PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maui Thai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Braun Strowman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thai comes to the cage accompanied by Smoke some weed - Ice Cube. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thai
vs
Strowman

194 cm
18
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

202 cm
18
288 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Maui Thai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Braun Strowman!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Ron Honeybunn and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thai thows a body kick. Strowman tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Thai tries to score a power double leg takedown but Strowman sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Thai somewhat.
Thai shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Strowman sprawls well. Strowman wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thai gets slowly back to his feet.
Strowman feints the counter takedown.
A good leg kick by Thai.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strowman stuffs the takedown.
Strowman drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thai defends it well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maui Thai. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strowman stuffs the takedown attempt from Thai. Thai gets slowly back to his feet.
Strowman tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Thai is looking to clinch.
Strowman feints the counter takedown.
Thai tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Strowman swivels and escapes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Thai.
Thai fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thai lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Strowman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai fails to land the takedown.
And Strowman tries to counter it with a takedown but Thai pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A solid body kick from Thai.
Thai tries to close the distance and clinch but Strowman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Strowman with the counter takedown but Thai avoids it easily.
Thai looks for a takedown but Strowman sprawls well.
Thai goes for a double leg but Strowman avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Strowman continues to drive forward.
Strowman tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thai drives through and clinches with Strowman against the cage.
Thai is trying to pull guard but Strowman turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Thai is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Strowman to keep the fight standing.
Thai lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Thai drops down looking for an ankle pick but Strowman pulls his leg out and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thai looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thai shoots in looking for a takedown. Strowman tries to sprawl out of it but Thai keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Strowman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Strowman with the counter takedown but Thai avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strowman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thai looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Strowman misses with a jab to the body
and Thai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Strowman keeps the fight on the outside.
Thai moves in looking to clinch but Strowman pushes him off.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thai shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Strowman pinned against the cage. Strowman gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maui Thai will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thai gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Strowman to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Thai looking for a guillotine here but Strowman defends easily.
Strowman wants to pass the guard but Thai is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strowman working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strowman controlling from the top position.
Strowman is continuing to stall.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Strowman content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Strowman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Strowman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thai shoots in but no luck this time.
Strowman with the counter takedown but Thai avoids it easily.
Thai shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Strowman as he avoids it easily.
Strowman drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thai defends it well.
Thai throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Strowman.
Thai is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thai tries to clinch there but Strowman circles away.
Thai with a lazy takedown attempt

and Strowman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thai won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maui Thai. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strowman controls the position.
Thai taking a bit of punishment here - Strowman scoring with strikes.
Strowman looks up at the clock and then as Thai takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Strowman smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Strowman lands an elbow.
Thai takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Strowman in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Strowman content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Strowman works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Strowman controls the position.
Strowman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Strowman is chipping away with strikes.
Strowman takes a little break here. Thai wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Strowman on the ground.
Strowman scores with a couple of short elbows.
Thai takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Thai is letting Strowman control him for a moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strowman working the ground and pound.
Strowman working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Braun Strowman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Thai tries to clinch up but Strowman circles away and keeps his distance.
Strowman is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Strowman misses with a hook. Thai ducked under it nicely.
Thai closes the distance and clinches up with Strowman, looking for a takedown. Thai pushes Strowman against the cage but Strowman circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Strowman with the counter takedown but Thai avoids it easily.
Thai fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Strowman with the counter takedown but Thai avoids it easily.
Thai shoots for a takedown but Strowman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Strowman drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thai defends it well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maui Thai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thai wants to clinch but Strowman slips to the side

and Strowman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thai's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Strowman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thai has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Strowman has managed to get both his arms back between Thai's legs - danger averted.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Thai isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Strowman stacks Thai on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Strowman!
Thai takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Strowman controlling the position.
Thai is working to avoid the ground and pound but Strowman connects with a decent elbow.
Strowman working away.
Thai is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Strowman scoring with punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strowman moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Strowman working the head with strikes.

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.
Strowman working the head and body with strikes.
Strowman in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Strowman landing strikes.
Strowman controls the position from side control.
Thai is working to avoid the ground and pound but Strowman connects with a decent elbow.
Strowman controls the position from side control.
Thai taking a bit of punishment here - Strowman scoring with strikes.
Thai seems a little lost for a moment, as Strowman dominates the positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strowman lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Strowman scores with punches from side control.
Strowman just content to control the position.
Strowman lands an elbow.
Thai can't do much from the bottom here.
Strowman lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Strowman looks up at the clock and then as Thai takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Strowman smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Braun Strowman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thai tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Strowman cracks Thai with a big elbow.
Strowman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Strowman lands a few punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai being controlled for a moment.
Strowman is putting a hurting on Thai here, landing some big shots from side control.
A lull in the action here.
Strowman scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Thai to see if he's OK.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strowman scoring with punches and elbows.
Strowman working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Braun Strowman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Strowman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 27:29
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 26:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Braun Strowman!
Maui Thai was interviewed post fight and said 'I blame Jesus for this loss... Its the last time I use a landscaper for a training partner!'.