PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nate Pawn (ranked 4571 p4p, 4502 weight class) and Rei Thao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Pawn
vs
Thao

172 cm
18
157
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nate Pawn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rei Thao!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Dmitry Maklakov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thao with a poor takedown
and Pawn counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thao ducks under a wild hook from Pawn.

Thao moves into the clinch.
Pawn digs a right hand underneath Thao's ribcage. Thao let out a lung full of air as it connected.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Pawn takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Pawn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thao throws a sloppy head kick
and Pawn counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pawn swats away the attempt to clinch by Thao.
Thao misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pawn is looking to counter punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thao gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Thao darts in trying to clinch
letting Pawn counter with a right hand.

Thao throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pawn tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Thao is in Pawn's guard.
Pawn wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Thao manages to pass to side control.

Pawn pushes Thao off looking to stand but Thao dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thao is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pawn sees it coming and defends easily.

Pawn kicks Thao off and gets back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pawn keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Pawn was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Nate Pawn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rei Thao.
Pawn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thao manages to avoid it.

Thao looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Pawn!

Pawn throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rei Thao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pawn showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thao.

Thao changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pawn looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Thao looks winded!
Pawn is pushing Thao's head away, looking to escape. Thao manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thao stands up.
Pawn takes a swing at Thao's ribcage but misses.
Thao doesn't manage to clinch there - Pawn circles away.
Pawn with a hook.
Thao gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Thao clinches.
Pawn lands a body punch.
Thao throws an elbow that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nate Pawn dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thao throws the kick towards the body but Pawn avoids it.
Thao tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pawn swivels and escapes.
Pawn digs a good body shot into Thao's ribs.
Thao doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pawn cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pawn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thao can do to turn this around?
A big right from Thao misses.
Thao has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pawn finds it's way round the side to connect with Thao's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Thao with that takedown attempt.
Nate Pawn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rei Thao.
Thao is breathing heavily.
Thao tries for a takedown but Pawn circles away easily
and Pawn counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nate Pawn is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Pawn.
Thao misses with a wild body shot.
Pawn uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thao.
And Pawn counters with a quick kick to the body but Thao blocks it.

Pawn feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Thao sprawling to the canvas! Thao rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Pawn finish him?!

Thao is rocked!
Thao walks into a picture perfect straight right hand from Pawn! He's gone down face first to the canvas, unconscious before he even hit the floor! Ohhhh. My. Goodness! That boys and girls was a beautiful knockout! Give that man a biscuit!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Nate Pawn!