PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Muay Thai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jan Sobieski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thai comes to the cage accompanied by Town Called Malice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Sobieski's choice of entrance music: Kto Cię Obroni Polsko. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thai
vs
Sobieski

191 cm
35
222 lbs
34 - 21 - 0

188 cm
35
217 lbs
33 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 21 - 0, fighting out of London, Muay Thai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jan Sobieski!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Andrew Berry and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thai looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sobieski drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thai defends it well.
Thai fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Thai tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sobieski is able to avoid easily.
Thai lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Muay Thai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thai looks to score with a jab to the body but Sobieski is just out of range.
Thai misses with a hook.
Thai moves out of range of the body kick.
As Sobieski backs away, Thai returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Thai takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Sobieski tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Thai defends well and Sobieski ends up having to push Thai into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thai misses with a head kick.
Sobieski takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Thai tries a head kick but it misses.
Sobieski bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobieski blocks a jab.
Sobieski tries to counter by closing the distance.
Sobieski misses with a kick to the body.
Thai on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

It looks like Muay Thai has been cut.
Thai throws a front kick that sends Sobieski stumbling back into the cage.
Thai is looking to score with low kicks.
Sobieski feints the counter takedown.
Sobieski goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Thai connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sobieski takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sobieski is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Thai takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Sobieski throws a big shot that misses.
Sobieski closes the distance and clinches up with Thai, looking for a takedown. Sobieski pushes Thai against the cage but Thai circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sobieski tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thai swivels and escapes.
Muay Thai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jan Sobieski.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Thai throws a leg kick but Sobieski moved away.
Sobieski with the counter takedown but Thai avoids it easily.
Thai avoids a kick to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sobieski blocks a head kick by Thai.
Thai keeps the fight on the outside.
Sobieski on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Thai throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sobieski wants to counter the offense by Thai and move into the clinch position.
Sobieski throws a body kick that misses
and Thai counters with a thumping low kick.
Thai misses the jab.
Thai lands a nice shot to the body.
Thai tried to score with a low kick but Sobieski checks it.
Sobieski steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Thai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Thai.
Thai throws a head kick that misses

and Sobieski moves into the clinch.
Thai working aggressively here.
Sobieski is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Thai is keeping busy.
Thai swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Thai's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thai tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sobieski is able to avoid easily.
Sobieski throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Thai tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sobieski wants to counter with a clinch but Thai pushes him away.
Sobieski uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thai.
Sobieski tries to counter with a clinch but Thai shakes him off and moves away.
Thai with a jab.
Thai throws a leg kick which misses Sobieski's front leg but catches the back leg as Sobieski tries to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sobieski is out of range and Thai settles back down.
Thai throws a leg kick

and Sobieski counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Thai!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thai sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Thai gets full guard.
Sobieski slips nicely into half guard.
Sobieski winds up and cracks Thai with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sobieski sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thai defending well though.
Thai keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Thai is trying to stand up here but Sobieski is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muay Thai dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Muay Thai's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thai looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sobieski swinging wildly here.
Sobieski scores with a decent looking hook.
Sobieski misses with a body kick.
Thai appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Thai attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sobieski cracks Thai with a good jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sobieski checks a leg kick nicely.
Thai sets himself, and Sobieski steps forward looking for the clinch! Thai avoids it this time.
Sobieski throws a body shot but no joy.
As Sobieski backs away, Thai returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Sobieski rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Thai counters with a stiff right hand.
Thai throws a leg kick

and Sobieski counters with a single leg into guard. Thai didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobieski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sobieski trying to control but Thai is working from the bottom.
Sobieski is looking to work some ground and pound but Thai has wrist control.
Sobieski trying to control the position from guard on top but Thai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thai is trying to keep Sobieski in close.
Thai is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sobieski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sobieski lands a really nice looking cross but Thai seems unphased.
A nice leg kick lands there from Thai.
Thai misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thai takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Thai misses the shot to the body.
Sobieski ducks under a wild hook from Thai.
Thai looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sobieski steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Thai. That one must have hurt.
Thai throws a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai throws a quick inside leg kick.
Sobieski keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sobieski.
Thai attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Thai sets himself, and Sobieski steps forward looking for the clinch! Thai avoids it this time.
Thai misses with a series of wild punches.
Thai missing with a left hand there. Sobieski was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thai throws a low kick but Sobieski moves out of range easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thai. Sobieski does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little jabbing left from Sobieski on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A good leg kick by Thai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Thai.
Thai throws a push kick but Sobieski slaps the foot to one side.
Sobieski wants to counter the offense by Thai and move into the clinch position.
Thai is looking to chop away at Sobieski's legs.
Sobieski's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sobieski on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Sobieski takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Thai pivots, looking for a leg kick but Sobieski is out of range and Thai settles back down.
Thai tries to score with a low kick but Sobieski moves his leg out of the way.
Thai misses with a body shot.
And Sobieski tries to counter it with a takedown but Thai pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Thai looks to score with a jab to the body but Sobieski is just out of range.
Sobieski tries to counter by closing the distance.
Muay Thai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thai swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Muay Thai is winning the standup battle so far.
Sobieski is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muay Thai dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Muay Thai'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. This is the final round!

Nice defenses there by Thai.
A bone on bone clash there as Sobieski blocks the leg kick.
Thai works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Thai misses with a low kick.

Sobieski closes the distance and clinches.
Sobieski fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sobieski pressing his opponent against the cage.

Thai breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thai tries to sprawl but Sobieski drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Sobieski has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Sobieski is working for a kimura but Thai is defending it quite comfortably.
Sobieski misses with a head shot. Thai uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobieski working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sobieski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sobieski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Jan Sobieski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sobieski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sobieski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thai is keeping the position for now.
Thai wants to get back to his feet but Sobieski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sobieski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Thai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thai wants to slow Sobieski down by chopping away at his legs.
And Sobieski tries to counter it with a takedown but Thai pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Thai throws the kick towards the body but Sobieski avoids it.
Thai pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai throws a leg kick that misses.
Sobieski changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Sobieski pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Thai on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Sobieski misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thai throws a head kick that misses.
Sobieski throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Crunch! Thai slams his shin into Sobieski's torso.
Thai tried to score with a low kick but Sobieski checks it.
Sobieski is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A nice inside leg kick there by Thai. That's going to slow Sobieski down.
Thai throws a wild body kick that Sobieski sees coming a mile off.
Sobieski feints the counter takedown.
Thai throws a leg kick but Sobieski checks it.
Sobieski steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Thai. That one must have hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai scores with a jab.
Some wild striking there from Thai.
Sobieski takes a kick to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sobieski connects with a nice looking jab.
Thai thuds his shin into the meat of Sobieski's side.
Sobieski darts in looking for a takedown but Thai gets double underhooks and turns Sobieski into the cage.
Sobieski has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Thai.
Sobieski takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thai scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Thai blocks the body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Muay Thai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thai, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Muay Thai!
A relieved looking Muay Thai thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.