PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Grant Owens (ranked 5727 p4p, 2699 weight class) and Laurenz Thibodeaux (ranked 591 p4p, 373 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Owens
vs
Thibodeaux

185 cm
21
190
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
195
4 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Grant Owens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Laurenz Thibodeaux!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Atkins and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Owens throws a series of punches but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Owens.
Thibodeaux throws a big shot that misses.
It appears Owens was looking to counter with a kick there.
Owens takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Owens throws a head kick that misses
and Thibodeaux makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Owens is looking to score with low kicks.
Nice shot lands for Thibodeaux.
A clash of legs there as Thibodeaux blocks the low kick.
Thibodeaux looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Owens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Owens moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Owens fails to land with a series of punches.
A little jabbing left from Thibodeaux on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Owens throws a head kick but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
Owens buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thibodeaux shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Owens but Owens pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thibodeaux's jab looks to have found its range, popping Owens under the eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Thibodeaux! But no joy.
Thibodeaux keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Owens.
Owens connects with an inside leg kick.
Grant Owens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thibodeaux showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Owens.
Owens scores with a jab to the jaw.
Owens leaves Thibodeaux with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A jab from Owens misses.
Owens misses with a leg kick.
Owens delivers a nice body kick.
Owens misses with a hook. Thibodeaux ducked under it nicely.
Thibodeaux looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Thibodeaux closes the distance and clinches.
Thibodeaux can't find room to land a body shot as Owens controls the action.

Owens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Owens is predictable there
and Thibodeaux counters with a straight right hand.
A slapping body kick lands there for Owens.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Owens on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Thibodeaux shoots in looking for a takedown but Owens manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thibodeaux's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Owens throws a big counter combination but Thibodeaux scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Grant Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Laurenz Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux moves out of range of the body kick from Owens.
A nice side step and Thibodeaux releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Owens takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Owens wants to land a leg kick but Thibodeaux is out of range.
Thibodeaux checks a leg kick nicely.
Owens motions for Thibodeaux to come forward. Owens throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Owens avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thibodeaux takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Owens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thibodeaux shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Owens but Owens pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Owens tries to counter by clinching up but Thibodeaux breaks away and moves out of range.
Owens slips a jab and a cross from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux checks a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Owens.
Owens pivots, looking for a leg kick but Thibodeaux is out of range and Owens settles back down.
Owens misses with an attempted mid kick.
Owens 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.
Owens throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Thibodeaux's head.

It looks like Laurenz Thibodeaux has been cut.
Thibodeaux on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Owens. Owens obviously looking to wear him down.
Owens looks to land a body kick but Thibodeaux moved away.
Owens fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thibodeaux manages to avoid it.
Grant Owens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thibodeaux bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Owens rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

so Thibodeaux counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thibodeaux pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Owens is keeping the position for now.
Owens is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux gets full guard.
Thibodeaux looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thibodeaux is adopting a defensive guard.
Thibodeaux looking to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Owens dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Laurenz Thibodeaux's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Thibodeaux throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Owens stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Owens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thibodeaux is trying hard to land a takedown here. Owens sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A clash of legs there as Thibodeaux blocks the low kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Thibodeaux! But no joy.
Owens pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Owens tries to score with a low kick but Thibodeaux moves his leg out of the way.
Owens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thibodeaux can do to turn this around?
A slapping body kick lands there for Owens.
Grant Owens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Owens lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Thibodeaux avoids the head kick by Owens.
Thibodeaux throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Owens throws out a leg kick but Thibodeaux moves out of range and Owens only half commits.
Owens misses with a leg kick
and Thibodeaux counters with a nice uppercut.
A left lands for Owens.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice combination there by Owens.
Thibodeaux has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.

Thibodeaux clinches up against the cage.
Thibodeaux misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Owens breaks the clinch.
Owens works over Thibodeaux's head and body with a nice combination.
A good leg kick by Owens.
Owens takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Owens throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Thibodeaux counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Owens throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Thibodeaux unleashes a big counter combination but Owens bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Thibodeaux checks a leg kick nicely.
Owens moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Owens swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Thibodeaux.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Owens, as that shot connected.
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!
Owens throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Thibodeaux counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Owens throws a leg kick but Thibodeaux sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Owens throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Thibodeaux.
Owens swings for the body but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
Thibodeaux scores with a body shot.
Owens scores with a nice head shot.

Thibodeaux is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It's a brutal combination of punches from Owens! Thibodeaux is backing up but he can't get away as Owens lands with one final shot to the jaw that drops Thibodeaux and ends the fight. Great knockout.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:07 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Grant Owens!