PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kwame Nti (ranked 118 p4p, 332 weight class) and Dakota Thibodeaux Jr. (ranked 19 p4p, 43 weight class). Thibodeaux Jr. is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Rags2Riches. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Nti
vs
Thibodeaux Jr.

172 cm
37
220
36 - 22 - 1

191 cm
29
207
26 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)
NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 36 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Kwame Nti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dakota Thibodeaux Jr.!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Seu Braga and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nti lands with a cross.
Thibodeaux Jr. throws a leg kick that is checked
and Nti counters with a nice uppercut.
Thibodeaux Jr. waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nti.
Nti swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Thibodeaux Jr. misses with a lunging right hand
and Nti counters with a one-two to the body.
Nti avoids a kick to the body.
Nti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thibodeaux Jr. throws a head kick that misses
and Nti cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nti lands a right hook to the body.
Thibodeaux Jr. has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Nti closes the distance and clinches up with Thibodeaux Jr., looking for a takedown. Nti pushes Thibodeaux Jr. against the cage but Thibodeaux Jr. circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Thibodeaux Jr. scores with a hook.
Nti fails with a takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good standup being displayed there by Nti as he connects with a hook.
Thibodeaux Jr. throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nti with a nice cross.
Nti is looking to clinch but Thibodeaux Jr. is avoiding it.
Thibodeaux Jr. throws a hook but Nti avoids it easily.
Nti moves out of range of the strikes.
Nti takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Thibodeaux Jr. swings for the body but Nti moves out of range.
Nti swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Thibodeaux Jr. gets caught napping as Nti dives in and scores a takedown. Thibodeaux Jr. manages to retain guard.
Thibodeaux Jr. wants to get back to his feet but Nti passes into half guard.

Thibodeaux Jr. keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Nti content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux Jr. is trying to maintain the position but Nti is very close to passing his half guard.
Nti prevents Thibodeaux Jr. from improving his position.
Nti is thwarting Thibodeaux Jr.'s attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nti with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Thibodeaux Jr. trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Nti looking to control and managing it successfully.
Nti has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Nti prevents Thibodeaux Jr. from getting the reversal.
Nti controlling his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thibodeaux Jr. is looking to get to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kwame Nti dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nti takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Dakota Thibodeaux Jr. seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thibodeaux Jr. throws a shot from downtown. Nti moves away and avoids it.
Thibodeaux Jr. takes a swing at Nti's ribcage but misses.
Nti attempts a counter takedown but Thibodeaux Jr. avoids it well and moves away.
Thibodeaux Jr. throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Nti counters with a shoot takedown. Thibodeaux Jr. fights it but they end up in guard.
Thibodeaux Jr. wants to sweep but no luck.
Nti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thibodeaux Jr. can do to turn this around?
Nti content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nti seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Thibodeaux Jr. for as long as he can get away with.
Thibodeaux Jr. wants to sweep but no luck.
Nti showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two 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 Jr. misses with a kick to the body.
Nti looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Thibodeaux Jr. throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Nti counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nti steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thibodeaux Jr..
Nti swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Nti moves out of range as Thibodeaux Jr. throws a body kick.
Nti swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Thibodeaux Jr. tries to land a front kick but Nti steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Thibodeaux Jr. throws a leg kick

and Nti counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Thibodeaux Jr.!
Nti content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nti working away.
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 Jr. is looking for a sweep.
Nti remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Thibodeaux Jr. missing with a left hand there. Nti was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Nti swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A low kick from Thibodeaux Jr. is predictable there

and Nti counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thibodeaux Jr. won't be happy with that.
Kwame Nti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux Jr. seems a little lost for a moment, as Nti dominates the positioning.
Thibodeaux Jr. is trying to improve his position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thibodeaux Jr. is looking for a sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kwame Nti dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Thibodeaux Jr. throws a leg kick that is checked

and Nti counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thibodeaux Jr. won't be happy with that.
Dakota Thibodeaux Jr. has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nti controlling from side mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nti continues to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux Jr. is trying to get back to his feet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Thibodeaux Jr. throws a leg kick

and Nti counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nti not doing much here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thibodeaux Jr. is looking to escape.
Kwame Nti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nti trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux Jr. is trying to get back to full guard.
Nti wants to free his trapped foot but Thibodeaux Jr. is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.
Nti keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Thibodeaux Jr..
Thibodeaux Jr. misses with a lunging right hand
and Nti connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Thibodeaux Jr. misses with a body kick.
Nice defenses there by Nti.

Nti shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Thibodeaux Jr. is trying to defend but Nti finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Nti stalling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thibodeaux Jr. throws a strike from the bottom but Nti passes into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kwame Nti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nti 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kwame Nti!
A relieved looking Kwame Nti thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.