PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcel Thibodeaux (ranked 1155 p4p, 1302 weight class) and Nikora Tama (ranked 140 p4p, 156 weight class). Tama has chosen Haka War Dance as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Thibodeaux
vs
Tama

194 cm
29
284
13 - 10 - 0

195 cm
25
255
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Wrestler Wayfare

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcel Thibodeaux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nikora Tama!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, William Peck and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thibodeaux misses with a straight right.
Tama shoots in looking for a takedown. Thibodeaux tries to sprawl out of it but Tama 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 tries a head kick but it misses.
Tama darts in looking for a takedown but Thibodeaux gets double underhooks and turns Tama into the cage.
Tama closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thibodeaux circles away.
Marcel Thibodeaux has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikora Tama.
Tama tries to clinch but Thibodeaux is having none of it.

Thibodeaux has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thibodeaux swings wildly with an uppercut but Tama uses good head movement to avoid it.

Tama pulls Thibodeaux into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tama controlling Thibodeaux's posture.
Tama wants to sweep here but Thibodeaux controlling him for the moment.

Tama had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Thibodeaux defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Tama is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Thibodeaux defends well.
Thibodeaux works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Thibodeaux controlling the pace.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tama is looking to improve his position.
Thibodeaux seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Thibodeaux knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tama on the ground.
Tama tries to roll over but Thibodeaux keeps him under control.
Thibodeaux seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Thibodeaux trying to mount his opponent but Tama defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tama tries to get to full guard but Thibodeaux has control of the leg.
Tama is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thibodeaux is controlling the pace.
Tama wants to control but Thibodeaux is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Tama wants to improve his position but Thibodeaux is controlling well.
Thibodeaux content to control rather than advance.
Tama wants to improve his position but Thibodeaux is controlling well.
Thibodeaux sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Thibodeaux's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tama is trying to get back to full guard.
Thibodeaux sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Tama wants to control but Thibodeaux is keeping busy.

Tama is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Thibodeaux pulls his head out easily.
Tama is staying active underneath Thibodeaux, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tama gets back to full guard.

Tama working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thibodeaux doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Thibodeaux manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thibodeaux controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Tama working for a triangle but Thibodeaux defends it easily.
Thibodeaux not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marcel Thibodeaux dominated that round.
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.

Tama throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tama closes the distance and clinches up with Thibodeaux, looking for a takedown. Tama pushes Thibodeaux against the cage but Thibodeaux circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tama shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thibodeaux defends it nicely.
Tama uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux throws a sloppy head kick and Tama moves out of range easily.
Tama fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tama fails with a takedown attempt.
Thibodeaux throws a quick counter head kick but Tama was just out of range.
Marcel Thibodeaux has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikora Tama.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tama fails with a takedown attempt.
Thibodeaux misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice sprawl there from Thibodeaux as Tama shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Thibodeaux is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tama can do to turn this around?
Thibodeaux throws a head kick but Tama moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Tama on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tama changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thibodeaux tries to avoid it but Tama manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thibodeaux to the ground. Thibodeaux escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thibodeaux keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Thibodeaux tries to keep at a distance but Tama has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tama stalling in the clinch but Thibodeaux improves position.
Tama is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Thibodeaux to keep the fight standing.
Thibodeaux misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thibodeaux pushes Tama back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thibodeaux prevents the takedown attempt.
Tama has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Thibodeaux after a bit of a struggle.
Tama has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Thibodeaux after a bit of a struggle.
Thibodeaux scores with a shoulder strike.
Tama throws an elbow that misses.
Thibodeaux trying to stall but Tama improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tama backwards.
Thibodeaux prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tama changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Thibodeaux fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Marcel Thibodeaux is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tama moves out of range of the strikes.
Thibodeaux fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tama manages to avoid it.
Tama tries to counter by closing the distance.

Thibodeaux drives through and clinches with Tama against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thibodeaux prevents a takedown attempt there.
A head punch on the inside from Thibodeaux fails to land.
Thibodeaux lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tama backwards.

It looks like Nikora Tama has been cut.
Thibodeaux lands a shoulder strike.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Thibodeaux lands a right hand.

Tama is rocked!
Thibodeaux misses with the head strike.
Thibodeaux scores with a nice hook to the head.
Tama is still on wobbly legs! Can Thibodeaux finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thibodeaux misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Thibodeaux fails to land.
Marcel Thibodeaux has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Thibodeaux misses with some punches.
Thibodeaux tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch on the inside from Thibodeaux fails to land.
Thibodeaux tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thibodeaux misses with a punch on the inside.
Thibodeaux working aggressively here.
Thibodeaux misses with some punches.
Thibodeaux misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thibodeaux misses with the head strike.
Tama blocking some punches.
Thibodeaux is leaning against Tama and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Tama seems to have recovered his senses.
Tama is breathing heavily.
Tama blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thibodeaux throws a big uppercut that drops Tama! More strikes from Thibodeaux and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Tama lies dazed against the cage as Thibodeaux celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Marcel Thibodeaux!
Marcel Thibodeaux seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.