PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cheik Imbula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mo Thanyoo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Imbula comes to the cage accompanied by ~Apache~. This should be fireworks!

Imbula
vs
Thanyoo

185 cm
22
186 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

179 cm
39
174 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cheik Imbula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mo Thanyoo!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Imbula steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Thanyoo. That one must have hurt.
Thanyoo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Imbula misses the target.
Thanyoo scores with a nice strike.
Thanyoo has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Thanyoo there as he acknowledges the shot.
Thanyoo tries for a takedown but Imbula sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Imbula swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Thanyoo slips a straight right by Imbula.
Mo Thanyoo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Imbula misses with a straight right.
A cross from Imbula lands.
Thanyoo has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Thanyoo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Imbula napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Imbula sneaks back into half guard.
Imbula is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Thanyoo is looking for a kimura here.
Imbula works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thanyoo throws an elbow that misses. Imbula uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Thanyoo's guard. Nice move by Imbula!

Thanyoo looking for a sweep. Not yet Thanyoo, not yet.
Imbula wants to control from the top but Thanyoo keeps moving.
Imbula seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Imbula thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two 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.
Imbula wants to stand but Thanyoo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Thanyoo looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Imbula pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thanyoo is keeping the position for now.
Thanyoo trying to control the position here.
Imbula won't allow Thanyoo to sweep him here.
Imbula trying to control the position from guard on top but Thanyoo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Imbula got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thanyoo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Imbula has managed to get both his arms back between Thanyoo's legs - danger averted.
Thanyoo wants to sweep here but Imbula controlling him for the moment.
Imbula looking to pass the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Thanyoo.
Thanyoo lands with a kick to the ribs.
Imbula shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Thanyoo lands a really nice looking cross but Imbula seems unphased.
Imbula throws out a powerful jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thanyoo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Thanyoo throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Imbula to counter with a crisp jab.
Thanyoo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Thanyoo blocks a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thanyoo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Imbula as he avoids it easily.
Imbula connects with a nice looking jab.
Imbula misses with a hook. Thanyoo ducked under it nicely.
Thanyoo lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A big left from Imbula misses.
A shot to the liver by Thanyoo. Beautiful body shot.
Thanyoo stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A big left from Thanyoo misses.
Thanyoo misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mo Thanyoo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Imbula's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Imbula misses with a straight right.
Mo Thanyoo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Imbula takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Good exchange - Imbula coming out on top.
Thanyoo throws a body punch but Imbula moves out of range.
Imbula was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Thanyoo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Imbula's sensitive parts.

Thanyoo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Thanyoo is looking to work some ground and pound but Imbula has wrist control.
Thanyoo passes into half guard.
Thanyoo is looking to advance position but Imbula won't allow it.

Imbula looking for submissions off his back.
Thanyoo is pressing down on Imbula's thigh, looking to free his foot. Imbula is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imbula has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thanyoo is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Imbula manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Thanyoo drops back looking for a leg! Imbula is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Imbula manages to kick Thanyoo off! Thanyoo jumps back into Imbula's guard.
Imbula looking for a sweep. Not yet Imbula, not yet.
Imbula keeping moving, preventing Thanyoo from controlling successfully.
Imbula seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Imbula bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thanyoo's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thanyoo is trying to hold Imbula in close to prevent damage but Imbula has managed to pass into half guard.
Imbula seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thanyoo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Thanyoo tries to roll over but Imbula keeps him under control.
Imbula tries to pass the half guard into mount. Thanyoo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Imbula works his way into full mount!
Imbula controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imbula wants to control the pace but Thanyoo is squirming around nicely.
Imbula takes Thanyoo's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Thanyoo is in trouble.
Imbula scores with punches and elbows.
Imbula controlling from the back.
Imbula continues to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imbula trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
I really don't envy Thanyoo right now.
Thanyoo trying to control but not successfully.
Imbula trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Thanyoo doesn't escape.

Imbula is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thanyoo trying to control but not successfully.
Imbula struggling to keep hold of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cheik Imbula dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Thanyoo lands with a hook. Imbula tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Imbula. Thanyoo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thanyoo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Imbula counters with a right hand to the body.
Imbula misses with a left hand
and Thanyoo counters with a stiff right hand.
Imbula is looking to score with low kicks.
Imbula misses with an uppercut. Thanyoo saw that one coming.

Thanyoo has closed the distance and engaged Imbula in a clinch.
Imbula swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Imbula pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thanyoo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thanyoo moves in looking to clinch but Imbula pushes him off.
A little feinted left hand from Imbula on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Imbula chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Thanyoo can pounce on him.
Thanyoo slips under a jab from Imbula.
Thanyoo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Imbula swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thanyoo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Imbula on the side of the head.
Imbula takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Good standup being displayed there by Thanyoo as he connects with a hook.
Thanyoo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Imbula.
Good leg kick by Imbula there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Thanyoo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Imbula.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Thanyoo.
Imbula throws a hook but Thanyoo avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Imbula misses its intended target.
Thanyoo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Thanyoo misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Imbula cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thanyoo's jab looks to have found its range, popping Imbula under the eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Imbula blocks a leg kick.
A little feinted left hand from Imbula on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Imbula throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice shot by Thanyoo.
Imbula throws a half hearted mid kick.
Imbula throws a lazy right hand but Thanyoo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Thanyoo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Imbula is not content to let Thanyoo control the position.
Thanyoo lands with a punch from half guard.
Thanyoo trying to control the action but Imbula is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imbula trying to hold on to Thanyoo's head to control him but Thanyoo postures up.
Imbula is staying active underneath Thanyoo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thanyoo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Imbula's head.
Thanyoo trying to control from Imbula's half guard. Imbula has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Thanyoo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Imbula working for submissions but it's allowed Thanyoo to get to half guard.
Imbula tries to get to full guard but Thanyoo has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imbula trying to hold on to Thanyoo's head to control him but Thanyoo postures up.
Imbula regains full guard. Nicely done.
Imbula is trying to control the position but Thanyoo postures up.
Imbula keeping moving, preventing Thanyoo from controlling successfully.
Thanyoo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Imbula trying to keep a closed guard but Thanyoo is proving a slippery customer.
Thanyoo passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mo Thanyoo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thanyoo 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mo Thanyoo!
An out of breath Mo Thanyoo thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.