PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kaiden Thibodeaux (ranked 881 p4p, 1269 weight class) and Sonny Barella (ranked 66 p4p, 92 weight class). Thibodeaux comes to the cage accompanied by Scotty x D4L. Kaiden Thibodeaux could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Sonny Barella's chin.

Thibodeaux
vs
Barella

150 cm
34
140
18 - 10 - 0

167 cm
28
135
12 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kaiden Thibodeaux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sonny Barella!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barella looks to land a combination but Thibodeaux avoids it well.
Barella throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thibodeaux digs a good hook to Barella's body.
Barella throws a right and a left that Thibodeaux avoids nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Barella looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thibodeaux ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thibodeaux looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Barella misses with a double jab.
Barella with a poor takedown
and Thibodeaux counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sonny Barella seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barella tries to clinch up but Thibodeaux circles away and keeps his distance.
Thibodeaux swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Barella looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thibodeaux was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barella throws a head kick that misses
and Thibodeaux counters with a left to the body.
Barella tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thibodeaux was well out of range. Poor timing from Barella.
Barella lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Barella.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barella throws a lazy head kick
and Thibodeaux counters with a nice uppercut.
Barella connects with a single shot there.
Thibodeaux throws a shot from downtown. Barella moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Barella.
Thibodeaux swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Barella is defended easily by Thibodeaux.
Barella throws a sloppy head kick and Thibodeaux moves out of range easily.
A punch lands to the side of Barella 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Thibodeaux showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Barella.
Thibodeaux was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Barella moves into range and connects with a jab.
Barella misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux moves out of range of the body kick from Barella.
Barella staying out of range there.
Thibodeaux throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Barella stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Barella tries to bum rush Thibodeaux with a series of wild strikes but Thibodeaux uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kaiden Thibodeaux is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barella tries to move into range but Thibodeaux moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Barella misses with a looping left.
Barella fails with the takedown.
Kaiden Thibodeaux has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sonny Barella.
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 left lands for Thibodeaux.
Barella throws a head kick that misses.
Barella looks to score with a jab to the body but Thibodeaux is just out of range.
A quick step to the side and Thibodeaux tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Barella throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Thibodeaux was covering up waiting for the punch and Barella finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Barella drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Thibodeaux manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Barella has Thibodeaux in his guard.

Barella looking for a sweep. Not yet Barella, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barella looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Thibodeaux sitting in guard here, content to control.

Barella working for a triangle but Thibodeaux defends it easily.
Thibodeaux controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've been informed that Barella has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Thibodeaux avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Thibodeaux might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Thibodeaux trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Barella is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Thibodeaux is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sonny Barella will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Barella tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Barella with a poor takedown
and Thibodeaux counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Barella looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Barella misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A punch combination from Barella misses.
A punch combination from Barella misses.
Barella throws a combination. Thibodeaux tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Thibodeaux misses with an uppercut. Barella saw that one coming.
Thibodeaux tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Barella was well out of range. Poor timing from Thibodeaux.
Barella misses with a few strikes there.
Barella tries to bum rush Thibodeaux with a series of wild strikes but Thibodeaux uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thibodeaux was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Barella fails to land with a series of punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Barella closes the distance and clinches up with Thibodeaux, looking for a takedown. Barella pushes Thibodeaux against the cage but Thibodeaux circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kaiden Thibodeaux has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sonny Barella.
Barella is looking to clinch.
Barella is breathing heavily.
Barella throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barella throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Barella has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Barella misses with a double jab
and Thibodeaux counters with a straight right hand.
Good exchange - Thibodeaux coming out on top.
Thibodeaux scores with a crisp jab that stopped Barella in his tracks.
Barella misses with a series of wild punches.
Thibodeaux misses with a looping left.
Decent striking displayed by Thibodeaux there.
Thibodeaux works the jab nicely.
Thibodeaux changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Barella misses with a combination
letting Thibodeaux counter with a right hand.
Thibodeaux with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A combination from Barella does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barella shoots in looking for a takedown. Thibodeaux tries to sprawl out of it but Barella keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thibodeaux manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Barella misses with a low kick.
Barella shoots in looking for a takedown. Thibodeaux tries to sprawl out of it but Barella keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thibodeaux manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thibodeaux lands a nice looking body shot.
Barella throws a right and a left that both miss.
Barella fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thibodeaux lands the left hand.
Thibodeaux throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barella slips under a jab from Thibodeaux.
Barella tries to close the distance and clinch but Thibodeaux swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sonny Barella is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barella rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thibodeaux moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Barella misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barella misses with a low kick.
Thibodeaux is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Barella throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thibodeaux was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Barella throws an overhand right that lands on Thibodeaux's shoulder, as Thibodeaux tries to avoid the shot.
A counter left hand to the body from Thibodeaux misses its target.
Sonny Barella seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Barella throws a right and a left that Thibodeaux avoids nicely.
Barella misses with a hook. Thibodeaux ducked under it nicely.
A counter left hand to the body from Thibodeaux misses its target.
No joy there for Barella, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barella shoots in looking for a takedown but Thibodeaux manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Barella's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice straight punches there by Thibodeaux. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thibodeaux.
Barella avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Barella swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barella staying out of range there.
Barella swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Barella swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Barella takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thibodeaux with a hook.
Barella fails to land the takedown.
Thibodeaux blocks a head kick by Barella.
A quick step to the side and Thibodeaux tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thibodeaux lands a jab to the head.
The fighters circling - Thibodeaux throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And Barella tries to counter it with a takedown but Thibodeaux pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Barella throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Thibodeaux to counter with a crisp jab.
Thibodeaux scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Barella doesn't seem bothered though.
A jab from Thibodeaux does it's job there.
Thibodeaux lands a nice hook to Barella's body. Barella takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Thibodeaux avoids the head kick by Barella.
Barella misses with a combination
and Barella takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Thibodeaux, as that shot connected.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kaiden Thibodeaux dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Barella misses with a left hand
and Thibodeaux counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Barella falls off balance throwing a combination
and Thibodeaux counters with a nice uppercut.
Barella throws a head kick but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Barella.
Barella avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thibodeaux takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Barella looks to land a combination but Thibodeaux avoids it well.
Barella lands with a cross.
Good shot there by Thibodeaux.
Barella throws a combination that misses
and Thibodeaux counters with a stiff right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thibodeaux defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Barella.
Thibodeaux misses with an uppercut. Barella saw that one coming.
Barella takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thibodeaux with a nice cross.
Barella with a lazy takedown attempt
and Thibodeaux counters with a nice uppercut.

Barella is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux works the jab nicely.
Barella is still on wobbly legs! Can Thibodeaux finish him?
Today's fight clock is brought to you by... OOOH that's a huge shot by Thibodeaux! Barella is in big trouble here - the ref steps in to save him and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:08 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kaiden Thibodeaux!
Kaiden Thibodeaux bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.