PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Boothe (ranked 8853 p4p, 852 weight class) and Lechu Szulcu (ranked 24583 p4p, 958 weight class). Thomas Boothe has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Boothe
vs
Szulcu

190 cm
48
207 lbs
49 - 27 - 0

199 cm
19
210 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 49 - 27 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Boothe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lechu Szulcu!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Szulcu tries to close the distance and clinch but Boothe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Szulcu fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Boothe is out of range.
Boothe keeps the fight on the outside.
Boothe half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Szulcu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Boothe swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Boothe half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Szulcu looking to score a takedown here. Boothe is defending well but Szulcu drives through and ends up in Boothe's guard.
Szulcu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Szulcu trying to control the position from guard on top but Boothe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boothe has Szulcu pulled in close to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Szulcu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Boothe swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szulcu trying to control the position from guard on top but Boothe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Szulcu looking to pass the guard.
Szulcu wants to control from the top but Boothe keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Boothe controlling Szulcu's posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Szulcu thows a leg kick but Boothe checks it

and Boothe counters with a single leg into guard. Szulcu didn't expect that.
Szulcu keeping full guard, as Boothe tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szulcu is trying to keep Boothe in close.
Szulcu is looking to stand up but Boothe isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Szulcu is trying to keep Boothe in close.
Szulcu is trying to hold Boothe in close to prevent damage but Boothe has managed to pass into half guard.
Szulcu moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szulcu controls Boothe momentarily but Boothe frees himself.
Boothe is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Szulcu is trying to hold Boothe in close to prevent damage but Boothe has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Szulcu wants to improve his position but Boothe is controlling well.
Szulcu tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Boothe manages to move to mount!
Szulcu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Boothe dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Szulcu doesn't manage to clinch there - Boothe circles away.
Boothe attempts a counter takedown but Szulcu avoids it well and moves away.
Szulcu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Boothe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boothe changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Szulcu shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Boothe's guard.
Szulcu engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boothe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boothe is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Lechu Szulcu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Szulcu is looking to work some ground and pound but Boothe has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boothe wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Szulcu shoots in and gets a takedown into Boothe's guard.
Szulcu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Szulcu has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Boothe is proving hard to escape from.
Boothe is pulling down on Szulcu's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szulcu throwing strikes but missing.
Szulcu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boothe pulls Szulcu in close to his closed guard and prevents Szulcu from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szulcu trying to control but Boothe is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Szulcu fails in his attempt to clinch.

Szulcu feints and as Boothe raises his hands in defense, Szulcu changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Boothe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Szulcu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boothe keeping moving, preventing Szulcu from controlling successfully.
Boothe pulls Szulcu in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boothe's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Szulcu wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lechu Szulcu 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! This is the final round!

Szulcu misses with a series of wild punches.
Boothe half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Szulcu closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Boothe's guard.
Boothe looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Szulcu wants to get up but he can't break Boothe's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boothe manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Szulcu manages to get himself to full guard.

Szulcu wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Boothe is now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boothe sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Boothe passes into side control, despite Szulcu's attempt to control the position.
Szulcu being controlled for a moment.
Szulcu looking for a sweep but Boothe has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's two 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.
Boothe takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Szulcu tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Szulcu is still trying to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Szulcu is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Boothe controlling the position easily from mount.
Szulcu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Szulcu is just holding on here. Boothe manages to take his back.
Boothe has the hooks in. Szulcu is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Boothe gets his hands free as Szulcu looks to control.
Boothe controlling from the back.
Further stalling from Boothe.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Szulcu tries to roll but Boothe sticks to his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Boothe showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Boothe 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Boothe!
Thomas Boothe tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.