PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Thiago (ranked 371 p4p, 52 weight class) and Yacob Nilsen (ranked 220 p4p, 35 weight class). Nilsen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Lil Wayne - Right above it kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Thiago
vs
Nilsen

193 cm
31
215 lbs
21 - 13 - 0

188 cm
31
207 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
KOMBAT KLOTHING

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 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Thiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yacob Nilsen!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nilsen moves into the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thiago creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Nilsen tries to land a knee to the head but Thiago blocks with his arms.
Thiago throws a head punch that misses.
Thiago blocks an uppercut.
Thiago avoids a wild elbow strike from Nilsen.
Nilsen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Thiago after a bit of a struggle.
Thiago tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nilsen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Thiago backwards.
A short left from Nilsen.
Nilsen blocks an uppercut.
Nilsen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Thiago prevents a body shot from Nilsen.
Thiago misses with a body punch.
Thiago tries a body shot but Nilsen blocks it.
Thiago throws a head punch that misses.
Thiago lands a body punch in the clinch.
Thiago blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nilsen prevents a body shot from Thiago.
A shot in the inside from Thiago.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thiago lands with a right to the head.
Nilsen is trying to drag Thiago to the mat but Thiago just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Nilsen tries to work over Thiago's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Nilsen.
Nilsen tries to work over Thiago's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thiago misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Thiago is fighting off a takedown attempt but Nilsen is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Thiago to the mat. Thiago regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Nilsen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thiago is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Nilsen looking to sit in guard and control but Thiago gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Thiago is standing up over Nilsen. Nilsen looks to escape but Thiago dives into side control.
Nilsen is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nilsen is still trying to improve position.
You can see the frustration on Nilsen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nilsen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Thiago wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Thiago controlling the position from side mount.
Nilsen wants to control but Thiago postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nilsen is looking to reverse the position.
Nilsen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Thiago is taking a breather. Nilsen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Nilsen tries to get to full guard but Thiago has control of the leg.
Nilsen is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Thiago jumps into side control!
Nilsen can't do much from the bottom here.
Nilsen manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nilsen trying to hold on to Thiago's head to control him but Thiago postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Nilsen has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Thiago trying to pass the guard but Nilsen defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Thiago throws a front kick aimed at Nilsen's knee but Nilsen avoids it well.
Good leg kick by Thiago there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Good standup being displayed there by Thiago as he connects with a hook.
Nilsen misses with a body shot.
Thiago bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Nilsen's head backwards.
Thiago wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Thiago throws a leg kick but Nilsen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Thiago feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Nilsen's calf.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Thiago dominated that 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.

A combination from Nilsen does no damage.
Thiago misses with a lunging right hand
and Nilsen counters with a solid body kick.
Thiago throws a lazy right hand but Nilsen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nilsen misses with an uppercut.
Nice shot by Nilsen.
Nice jab there from Thiago.
Nilsen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Thiago throws the left hand but Nilsen avoids the punch easily.
Thiago takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Thiago bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Thiago loads up on a big right hand but Nilsen slips the punch.
Nilsen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thiago will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nilsen misses with a straight left.
Thiago with a hook.
Nilsen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nilsen scores with a nice head shot.
Nilsen lands a head shot.
Nilsen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Nilsen takes one to the side of the head.
Nilsen tries to clinch but Thiago moves out of range.
Nilsen blocks a head kick by Thiago.
A shot to the liver by Nilsen. Beautiful body shot.
Thiago throws a hook but Nilsen avoids it easily.
Thiago is looking to land body kicks.
Nilsen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thiago Thiago is winning the standup battle so far.
Thiago blocks the body kick.
Nilsen lands with a good body shot.
A big left from Nilsen misses.
Nilsen pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Thiago back to the cage. Nilsen follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nilsen scores with a hook to the body. Thiago takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nilsen checks a leg kick nicely.
Nilsen digs a good hook to Thiago's body.
Nice straight punches there by Nilsen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Nilsen.
Nilsen swings for the body but Thiago moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Nilsen.
Thiago throws a looping overhand right but Nilsen ducks down to avoid it.
Thiago cracks the inside of Nilsen's front leg.
Thiago catches Nilsen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Nilsen throws a lazy right hand but Thiago sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thiago is looking to land body kicks.
An inside leg kick lands from Thiago.
Thiago wants to land a leg kick but Nilsen is out of range.
Thiago fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nilsen is out of range.
Some wild striking there from Nilsen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nilsen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nilsen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Thiago.
No joy there for Nilsen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thiago swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A head kick from Thiago lands but Nilsen takes it in his stride.
Thiago uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Nilsen.
Thiago blocks a jab.
Nilsen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Nilsen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thiago wants to slow Nilsen down by chopping away at his legs.
Nilsen misses with a body punch
and Thiago counters with a good low kick that Nilsen was not able to check.
Thiago pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nilsen is out of range and Thiago settles back down.
Thiago throws out a leg kick but Nilsen moves out of range and Thiago only half commits.
Nilsen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Thiago swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Thiago tried to score with a low kick but Nilsen checks it.
Nilsen throws out a counter right but Thiago avoids it with no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiago throws a body kick that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nilsen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A big right from Nilsen misses.
Thiago throws a wild body kick that Nilsen sees coming a mile off.
Thiago ducks under a wild hook from Nilsen.
Nilsen lands a nice hook to Thiago's body. Thiago takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Thiago ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nilsen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Thiago.
Thiago misses with a low kick.
Nilsen throws a jab but it's blocked by Thiago.
Nilsen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thiago uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Nilsen.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nilsen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thiago stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Thiago throws a leg kick
and Nilsen counters with a right hand to the body.
Thiago shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A little jabbing left from Nilsen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yacob Nilsen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Thiago swats away the attempt to clinch by Nilsen.
Thiago misses with a leg kick
enabling Nilsen to counter with a crisp jab.
Nilsen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A head kick misses from Nilsen.
A swing and a miss from Thiago.
Thiago connects with a jab.
Nilsen blocks a low kick nicely.
Thiago lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Thiago blocks a head kick by Nilsen.
Thiago was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thiago tried to score with a low kick but Nilsen checks it.
Thiago misses with a low kick.
Nilsen throws an overhand right that lands on Thiago's shoulder, as Thiago tries to avoid the shot.
Thiago connects with a right hand. Nilsen shakes it off.
Thiago Thiago seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thiago pivots, looking for a leg kick but Nilsen is out of range and Thiago settles back down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago tries a low kick but Nilsen avoids it.
Nilsen lands a slapping body shot.
Thiago throws the kick towards the body but Nilsen avoids it.
Thiago connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Thiago throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Thiago scores with a hook to the body. Nilsen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Thiago tries to land a front kick but Nilsen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Thiago misses with a looping right.
Nilsen flicks out a counter leg kick but Thiago steps away.
Nilsen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thiago stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thiago misses with a leg kick.
Donk. Nilsen catches Thiago right on the button with a cross.
Thiago uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nilsen.
Thiago punishes Nilsen's body with a nice straight punch.

Nilsen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Thiago, pushing him back against the cage.
Thiago lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Yacob Nilsen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nilsen throws an elbow but it misses.
Thiago lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short right from Nilsen.
Nilsen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thiago is stalling here.
A left hand lands to the body for Thiago.
Nilsen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nilsen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Nilsen.
A short right from Thiago.
Nilsen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Thiago prevents a takedown attempt there.
Thiago content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Thiago is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Nilsen is keeping busy.
Thiago throws a punch but it's blocked by Nilsen.
Nilsen digs a right hand into Thiago's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Thiago's gas tank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Nilsen.
Thiago is struggling to control the position.
Nilsen can't find room to land a body shot as Thiago controls the action.
Nilsen has a couple of punches blocked by Thiago.
Nilsen has a couple of punches blocked by Thiago.
Nilsen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thiago's elbow.
Nilsen scores with a shoulder strike.
Nilsen tries to throw a body punch but Thiago avoids it by throwing Nilsen back against the cage.
Thiago scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch on the inside from Nilsen fails to land.
Nilsen tries to work over Thiago's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nilsen.
Nilsen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Thiago is looking to control Nilsen's arms but Nilsen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Thiago has his back to the cage.
Thiago can't find room to land a body shot as Nilsen controls the action.
Thiago can't find room to land a body shot as Nilsen controls the action.
Nilsen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thiago tries to throw a body punch but Nilsen avoids it by throwing Thiago back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiago looking to stall.
Nilsen can't find room to land a body shot as Thiago controls the action.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Thiago takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Nilsen tries to work over Thiago's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thiago lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Nilsen or not.
Nilsen throws a punch but it's blocked by Thiago.
Nilsen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thiago blocks an uppercut.

Thiago breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nilsen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nilsen blocks the body kick.
Nilsen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thiago.
Thiago avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Thiago. Those never looked like landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Thiago Thiago.
I think Thiago 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thiago Thiago!
During a confident post fight interview, Thiago Thiago thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.