PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Thad Duckworth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Duckworth
vs
Almeida

169 cm
23
142 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

181 cm
23
141 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thad Duckworth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Max Almeida!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duckworth shoots in and drives through. Almeida sprawls well.
Duckworth misses with a takedown attempt
and Almeida counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Duckworth misses with a takedown attempt
and Almeida counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Duckworth thinking.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thad Duckworth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Duckworth shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Almeida sprawls well. Almeida wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Duckworth gets slowly back to his feet.
Almeida misses with a body shot.
Almeida misses the jab.

Almeida tries to sprawl but Duckworth drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Almeida has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Duckworth is working away from the top position though.
Duckworth missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Duckworth has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Duckworth trying to pass the guard but Almeida defending well.
Duckworth controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida tries to get to full guard but Duckworth has control of the leg.
Duckworth throwing shots but Almeida is blocking nicely.
Almeida is looking for a sweep. Duckworth is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Almeida is not content to let Duckworth control the position.
Almeida is trying to get back to full guard.
Duckworth controlling the action here.

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.

Duckworth seems to be looking for submissions.
Duckworth throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Almeida is looking for a sweep. Duckworth is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Duckworth wants to control but Almeida is keeping him busy.
Duckworth takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Almeida gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Duckworth postures up in Almeida's guard and throws a big left but Almeida blocks it.
Almeida pulls Duckworth in close to his closed guard and prevents Duckworth from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duckworth wants to control from the top but Almeida keeps moving.
Almeida is adopting a defensive guard.
Almeida is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Duckworth stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Almeida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Duckworth wants to control from the top but Almeida keeps moving.
Duckworth is looking to work some ground and pound but Almeida has wrist control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Duckworth wants to control from the top but Almeida keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Duckworth with a poor takedown
letting Almeida counter with a right hand.
Duckworth fails with the takedown
and Almeida counters with a straight right hand.
Duckworth shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Almeida as he avoids it easily.
Thad Duckworth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Duckworth shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Almeida pinned against the cage. Almeida gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Duckworth shoots for a double leg takedown but Almeida sprawls well. He's pushed Duckworth's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Duckworth throws a right hand that misses
and Almeida connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Duckworth tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Almeida swivels and escapes.
Almeida scores with a hook to the body. Duckworth takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Duckworth fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Almeida avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Almeida dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Duckworth walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Almeida scores with a hook to the body. Duckworth takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Almeida dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Duckworth gets a double leg takedown into Almeida's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Almeida keeping moving, preventing Duckworth from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duckworth advances position into side control!
Almeida dodges the ground and pound from Duckworth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duckworth misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Duckworth is looking to take a break and control but Almeida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Almeida wants to control but Duckworth postures up.
Duckworth tries to score with some ground and pound. Almeida controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Duckworth trying to control the action but Almeida is working from the bottom.
Almeida can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Almeida is working to avoid the ground and pound but Duckworth connects with a decent elbow.
Almeida dodges the ground and pound from Duckworth.
Duckworth misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Duckworth in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Duckworth trying to control the action but Almeida is working from the bottom.
Almeida really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Duckworth. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Duckworth throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Almeida on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Duckworth trying to control the action but Almeida is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Duckworth is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Almeida will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Almeida holds on to Duckworth's head and controls the position momentarily.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Duckworth wants to control but Almeida is keeping him busy.
Duckworth tries to advance to mount but can't.
Almeida taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
I wouldn't like to be where Almeida is right now.
Almeida tries to improve position but can't.
Duckworth advances to mount.
Almeida takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Duckworth wants to control the pace but Almeida is squirming around nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Duckworth is really struggling to control Almeida but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thad Duckworth dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Duckworth fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Almeida sprawls well initially but Duckworth persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Almeida can do anything to dispel that myth.
Duckworth throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Duckworth is trying to control. Almeida wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Almeida is controlling Duckworth's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Duckworth is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Almeida sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Almeida keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Duckworth moves into full mount! Almeida won't be happy about that!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Duckworth has control of Almeida's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Almeida regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Duckworth trying to control but Almeida is having none of it.
Duckworth throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Almeida because Duckworth loaded up on that one.
Max Almeida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.

Duckworth has hold of Almeida's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Almeida manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Almeida really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Duckworth misses with a head shot.
Duckworth has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Almeida's face.
Thad Duckworth is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Duckworth trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Almeida is looking to improve his position but Duckworth isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duckworth wants to control the pace but Almeida is squirming around nicely.
Duckworth controlling the position easily from mount.
Duckworth wants to control the pace but Almeida is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Duckworth controlling the pace for now.
Duckworth avoids the attempt from Almeida to control.
Duckworth trying to control but Almeida is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Duckworth controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thad Duckworth showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Duckworth has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight for Thad Duckworth!
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight for Thad Duckworth!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Thad Duckworth!

Thad Duckworth wins by unanimous decision!