PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mano Thao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Murilo Hartmann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thao comes to the cage accompanied by Sabotage. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Thao
vs
Hartmann

197 cm
28
215 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

195 cm
29
228 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mano Thao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Murilo Hartmann!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hartmann will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thao looks to score with a jab to the body but Hartmann is just out of range.
Thao cracks the inside of Hartmann's front leg.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hartmann fails to pull guard.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Thao obliges.
Hartmann wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Thao blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thao crunches a lovely knee into Hartmann's ribcage.
Hartmann looks winded!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Thao breaks the clinch.
Hartmann fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mano Thao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Murilo Hartmann.
Thao throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Murilo Hartmann has been cut.

Thao fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hartmann, pushing him back against the cage.
Thao has Hartmann pressed against the cage, preventing Hartmann from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Thao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Thao darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Thao rushes Hartmann and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Hartmann pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hartmann fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left lands for Thao.
Hartmann keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hartmann is trying desperately to land a takedown but Thao is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Hartmann.
Hartmann takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Hartmann blocks a head kick by Thao.
Thao feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hartmann's calf.
Hartmann stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thao.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hartmann takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Thao lands a nice shot to the body.
A head kick by Thao - that's a beauty! Hartmann is out but he's somehow still standing... he's going... going... gone. Like a drunk walking down the middle of the road, the inevitable face plant follows and the delayed knockout arrives. Even Thao can't help but laugh at the bizarre end to this one!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Mano Thao!
Mano Thao decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.