PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thumbo Plights (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodolfo Viei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Plights
vs
Viei

206 cm
29
268 lbs
7 - 9 - 1

187 cm
25
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
KAISER Nutrition (160!/220$)

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 7 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Thumbo Plights!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rodolfo Viei!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Viei takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Viei stuffs the takedown.
Plights avoids the head kick by Viei.
Plights has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Plights fails with the takedown.

Plights drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Plights drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Viei manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Plights has Viei in his guard.
Viei advances to half guard.
Plights avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Viei.
Plights is trying to stand up here but Viei is controlling him well.
Viei misses with a head shot. Plights uses the momentum to regain guard.
My spies in Steel Penn/Heavy Hands Gym inform me that Viei has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Plights knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Viei on the ground.
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!
Plights keeping moving, preventing Viei from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plights is looking to stand up but Viei isn't so interested in that idea.

Viei gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Viei gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Plights.
Plights lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Rodolfo Viei has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Viei is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Plights's half guard.
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!
Plights is looking to escape.

Plights has one foot on Viei's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Viei defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Plights.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thumbo Plights. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Plights is breathing heavily.
Plights tries for a takedown but Viei sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Viei fails to land with a series of punches.
A jab from Plights finds it's way through Viei's defenses.
Viei stuffs the takedown attempt from Plights. Plights gets slowly back to his feet.
Plights fails with a takedown attempt.
Viei darts in trying to clinch

and Plights counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plights drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Plights gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Viei is trying to control the position but Plights postures up.
Plights won't allow Viei to sweep him here.
Viei pulls Plights in close to prevent any damage.
Plights tries to free his leg and advance position but Viei is retaining full guard.
Viei is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rodolfo Viei hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Viei keeps the fight on the outside.
Plights takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Plights looking to score a takedown here. Viei is defending well but Plights drives through and ends up in Viei's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Viei trying to control the position.
Plights trying to control but Viei is working from the bottom.
Viei is trying to keep Plights in close.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Plights wants to control from the top but Viei keeps moving.

Plights got a little sloppy there for a moment and Viei has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Plights has managed to get both his arms back between Viei's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thumbo Plights dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rodolfo Viei's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Viei tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Plights fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Plights instigates a clinch.
Plights drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Viei gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Viei tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Viei gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Plights.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thumbo Plights. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Viei looking for a takedown.
Plights is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Viei pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Viei has a couple of punches blocked by Plights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Viei looking to stall.
A frustrated look appears on Viei's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Plights is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Viei is defending well.

Plights gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Plights missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Viei looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Plights is looking to stall here but Viei recovers full guard.
Plights passes Viei's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viei wants to control but Plights is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Viei is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Plights is staying active.
Plights with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Plights is trying to control. Viei wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Viei is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Plights moves into the clinch successfully.

Plights has picked Viei up - he's going for a ride! Plights dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Plights is working for a kimura but Viei is defending it quite comfortably.
Viei slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Viei controls Plights momentarily but Plights frees himself.
Viei keeping full guard, as Plights tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Viei is looking for a triangle but Plights pushes his legs off easily.
Viei not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Plights in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Plights trying to control but Viei is working from the bottom.
Viei not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Plights trying to control the position from guard on top but Viei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thumbo Plights dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rodolfo Viei's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Viei leaves Plights with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The fighters circle momentarily. Plights darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Viei tries to clinch there but Plights circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Plights.
Plights connects with a high kick.
Viei fails in his attempt to clinch.
Plights fails in his attempt to clinch.
Plights looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Viei is fending him off so far but Plights persists. Nope, Viei circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thumbo Plights. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Viei throws a head kick but Plights moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Viei shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Plights sprawls well. Plights wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Viei gets slowly back to his feet.
Viei tries to clinch there but Plights circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plights ducks under a wild hook from Viei.
Plights getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Viei looks to throw a body kick
and Plights counters with a big head kick but Viei shrugs it off.
Plights throws a shot to the body.
Plights jabs at Viei's body.
Plights shoots in for a takedown but Viei shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Viei just misses with a punch to the body.
Plights throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Viei's head.
Plights connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Plights clinches.

Plights has hold of one of Viei's legs. Viei is fighting the takedown attempt but Plights gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Plights stands and throws Viei's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Plights wants to control but Viei is keeping him busy.
Viei tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Plights wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Plights is trying to move to mount but Viei reverses beautifully and ends up in Plights's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Viei wants to control from the top but Plights keeps moving.
Viei sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Plights's guard.
Plights tries to kick Viei off but Viei keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plights is not content to let Viei control the position.
Plights is looking to escape.
Viei missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Plights is trying to stand.
Well, if Viei is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Viei is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Plights tries to kick Viei off but Viei keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Viei wants to work for an arm triangle but Plights is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Viei sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Plights has one foot on Viei's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Viei takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Plights staying out of range there.
Rodolfo Viei has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Viei closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Plights to the mat! Plights manages to get full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thumbo Plights showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Plights has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight for Thumbo Plights!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Thumbo Plights!
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight for Thumbo Plights!

Thumbo Plights wins by unanimous decision!
Our winner, Thumbo Plights, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.