PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Henry Thiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rico Tate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henry Thiago has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thiago
vs
Tate

166 cm
25
140 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Henry Thiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rico Tate!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Felipe Paraventi and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Thiago gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Tate counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tate.
Tate wants to control from the top but Thiago keeps moving.
Thiago might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tate looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thiago is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Thiago throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Thiago had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tate defends it easily.
Thiago looking to control.
Tate trying to control but Thiago is working from the bottom.

Thiago throws his legs up looking for a submission but Tate uses it to pass to side control.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Thiago manages to get back to half guard.
Thiago tries to get to full guard but Tate has control of the leg.

Thiago looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Thiago is pressing down on Tate's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Thiago working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Tate has passed into half guard!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thiago is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tate is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Thiago slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Tate avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tate slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Thiago tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tate wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thiago is trying to work for a sweep but Tate has mounted him!

Tate moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Thiago has worked his arm free - good work by Thiago!
Thiago throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Thiago tries to bench press Tate off him but Tate keeps the position.
Thiago manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thiago prevents Tate from improving his position.
Tate preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rico Tate will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice takedown defense from Tate. No joy for Thiago on that attempt.
Tate feints the counter takedown.

Thiago scores with a takedown into Tate's guard.
Thiago tries to free his leg and advance position but Tate is retaining full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Tate utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thiago looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tate working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Thiago.
We've been hearing good reports from Thiago's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Thiago advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thiago is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tate is pressing down on Thiago's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tate bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thiago's guard.

Tate avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Thiago is looking for a triangle here but Tate uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Thiago looks to move to half guard but instead Tate has passed into mount! Damn!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tate throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Tate avoids the attempt from Thiago to control.
Thiago really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Thiago slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thiago actively working from the bottom here.
Tate is pressing down on Thiago's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thiago is holding on for now.
Thiago is looking to control Tate's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Thiago avoid being mounted?
Tate throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Thiago looking for submissions off his back.
Thiago is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Thiago pushes Tate off but Tate dives into side control.
Thiago manages to get back to half guard.

Tate is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Thiago sees it coming and defends easily.
Thiago has a hand on Tate's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Tate takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thiago is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rico Tate will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Thiago doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tate counters with a takedown into side control.
Thiago is looking to regain half guard here but Tate keeps moving and retains side control.
Thiago is working hard here to advance position.
Tate has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thiago regains half guard.

Tate is looking for a kimura but Thiago is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tate to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tate seems to be looking for submissions.
Rico Tate has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tate is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Thiago defends it well.
Thiago gets full guard.

Thiago working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tate doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tate manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tate missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Thiago looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tate passes into side control.
Thiago manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are battling for position here. Tate manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Thiago wants to pass the guard but Tate is keeping the position.
Thiago passes Tate's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Tate is looking for a sweep. Thiago is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thiago is looking for a kimura here.
Tate is looking for a sweep. Thiago is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Thiago not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tate wants to control but Thiago is keeping busy.
Thiago tries to pass to full mount but Tate defends it.

Thiago is trying to work for a kimura but Tate is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Thiago is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tate defends it well.
Henry Thiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tate tries to get to full guard but Thiago has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Thiago is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Tate sees it coming and defends easily.
Rico Tate is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tate blocking the ground and pound attempt from Thiago.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rico Tate.
Well Tate has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rico Tate!