PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Roland Thibodeau (ranked 5779 p4p, 553 weight class) and Dalcha Lungiambula (ranked 3203 p4p, 0 weight class). Roland Thibodeau has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thibodeau
vs
Lungiambula

180 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
157 lbs
4 - 6 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roland Thibodeau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Dalcha Lungiambula!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Summer Carpenter and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lungiambula throws a sloppy head kick and Thibodeau moves out of range easily.
Lungiambula fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thibodeau manages to avoid it.

Thibodeau instigates a clinch.
Thibodeau is trying to force a seperation but Lungiambula has the dominant position.
Thibodeau lands a nice knee to the body.

Thibodeau gets control of Lungiambula's arms and successfully pulls guard. Thibodeau will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Thibodeau is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lungiambula looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lungiambula trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lungiambula would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lungiambula stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thibodeau swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thibodeau can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lungiambula controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thibodeau lands a jab-cross combination.
Lungiambula slips a jab and a cross from Thibodeau.
Lungiambula avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lungiambula has a takedown stuffed.
Thibodeau seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lungiambula gets a takedown into half guard.
Thibodeau trying to control from the bottom.
Lungiambula stalling.
Lungiambula's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Thibodeau is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeau moves into full guard.
Lungiambula is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lungiambula would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thibodeau being controlled here, momentarily.

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

Lungiambula manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Thibodeau on his heels. He'll look to pass Thibodeau's guard now, I'm sure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lungiambula throwing strikes from guard but Thibodeau blocks nicely.
Lungiambula's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Thibodeau throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Thibodeau avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thibodeau is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thibodeau works his foot free and advances to mount.
Lungiambula is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roland Thibodeau dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Thibodeau shoots for a double leg takedown but Lungiambula sprawls well. He's pushed Thibodeau's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lungiambula wants to clinch.
Thibodeau shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lungiambula as he avoids it easily.
Thibodeau misses with a takedown attempt - Lungiambula sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roland Thibodeau. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lungiambula darts in looking for a takedown but Thibodeau gets double underhooks and turns Lungiambula into the cage.
Thibodeau fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lungiambula looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lungiambula shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thibodeau defends it nicely.
Thibodeau slaps away a takedown attempt from Lungiambula, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lungiambula misses with a kick to the body.
Thibodeau keeps the fight on the outside.
Thibodeau attempts a counter takedown but Lungiambula avoids it well and moves away.
Lungiambula misses with an attempted mid kick.
Lungiambula throws a right hand that Thibodeau ducks under and follows up with a left that Thibodeau also avoids with ease.
Lungiambula moves in looking to clinch but Thibodeau pushes him off.
Lungiambula missing with a left hand there. Thibodeau was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thibodeau misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Thibodeau shoots in and drives through. Lungiambula sprawls well.
Lungiambula lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Thibodeau ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lungiambula moves away.
Lungiambula throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Lungiambula closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Thibodeau did well to prevent Lungiambula getting side control.
Lungiambula seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lungiambula working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Thibodeau's thigh. Thibodeau counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Thibodeau tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thibodeau being controlled here, momentarily.
Thibodeau looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Lungiambula is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lungiambula looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thibodeau is looking for a counter combo.

Lungiambula shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Lungiambula is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lungiambula blocks the strikes from Thibodeau.
Thibodeau works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lungiambula really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thibodeau. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lungiambula engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Thibodeau trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dalcha Lungiambula will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Lungiambula shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Thibodeau is trying to defend but Lungiambula finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Thibodeau moves into full guard.
Lungiambula stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Thibodeau swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lungiambula slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thibodeau trying to keep a closed guard but Lungiambula is proving a slippery customer.

Thibodeau pushes Lungiambula off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lungiambula shoots in but no luck this time.

Lungiambula takes the fight into the clinch.

Thibodeau pulls guard effortlessly.
Lungiambula lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Thibodeau being controlled here, momentarily.

Thibodeau is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thibodeau keeping full guard, as Lungiambula tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeau throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Thibodeau has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lungiambula can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Thibodeau is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lungiambula must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lungiambula is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lungiambula throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thibodeau works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lungiambula tries to bum rush Thibodeau with a series of wild strikes but Thibodeau uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Lungiambula shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lungiambula postures up.
Dalcha Lungiambula has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lungiambula postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thibodeau preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Thibodeau had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lungiambula defends it easily.
Thibodeau can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lungiambula controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's 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.

Lungiambula changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thibodeau looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thibodeau is pushing Lungiambula's head away, looking to escape. Lungiambula manages to hold on to the position though.
Thibodeau manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Dalcha Lungiambula.
I think Lungiambula 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Dalcha Lungiambula!