PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Waraporn Thidawat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ara Givi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ara Givi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thidawat
vs
Givi

180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

225 cm
26
300 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid 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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Waraporn Thidawat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ara Givi!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Givi misses with a takedown attempt
and Thidawat counters with a leg kick.
Givi throws a head kick that misses.

Givi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

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

Givi looking for submissions off his back.

Thidawat is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Givi trying to hold on to Thidawat's head to control him but Thidawat postures up.
Thidawat working Givi over with strikes.
Givi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thidawat's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thidawat's back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Even with his hooks in, Givi manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Thidawat looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thidawat can't escape the position.
Thidawat looking very determined here, making life difficult for Givi.

Thidawat is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Givi scores with punches to the body.
My spies in Finch Farm inform me that Givi has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Givi has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Thidawat! Can he survive? No! He's out! Givi gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ara Givi!
After winning the bout, Ara Givi thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.