PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Matthieu Placide (ranked 3229 p4p, 4933 weight class) and Tico Tico (ranked 151 p4p, 223 weight class). Placide comes to the cage accompanied by Diamonds from Sierra Leone - Kanye West. The key to victory for Matthieu Placide has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Placide
vs
Tico

169 cm
18
136
1 - 0 - 0

163 cm
18
139
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matthieu Placide!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tico Tico!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tico throws an overhand right that lands on Placide's shoulder, as Placide tries to avoid the shot.
Tico looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Placide scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Placide loads up on a big right hand but Tico slips the punch.
Placide ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It looked like Placide was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Tico misses with a two punch combination.
A quick step to the side and Placide tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Placide ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Placide darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Placide scores with a decent looking hook.
Placide waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tico.
Placide throws a body punch but Tico moves out of range.
Placide loads up on a big right hand but Tico slips the punch.
It seemed like Tico was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Placide is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tico.
Placide looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tico lands a nice shot to the body.
Tico looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Placide misses with a series of wild punches.
Tico throws out a counter right but Placide avoids it with no problem.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A jab from Placide finds it's way through Tico's defenses.
Placide misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Placide will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Placide moves out of range of the strikes.
Tico walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tico. Placide does a little dance to reset his feet.
Placide looks to land a combination but Tico avoids it well.
Placide throws a looping overhand right but Tico ducks down to avoid it.
Placide defending well as Tico loads up on a big left hand.
Placide throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tico sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Placide fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tico manages to avoid it.
Tico is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Placide.
Tico throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tico slips a jab and a cross from Placide.
A jab from Tico misses.
Placide moves out of range of the strikes.
Tico scores with a sloppy right hand. Placide should have avoided that one.
Tico throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Placide sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tico slips under a jab.
Placide throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Placide lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters circling - Placide throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Tico closes the distance and pushes Placide back into the cage.
Tico working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Tico working some nice short punches in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Tico just misses with a elbow thrown towards Placide's brow.

Placide breaks from the clinch.
Placide throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice defenses there by Placide.

Placide tries to keep at a distance but Tico has taken the fight into the clinch.
Placide has had enough of the clinch but Tico keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tico taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Tico stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Placide has had enough of the clinch but Tico keeps him there for the moment.
Tico doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Placide takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Matthieu Placide has been cut.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tico lands with a right to the head.
Tico gets through Placide's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tico lands with a light punch inside.
Tico lands with a light punch inside.
Tico working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short left from Tico.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Tico.
Tico stalls.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tico pressing his opponent against the cage.
Tico working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tico misses with an elbow over the top.
Tico lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tico creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Placide's defenses.
Placide has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tico Tico dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matthieu Placide's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Placide throws a body shot but no joy.
Placide misses with a straight left.
A big left from Placide misses.
Placide misses with a wild body shot.
Matthieu Placide is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Placide misses the jab.
Placide jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Placide ducks under a wild hook from Tico.
Tico throws a hook but Placide avoids it easily.
It looked like Placide wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tico misses with a double jab.
Tico throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Placide sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Placide throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tico sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matthieu Placide is winning the standup battle so far.
Tico ducks under a wild hook from Placide.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Placide, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tico keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Placide.
A little jabbing left from Tico on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tico uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Placide.
Placide moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Placide misses with a body shot.
It seemed like Tico was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tico might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Tico needs to keep his hands up - Placide had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tico throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Placide.
Placide throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tico sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tico misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Placide.
Tico throws a shot from downtown. Placide moves away and avoids it.
Placide throws a jab when Tico was well out of range.
Placide gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tico.
Tico blocks a jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Tico! But no joy.
Tico staying out of range there.
Tico tries a low kick but Placide avoids it.
Placide is looking to counter punch.
Placide throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tico lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Tico misses with a series of wild punches.
Tico throws a hook to the side of Placide's head but Placide sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A little feinted left hand from Placide on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tico takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Placide throws a lazy right hand but Tico sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tico throws a leg kick but Placide moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tico looks to score with a jab to the body but Placide is just out of range.
Placide swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Tico counter with a right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Placide throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Placide fails to land with a series of punches.
Tico lands a jab.
Tico throws a body shot but no joy.
Placide rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tico moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tico throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Placide sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Placide misses the jab.
A nice side step and Tico releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Tico scores with a hook.
Placide closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Tico throws a shot from downtown. Placide moves away and avoids it.
Tico uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Placide.
Placide throws a hook but Tico avoids it easily.
Tico misses with an uppercut.
Tico misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Placide defending well as Tico loads up on a big left hand.
Tico tries to score with a low kick but Placide moves his leg out of the way.
Placide misses with a jab, cross combination.
Placide uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tico.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Placide throws a looping overhand right but Tico ducks down to avoid it.
Placide misses with a looping left.
Placide throws a jab when Tico was well out of range.
Tico throws out a counter right but Placide avoids it with no problem.
Tico with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Tico swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tico rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Placide moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Placide throws a right hand that Tico ducks under and follows up with a left that Tico also avoids with ease.
Placide will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Placide fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Placide avoids the body shot from Tico.
Placide bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Placide lands a right hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tico misses the shot to the body.
Placide throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tico.
A nice side step and Tico releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Tico ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Placide moves away.
Placide looks to throw the jab but Tico is out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tico keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Placide.
Placide looks to throw the jab but Tico is out of range.
Tico throws out a counter right but Placide avoids it with no problem.
Placide displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tico throws out the jab.
Tico misses with a wild body shot.
Placide stuns Tico with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tico keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Placide throws the left hand but Tico avoids the punch easily.
Placide looks to land a combination. Tico sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Tico bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tico swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Placide waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tico.

Placide gets tackled into the cage by Tico. Tico maintains the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matthieu Placide dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matthieu Placide's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Placide bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Placide moves into range and connects with a jab.
Placide lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Placide slips under a jab from Tico.
Placide tries to bum rush Tico with a series of wild strikes but Tico uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tico throws a big shot that misses.
A swing and a miss from Tico.

Tico has closed the distance and engaged Placide in a clinch.
Tico scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Placide can't break the clinch.
Tico taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tico gets through Placide's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tico with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Come on Tico - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tico doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tico misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tico leaning against his opponent.
Tico throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Placide blocks it with crossed arms.
Placide working hard to break the clinch.
Tico just leaning against Placide, taking a breather.
Placide avoids a wild elbow strike from Tico.
Placide is trying to force a seperation but Tico has the dominant position.
Tico is stalling here.
A nice left hand lands by Tico.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Placide wants to break free but Tico has control.
Tico with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tico content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Placide's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Tico as the two fighters clinch.
Tico throws an elbow that misses.
Tico misses with a punch to the body.
Tico slowing the pace effectively.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The crowd are getting on Tico's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Tico.
Tico lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Tico breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tico slips a jab from Placide.
A jab from Tico misses.
Tico keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tico let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Placide missing with a left hand there. Tico was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A jab from Placide finds it's way through Tico's defenses.
Tico swings for the body but Placide moves out of range.
Placide scores with a shot to the body.
Placide ducks under a wild hook from Tico.
Tico misses with a body shot.
Placide checks a leg kick nicely.
Placide misses with a straight right.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tico. Placide does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Placide was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tico just misses with a punch to the body.
Placide slips a jab from Tico.
Tico takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Placide uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tico.
Placide misses with an uppercut. Tico saw that one coming.
Tico is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Placide.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Placide looks to land a left hand but Tico moved out of range nicely.
Placide scores with a nice right hand.
A telegraphed right hand from Tico misses the target.
Matthieu Placide seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab from Placide.
Placide looks to land a left hand but Tico moved out of range nicely.
Tico staying out of range there.
Tico keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Placide.
Tico looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Placide avoids the body shot from Tico.
Placide looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tico Tico.
I think Tico 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tico Tico!
In defeat, Matthieu Placide stepped up to the mic, saying 'Ce sont des conneries.'.