PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Charles Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thu Pham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Oliveira
vs
Pham

180 cm
26
140 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

166 cm
22
144 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Charles Oliveira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thu Pham!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oliveira on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Pham shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Pham was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Oliveira struggling a bit here.

Pham thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Oliveira is trying to control Pham's posture but Pham avoids it.

Pham is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Oliveira has escaped the position, nice work there.
Pham wants to control but Oliveira is keeping him busy.
Oliveira wants to control but Pham postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pham looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Oliveira's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Pham goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Oliveira rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Pham's guard! Nice work there by Oliveira!
Pham is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Pham wants to sweep here but Oliveira controlling him for the moment.
Oliveira pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pham is keeping the position for now.
Oliveira wants to control from the top but Pham keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pham looking to hit a scissor sweep but Oliveira is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oliveira in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pham is trying to control the position from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Oliveira misses with a takedown attempt - Pham sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pham scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira moves out of range of the body kick.

Pham feints and as Oliveira raises his hands in defense, Pham changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Oliveira has momentary wrist control but Pham slips an elbow through the middle.
Pham wants to control from the top but Oliveira keeps moving.
Pham in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pham makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Pham missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Oliveira has his foot on Pham's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pham works his way back into a safe position though.

Oliveira escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pham gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Oliveira working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pham.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira has momentary wrist control but Pham slips an elbow through the middle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pham stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Oliveira swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pham trying to control the position from guard on top but Oliveira is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pham is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Pham has gone for a leg lock! Oliveira slips out almost immediately though and dives into Pham's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pham manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Oliveira shoots in looking for a takedown. Pham tries to sprawl out of it but Oliveira keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pham manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Oliveira walks into a straight right hand from Pham.

Pham feints and as Oliveira raises his hands in defense, Pham changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pham trying to control but Oliveira is working from the bottom.
Pham advances to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pham decides to stand and escape the position.
Oliveira gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pham counters with a series of strikes. Oliveira will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oliveira tries to sprawl but Pham drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Oliveira trying to hold on to Pham's head to control him but Pham postures up.
Oliveira really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Oliveira is defending against the submission attempts here by Pham.
Oliveira has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pham is working away from the top position though.
Pham throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Oliveira keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Pham is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Oliveira is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Thu Pham!
Thu Pham 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.