PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sugar Ray Karter (ranked 2244 p4p, 1838 weight class) and Sauvage Thibodeaux (ranked 285 p4p, 237 weight class). Karter comes to the cage accompanied by My own worst enemy . Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Karter
vs
Thibodeaux

185 cm
22
190
6 - 2 - 1

180 cm
22
195
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Champion Apparel

Conviction

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 6 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sugar Ray Karter !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sauvage Thibodeaux!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thibodeaux moves out of range of the strikes.
A jab from Karter misses.
Karter sets himself, and Thibodeaux steps forward looking for the clinch! Karter avoids it this time.
Karter throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thibodeaux with the counter takedown but Karter avoids it easily.
Karter swings widly with a right hand

and Thibodeaux counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Karter can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Thibodeaux controls the pace.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Thibodeaux accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Thibodeaux has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karter is trying to control the position but Thibodeaux postures up.
Thibodeaux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Karter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Thibodeaux scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Karter knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thibodeaux on the ground.
Thibodeaux slips nicely into half guard.

Thibodeaux is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Karter doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Thibodeaux.
Karter tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Thibodeaux has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Karter tries to hold on but Thibodeaux postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thibodeaux is working for a guillotine from mount but Karter frees his head quite easily.
Thibodeaux postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Karter looks a forlorn figure.
The referee warns Karter that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Karter is wriggling around trying to escape.
Karter wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Thibodeaux.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thibodeaux landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux lands a nice shot to the head.
Thibodeaux avoids the attempt from Karter to control.
Thibodeaux connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Thibodeaux has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Karter 's face.
Thibodeaux trying to control but Karter is having none of it.
Karter on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Karter tries to get out of the position.
Thibodeaux lands a big shot there that rocks Karter but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Karter is working to get back to half guard.
Karter is bucking up trying to escape but Thibodeaux cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux with the ground and pound from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thibodeaux trying to control but Karter is having none of it.
Karter is looking to improve his position but Thibodeaux isn't that keen on the idea.
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!
Karter is squirming around, avoiding Thibodeaux's attempts to control the action.
Thibodeaux in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Thibodeaux has control of Karter 's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Karter regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Thibodeaux putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sauvage Thibodeaux dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A telegraphed right hand from Karter misses the target.
Thibodeaux is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Karter throws a hook but Thibodeaux blocks it.
Karter misses with a hook. Thibodeaux ducked under it nicely.
Thibodeaux steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Karter .
Karter throws a body shot but no joy.
Karter loads up on a big right hand but Thibodeaux slips the punch.

Thibodeaux dives in and scores a takedown into Karter 's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thibodeaux connects with a couple of short punches.
Thibodeaux working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thibodeaux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thibodeaux trying to control but Karter is working from the bottom.
Thibodeaux has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Karter is keeping the position for now.
Karter is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Thibodeaux landing some decent shots from guard.
Thibodeaux postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Karter tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Karter keeping moving, preventing Thibodeaux from controlling successfully.
Sauvage Thibodeaux has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Karter wants to sweep here but Thibodeaux controlling him for the moment.
Thibodeaux chips away with some ground and pound.
Thibodeaux connects with a couple of short punches.
Thibodeaux working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Karter keeping moving, preventing Thibodeaux from controlling successfully.
Thibodeaux sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Karter 's guard.
Thibodeaux is trying to control. Karter wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thibodeaux is looking to advance position but Karter won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Thibodeaux is looking for a kimura here.
Thibodeaux throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Thibodeaux is trying to work for a kimura but Karter is defending well.
Karter wants to control but Thibodeaux is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Thibodeaux thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Karter 's head.
Thibodeaux wants to pass the guard but Karter is defending well.
Thibodeaux sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Karter defending well though.
Karter taking some punishment here, with Thibodeaux in his half guard.
Karter is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ground and pound from Thibodeaux.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thibodeaux slips a nice elbow through Karter 's hands, connecting with Karter 's forehead.
Thibodeaux missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sauvage Thibodeaux showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Thibodeaux displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Karter throws out the jab.
Karter looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Karter throws a lazy right hand but Thibodeaux sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thibodeaux 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.
Karter lands a really nice looking cross but Thibodeaux seems unphased.
Karter misses with a hook.
Karter throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thibodeaux stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karter throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thibodeaux sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thibodeaux changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Karter tries to avoid it but Thibodeaux manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Karter to the ground. Karter escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Karter is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karter fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Thibodeaux on the side of the head.
Karter throws a jab but it's blocked by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux wants to counter with a clinch but Karter pushes him away.
Karter throws the left hand but Thibodeaux avoids the punch easily.
And Thibodeaux tries to counter it with a takedown but Karter pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Thibodeaux misses with a takedown attempt - Karter sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Karter throws a hook but Thibodeaux blocks it.
Karter with a hook.
Karter throws a jab but it's blocked by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Karter as Thibodeaux shoots in.
Sugar Ray Karter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sauvage Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux tries to clinch but Karter moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Karter throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Karter misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thibodeaux.
Sugar Ray Karter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Karter throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Thibodeaux decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Karter 's guard.
Thibodeaux sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Karter 's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karter trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux throwing shots but Karter is blocking nicely.

Thibodeaux is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Thibodeaux not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Thibodeaux is controlling the pace.
Thibodeaux wants to take a breather but Karter is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thibodeaux throws a strike but Karter avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Thibodeaux throws a big elbow that misses.

Thibodeaux thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Thibodeaux throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Karter works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thibodeaux pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Karter is keeping the position for now.

Thibodeaux drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thibodeaux jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sugar Ray Karter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thibodeaux content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sugar Ray Karter showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thibodeaux 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sauvage Thibodeaux!
A victorious Sauvage Thibodeaux thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.