PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thip Top (ranked 2719 p4p, 1349 weight class) and Paulo Gentil (ranked 304 p4p, 157 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Top
vs
Gentil

175 cm
26
155
11 - 10 - 0

177 cm
23
166
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

MKFC

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 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thip Top!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Gentil!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Top throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Gentil counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd cheers as Gentil lands an impressive looking overhand right. Top doesn't seem phased though.
Gentil fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Top sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Gentil throws a low kick but Top avoids it.
Gentil throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Top throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Gentil to counter with a crisp jab.
Gentil pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gentil throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Top pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Top on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Gentil uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Top.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gentil fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Top manages to avoid it.
Gentil ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Top.
Gentil connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Top takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Top checks the leg kick nicely there.
Good standup being displayed there by Top as he connects with a hook.
That kick from Gentil tenderised Top's leg. Top is trying to keep his angry face on.
Top tries to clinch but Gentil is having none of it.
Gentil throws a right and a left that both miss.
Gentil missing with a left hand there. Top was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Top lands a head shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gentil.
Gentil throws the left hand but Top avoids the punch easily.
A slapping body kick lands there for Gentil.
Top throws a head kick but Gentil moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Top displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gentil throws out the jab.
Gentil has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Paulo Gentil seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gentil ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Top moves away.
Top throws a shot to the body.
Gentil moves out of range as Top throws a body kick.
Gentil moves out of range as Top throws a body kick.
Gentil connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Top momentarily.
Gentil misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Top.
Top throws a chopping leg kick but Gentil manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Gentil throws a body kick that misses.
Top looks for the body kick but Gentil saw that one coming.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Gentil! But no joy.
Gentil scores with a nice head shot.
Gentil looks to throw the jab but Top is out of range.
Top lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Top jabs Gentil to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Top throws a big shot that misses.
Gentil fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Top looks to land a body kick but Gentil moved away.
Gentil lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Top throws a hook to the side of Gentil's head but Gentil sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gentil lands the left hand.
Top throws a wild body kick that Gentil sees coming a mile off.
Top works Gentil's body with a nice hook.
Top darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Gentil takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Gentil.
Gentil misses with a body shot
and Top counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gentil fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Top.
Top's corner calls for a 1-2. Top obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A punch combination from Gentil misses.
Gentil throws out a powerful jab.
Gentil fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Top on the side of the head.
Gentil walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Gentil blocks a head kick by Top.
A slow jab from Top misses its intended target.
Top moves away from the strike by Gentil.
Gentil thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gentil misses with an attempted mid kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Top thows a left - swing and a miss!
Top throws a hook to the side of Gentil's head but Gentil sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Gentil dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gentil lands a jab to the head.
Gentil waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Top.
Gentil fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Top manages to avoid it.
Gentil throws a poor cross that misses
and Top counters with a nice body kick.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Top might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Gentil digs a good hook to Top's body.
Top swings widly with a right hand
and Gentil cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Gentil takes a swing at Top's ribcage but misses.
Top throws a head kick that half lands.
Gentil connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Top throws a leg kick which misses Gentil's front leg but catches the back leg as Gentil tries to avoid it.
Gentil moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gentil checks a low kick from Top.
Gentil wants to slow Top down by chopping away at his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Top throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gentil fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Top clinches up against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Gentil.
The referee calls for Gentil to work.
Gentil can't find room to land a body shot as Top controls the action.
Gentil swings wildly with an uppercut but Top uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gentil blocks an elbow strike.
Gentil misses with a punch on the inside.
Top tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Top is trying to pull guard but Gentil turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Gentil struggles to land a body shot inside as Top controls his hands.
Top is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gentil to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thip Top. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gentil blocks an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gentil gets through Top's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gentil takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gentil tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Top is trying to pull guard but Gentil has him pressed against the cage.
Gentil stalling in the clinch but Top improves position.
Gentil tries to throw a body punch but Top avoids it by throwing Gentil back against the cage.
Top blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Top blocking some punches.
Gentil struggles to land a body shot inside as Top controls his hands.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gentil as Top tries to tie him up.
Top misses with a hook to the ribs.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Gentil pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Top 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gentil scores with a kick to the body.
Top looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Top avoids the body shot from Gentil.
Top connects with a good right hand that stumbles Gentil. Gentil circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Top tries to clinch but Gentil moves away
and Gentil counters with a leg kick.
Top tries to clinch
and Gentil counters with a straight right hand.
Top tries to clinch but Gentil moves out of range.
Top has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Top uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gentil.
Top connects with a right hand. Gentil shakes it off.
Top displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gentil throws out the jab.
Gentil connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Top uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Top moves out of range as Gentil throws a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Top displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gentil throws out the jab.
Gentil pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Top is looking to counter punch.
Top throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gentil sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gentil misses with a kick to the body
and Top cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
It looks like Top has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Gentil uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Top.
Top steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gentil.
Gentil takes a swing at Top's ribcage but misses.
Top throwing a counter right hand but Gentil manages to avoid it.
Gentil lands with a kick to the ribs.
Gentil throws a sloppy head kick and Top moves out of range easily.
Top lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Gentil throws a nice looking combination but Top bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Top throws a body kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Gentil showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Top's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gentil throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Top counters with a straight right hand.
Top will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Gentil connects with a nice looking jab.
Gentil lands with a shot to the body.
Top checks a low kick from Gentil.
Top fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gentil is out of range.
A swing and a miss from Gentil.
Gentil misses with a body kick.
Top throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gentil.
Gentil avoids a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Top moves into the clinch successfully.
Top trying to control the position but instead, Gentil has worked for underhooks and has pushed Top into the cage.
Top creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Top tries to pull guard but Gentil forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Top gets control of Gentil's arms and successfully pulls guard. Top will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Top had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gentil defends it easily.
Gentil stays in close to Top's body and controls the position.
Top not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gentil sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Top looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gentil controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gentil really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Top. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Gentil has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Gentil has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Top looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Gentil puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Gentil slows the pace down in half guard.
Top tries to roll over but Gentil keeps him under control.
Gentil perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Top is pressing down on Gentil's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Gentil is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gentil postures up.
Top is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gentil is looking to control Top's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gentil avoid being mounted?

Top is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Gentil still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Gentil has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Top manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gentil's best efforts.
Top is looking to improve his position.
Paulo Gentil is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Top regains full guard. Nicely done.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Top looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gentil is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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 Thip Top.
I think Gentil 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

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