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Thao with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters up against the cage, Komodo throws an elbow but misses.
Komodo pushes off an throws an elbow but Thao leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Thao tries to land knees in the clinch but Komodo avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Komodo throws an elbow that misses.

Thao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thao lands the left hand.
Thao fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Komodo checks it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thao lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Komodo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Komodo jabs at Thao's body.
Thao dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Komodo. That did some damage!
Komodo defending well as Thao loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Thao throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Komodo lands a left and a right that send Thao crashing to the mat, dazed. Komodo thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Komodo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mano Thao's cut.
That's time! Komodo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Komodo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thao throws a head kick but Komodo moves out of range.
Mano Thao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick from Thao lands but Komodo takes it in his stride.
Thao throws a poor cross that misses
and Komodo counters with a body kick that stops Thao in his tracks momentarily.
Thao is looking to score with low kicks.
Thao takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Komodo moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice defenses there by Komodo.

Komodo instigates a clinch.
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!
Komodo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Thao manages to break the clinch.
Joe Komodo is winning the standup battle so far.
Thao throws a head kick that misses

and Komodo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thao has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Thao blocks the elbow strike.
Komodo pushes off an throws an elbow but Thao leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Komodo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Komodo lands a nice elbow.

Mano Thao's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Thao is trying to push Komodo away but Komodo has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Thao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thao avoids a kick to the body.
Komodo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thao does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Thao throws a leg kick but Komodo sees it coming and moves out of range.
Komodo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Thao.
Komodo lands with a hook. Thao tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thao uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Komodo.
Thao avoids the body shot from Komodo.
Komodo blocks a jab.
Thao pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Komodo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thao cracks Komodo with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Komodo tries a head kick but it misses.
Thao is looking to chop away at Komodo's legs.
Thao digs a good hook to Komodo's body.
Thao rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Komodo counters with a head kick.
Komodo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thao lands with a cross.
Komodo has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Komodo there as he acknowledges the shot.
Thao is looking to chop away at Komodo's legs.
Thao scores with a jab.
Thao throws a sloppy head kick and Komodo moves out of range easily.
Komodo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Komodo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thao paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Thao throws a leg kick but Komodo sees it coming and moves out of range.
Thao with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A head kick misses from Thao.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thao moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Thao throws a sloppy head kick
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Komodo counters with a body kick that stops Thao in his tracks momentarily.
Thao is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thao misses with a head kick.
Thao scores with a jab to the head.
Thao motions for Komodo to come forward. Thao throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Thao tries to bum rush Komodo with a series of wild strikes but Komodo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thao avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
That kick from Komodo tenderised Thao's leg. Thao is trying to keep his angry face on.
Komodo tries a head kick but it misses.
Thao throws a head kick that Komodo semi-blocks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mano Thao will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mano Thao's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Komodo misses with a head kick.

Komodo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Komodo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Thao wants to break free but Komodo has control.
Komodo avoiding damage.
Komodo pushes off an throws an elbow but Thao leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Komodo lands an elbow inside.
Komodo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Thao is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Joe Komodo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Thao blocks the elbow strike.
Komodo slowing the pace effectively.
Thao tries to break the clinch but Komodo is controlling the position.
Komodo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Thao dodges an elbow strike from Komodo.
Thao tries to circle away but Komodo has him pinned against the cage.
Komodo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Komodo has Thao pressed against the cage, preventing Thao from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Komodo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Thao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Komodo throws a head kick but Thao moves out of range.
Thao blocks a head kick by Komodo.
Thao avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Komodo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thao misses with a head kick.
Komodo thumps Thao with a low kick.
Thao avoids the head kick by Komodo.
Komodo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Thao has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Thao takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Komodo lands a big head kick that sends Thao tumbling to the mat! Komodo takes a step backwards and waves Thao back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Thao is rocked!

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:13 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Joe Komodo!
During a confident post fight interview, Joe Komodo thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.