PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Rossi (ranked 2579 p4p, 2145 weight class) and Pacome Thibodeaux (ranked 325 p4p, 287 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rossi
vs
Thibodeaux

176 cm
22
154
6 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
166
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

AVALON
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Conviction

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roberto Rossi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pacome Thibodeaux!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Steven Brown and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rossi drives through and clinches with Thibodeaux against the cage.
Thibodeaux takes a shot to the head.
Rossi struggles to land a body shot inside as Thibodeaux controls his hands.
Thibodeaux holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Rossi working aggressively here.
Thibodeaux blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thibodeaux is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Thibodeaux is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rossi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Thibodeaux backwards.
Thibodeaux trying to land knees to the body.
Rossi tries a body shot but Thibodeaux blocks it.
Rossi digs a right hand into Thibodeaux's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Thibodeaux's gas tank.
Rossi digs a right hand into Thibodeaux's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Thibodeaux's gas tank.
Rossi misses with the head strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rossi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thibodeaux can't break the clinch.
Thibodeaux working hard to break the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rossi.
Rossi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thibodeaux working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Thibodeaux has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rossi throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Rossi presses Thibodeaux against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Good body shot from Rossi.
Thibodeaux can't find room to land a body shot as Rossi controls the action.
Rossi is trying to pull guard but Thibodeaux turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Rossi jumps into guard, dragging Thibodeaux to the mat.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Thibodeaux stopping the sweep attempt from Rossi.
Thibodeaux really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rossi. 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.
Rossi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Thibodeaux preventing the sweep.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Thibodeaux throws a lazy right hand but Rossi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thibodeaux waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rossi.
Rossi cracks Thibodeaux with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Thibodeaux bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rossi's head.

It looks like Roberto Rossi has been cut.
Rossi lands a nice shot that snaps Thibodeaux's head back.
Rossi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thibodeaux.
Rossi is looking to counter the offense by Thibodeaux and move into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rossi dodges the punch combination from Thibodeaux.
Rossi moves out of range of the strikes.
Rossi checks a leg kick nicely.
Rossi connects with a looping right hand.
Thibodeaux throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rossi sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux throws a lazy right hand but Rossi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thibodeaux throws a body shot but no joy.
Good standup being displayed there by Thibodeaux as he connects with a hook.
Rossi loads up on a big right hand but Thibodeaux slips the punch.
Thibodeaux misses with the combination.
Thibodeaux ducks right into an uppercut from Rossi.
Thibodeaux throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A slow jab from Rossi misses its intended target.
Nice body punch from Rossi.
A solid leg kick lands there for Thibodeaux.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Thibodeaux lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Rossi has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Rossi and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rossi looks to score with a jab to the body but Thibodeaux is just out of range.
The fighters circling - Rossi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thibodeaux thows a left - swing and a miss!
As Thibodeaux tries to get set, Rossi tries to push him back and clinch up but Thibodeaux manages to avoid the attempt.
Rossi takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
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 low kick from Thibodeaux misses
and Rossi counters with a nice leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rossi. Thibodeaux does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux misses with an uppercut. Rossi saw that one coming.
Thibodeaux thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rossi connects with a looping right hand.
Thibodeaux blocks a jab.
Rossi throws a solid leg kick but Thibodeaux takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rossi.
Thibodeaux counters with a body kick.
Thibodeaux is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Thibodeaux moves out of range of the strikes.
Thibodeaux swats away the attempt to clinch by Rossi.
Nice defenses there by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Thibodeaux takes a swing at Rossi's ribcage but misses.
Rossi loads up on a big right hand but Thibodeaux slips the punch.
Rossi just misses with a punch to the body.
Rossi throws a lazy uppercut
and Rossi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rossi lands an overhand right.
A clash of legs there as Rossi blocks the low kick.
Thibodeaux throws an overhand right that lands on Rossi's shoulder, as Rossi tries to avoid the shot.
Rossi digs a good body shot into Thibodeaux's ribs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Rossi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roberto Rossi's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rossi dips to his left and cracks Thibodeaux with an uppercut!
Pacome Thibodeaux has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rossi misses with an uppercut

and Thibodeaux counters by moving into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Thibodeaux throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rossi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rossi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thibodeaux's elbow.
A shot in the inside from Rossi.
Thibodeaux scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Roberto Rossi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Thibodeaux prevents a body shot from Rossi.
Rossi throws a punch but it's blocked by Thibodeaux.
Rossi 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.
Thibodeaux tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rossi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Thibodeaux.
Rossi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Knees to the body from Thibodeaux.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Rossi.
Rossi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thibodeaux can do to turn this around?
Thibodeaux tries to circle away but Rossi has him pinned against the cage.
Rossi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rossi pushes Thibodeaux back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rossi avoiding damage as Thibodeaux throws knees to the body.
Thibodeaux trying to land knees to the body.
Rossi misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux landing knees to the head.
Rossi misses with a punch to the body.
Rossi has a couple of punches blocked by Thibodeaux.
Rossi misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short left from Rossi.
Thibodeaux tries a body shot but Rossi blocks it.
Rossi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Thibodeaux backwards.
Still in the clinch, Rossi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Thibodeaux goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rossi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thibodeaux misses with a hook from the clinch.

Rossi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thibodeaux throws a jab but it's blocked by Rossi.
Rossi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Thibodeaux stuns Rossi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Thibodeaux slips a straight right by Rossi.
Rossi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rossi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thibodeaux.
Rossi slips a straight right by Thibodeaux.
Rossi throws a hook but Thibodeaux blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thibodeaux moves away.
Rossi misses with a hook. Thibodeaux ducked under it nicely.
Rossi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Thibodeaux lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Thibodeaux checks a leg kick.
Thibodeaux scores with a nice strike.
Rossi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rossi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rossi looks to score with a jab to the body but Thibodeaux is just out of range.
We've been told by Rossi's head coaches at Hammer House of Horror that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Rossi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Thibodeaux in his tracks.
Thibodeaux missing with a left hand there. Rossi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thibodeaux blocks a leg kick.
Rossi staying out of range there.
Rossi wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Thibodeaux throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Thibodeaux throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thibodeaux throws a low kick, looking for Rossi's leg but Rossi calmly moves out of range.
Thibodeaux lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux walks into a jab.
A punch lands to the side of Rossi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Thibodeaux thows a left - swing and a miss!
Roberto Rossi is winning the standup battle so far.
Rossi throws a body punch but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
Thibodeaux looks to throw the jab but Rossi is out of range.
Rossi throws a jab when Thibodeaux was well out of range.
Thibodeaux lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rossi at a distance.
Rossi misses with a hook. Thibodeaux ducked under it nicely.

Rossi closes the distance and pushes Thibodeaux back into the cage.

Thibodeaux breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rossi lands a slapping body shot.
Rossi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rossi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Thibodeaux tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rossi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thibodeaux defending well as Rossi loads up on a big left hand.
Rossi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux throws a shot from downtown. Rossi moves away and avoids it.
Thibodeaux takes one to the chin there.
Rossi lands a nice hook to Thibodeaux's body. Thibodeaux takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Some bone on bone action there as Rossi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Thibodeaux lands with a shot to the body.
Thibodeaux scores with a body shot.
Rossi catches Thibodeaux with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A big left from Rossi misses.
Thibodeaux swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Rossi blocks a head kick by Thibodeaux.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rossi lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Thibodeaux has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Thibodeaux and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Rossi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux misses the jab.
That kick from Thibodeaux tenderised Rossi's leg. Rossi is trying to keep his angry face on.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rossi.
Thibodeaux walks into a jab.
Thibodeaux is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rossi.
As Thibodeaux tries to get set, Rossi tries to push him back and clinch up but Thibodeaux manages to avoid the attempt.
Rossi throws a hook but Thibodeaux blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Roberto Rossi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Roberto Rossi's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A telegraphed right hand from Thibodeaux misses the target.
A counter left hand to the body from Rossi misses its target.
Rossi is looking to slow Thibodeaux down with leg kicks.
Thibodeaux with the inside leg kick.
Rossi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thibodeaux.
Rossi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thibodeaux moves away.
Rossi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rossi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Thibodeaux's head.
Thibodeaux takes one to the side of the head.
Thibodeaux misses the shot to the body.
Rossi seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Thibodeaux keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rossi.
Thibodeaux looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
An inside leg kick from Thibodeaux misses.
Thibodeaux moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Thibodeaux throws a hook to the side of Rossi's head but Rossi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thibodeaux misses the shot to the body.
Thibodeaux misses with an uppercut. Rossi saw that one coming.
Thibodeaux throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rossi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thibodeaux throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
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!
Rossi misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rossi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thibodeaux was well out of range. Poor timing from Rossi.
A punch combination from Rossi misses.
Thibodeaux lands a jab to Rossi's midsection.
Rossi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rossi throws a lazy right hand but Thibodeaux sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thibodeaux throws a lazy right hand but Rossi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rossi was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A shot to the liver by Rossi. Beautiful body shot.
Thibodeaux takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rossi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Thibodeaux counters with a nice body shot.
Rossi misses with a lunging right hand
and Thibodeaux counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Thibodeaux takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rossi misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Thibodeaux.
Rossi shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Thibodeaux eats them both and turns towards Rossi to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thibodeaux misses the shot to the body.
Rossi was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Thibodeaux throws a jab when Rossi was well out of range.
Thibodeaux keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rossi.
Thibodeaux is looking to slow Rossi down with leg kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rossi misses with a looping left.

Rossi moves into the clinch.

Thibodeaux manages to break the clinch.
Rossi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rossi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Thibodeaux's head.
Thibodeaux slips a jab and a cross from Rossi.
Thibodeaux bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Thibodeaux swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thibodeaux keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thibodeaux missing with a left hand there. Rossi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rossi throws a looping overhand right but Thibodeaux ducks down to avoid it.
Rossi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Thibodeaux finds it's way round the side to connect with Rossi's head.

Roberto Rossi's cut is getting worse.
Thibodeaux takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Thibodeaux thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thibodeaux throws a looping overhand right but Rossi ducks down to avoid it.
Nice shot by Rossi.
Rossi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rossi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rossi lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Rossi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rossi lands a nice shot to the body.
Thibodeaux's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Thibodeaux looks to land a body kick but Rossi moved away.
Thibodeaux swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thibodeaux has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Thibodeaux there as he acknowledges the shot.
Thibodeaux throws a head kick but Rossi moves out of range.
Rossi slips a jab from Thibodeaux.
Rossi throws a body shot but no joy.
Rossi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Thibodeaux has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rossi scores with a shot to the body.
Rossi misses with an uppercut. Thibodeaux saw that one coming.
Rossi works Thibodeaux's body with 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!
Thibodeaux moves out of range of the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rossi is looking to slow Thibodeaux down with leg kicks.
Thibodeaux misses with a hook. Rossi ducked under it nicely.
Thibodeaux has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Rossi.
Rossi ducks right into an uppercut from Thibodeaux.
Rossi looks to score with a jab to the body but Thibodeaux is just out of range.
Rossi looks to throw the jab but Thibodeaux is out of range.
An inside leg kick from Rossi misses.
Thibodeaux ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rossi lands with a shot to the body.
Thibodeaux tries a head kick but it misses.
Rossi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rossi throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Thibodeaux slips a straight right by Rossi.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rossi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Thibodeaux counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thibodeaux throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rossi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rossi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Thibodeaux throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rossi is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Thibodeaux.

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 Roberto Rossi.
Well Rossi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roberto Rossi!