PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Darius Thibodeaux (ranked 1770 p4p, 1631 weight class) and Pablo Gaspar (ranked 226 p4p, 208 weight class). Gaspar is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Narco. This should be a great matchup!

Thibodeaux
vs
Gaspar

188 cm
29
207
12 - 7 - 0

190 cm
27
215
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Champion Apparel
Wrestler Wayfare

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darius Thibodeaux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pablo Gaspar!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gaspar rushes Thibodeaux and presses him up against the cage.
Gaspar working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Thibodeaux misses with a body punch.
Thibodeaux trying to land knees to the body.
Gaspar prevents Thibodeaux from breaking the clinch.
Thibodeaux scores with a shoulder strike.
Gaspar working some nice short punches in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thibodeaux.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Our sources have told us that Thibodeaux has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.

Gaspar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Gaspar gets a clinch.
Gaspar dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Thibodeaux tries to land a knee to the head but Gaspar blocks with his arms.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Thibodeaux.

Gaspar escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thibodeaux takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
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!
Thibodeaux keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gaspar closes the distance and pushes Thibodeaux back into the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thibodeaux.
A right handed body shot lands from Gaspar.
Thibodeaux with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Pablo Gaspar has been cut.
Thibodeaux lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gaspar swings wildly with an uppercut but Thibodeaux uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thibodeaux misses with a body punch.
Gaspar avoiding damage as Thibodeaux throws knees to the body.
Thibodeaux throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gaspar can't find room to land a body shot as Thibodeaux controls the action.
Gaspar misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thibodeaux tries a knee to the head but Gaspar blocks it.
Gaspar can't get the takedown.
Thibodeaux missing with knees to the body.
Thibodeaux's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Gaspar blocking some punches.
Gaspar lands with a left to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gaspar manages to break the clinch.
Thibodeaux avoids the head kick by Gaspar.
Thibodeaux swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gaspar takes the fight into the clinch.
Gaspar working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gaspar lands with a light punch inside.
Thibodeaux lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gaspar is struggling to control the position.
Gaspar lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thibodeaux lands a left hand.
Thibodeaux working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Thibodeaux breaks from the clinch.
Thibodeaux circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thibodeaux throwing a counter right hand but Gaspar manages to avoid it.
Gaspar moves to clinch but Thibodeaux breaks away
and Thibodeaux counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gaspar gets a clinch.
Gaspar lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Thibodeaux with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A short left from Gaspar.
Thibodeaux lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gaspar backwards.
Thibodeaux misses with a hook to the ribs.
Thibodeaux is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gaspar is trying to pull guard but Thibodeaux turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Thibodeaux's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch on the inside from Thibodeaux fails to land.
Gaspar throws a punch but it's blocked by Thibodeaux.
Still in the clinch, Thibodeaux scores with a nice short uppercut.
Thibodeaux missing with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Thibodeaux.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux misses with the head strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Thibodeaux pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thibodeaux ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gaspar moves away.
Gaspar moves out of range of the strikes.

Gaspar gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gaspar looking to stall.
Gaspar pushes Thibodeaux back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gaspar misses with some punches.
Thibodeaux trying to land knees to the body.
Gaspar scores with a nice hook to the head.
Thibodeaux misses with the head strike.
Gaspar lands a left hand.
Gaspar doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gaspar swings wildly with an uppercut but Thibodeaux uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gaspar throws an elbow that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pablo Gaspar will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pablo Gaspar's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thibodeaux throws a body shot but no joy.
Darius Thibodeaux has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gaspar is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thibodeaux swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gaspar misses with a jab, cross combination.
Thibodeaux was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Thibodeaux circles away from the clinch attempt.

Gaspar instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thibodeaux's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short left from Gaspar.

Gaspar breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pablo Gaspar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thibodeaux ducks under a wild hook from Gaspar.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gaspar looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Thibodeaux is looking to counter punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gaspar has managed to clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thibodeaux.
Gaspar wants to stall.
Thibodeaux scores with a nice hook to the head.
Thibodeaux misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gaspar.
A shot in the inside from Gaspar.
Gaspar is trying to stall.
Thibodeaux trying to land knees to the body.
Gaspar has Thibodeaux pressed against the cage, preventing Thibodeaux from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thibodeaux throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Gaspar softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thibodeaux creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaspar lands with a right to the head.
Gaspar lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Thibodeaux backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gaspar.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Thibodeaux creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gaspar lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gaspar lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thibodeaux or not.
Thibodeaux swings wildly with an uppercut but Gaspar uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gaspar.
A short left from Gaspar.
Gaspar struggles to land a body shot inside as Thibodeaux controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Gaspar fails to land.
Gaspar presses Thibodeaux against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Gaspar throws a head punch that misses.
Thibodeaux lands a nice knee to the body.
Thibodeaux lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Thibodeaux misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaspar blocks an uppercut.
Gaspar managing to block the knees to the body from Thibodeaux.
Gaspar misses with a punch to the body.

Gaspar breaks from the clinch.
Gaspar misses with a left hand
and Thibodeaux counters with a nice uppercut.
Gaspar stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gaspar throws a series of strikes that have Thibodeaux backpedaling.
Gaspar has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
No joy there for Gaspar, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thibodeaux is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gaspar.

Gaspar pushes Thibodeaux up against the cage in a clinch.
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!
Thibodeaux blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaspar is pushing Thibodeaux up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A nice left hand lands by Thibodeaux.
Gaspar has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gaspar blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thibodeaux lands a shoulder strike.
Thibodeaux tries to land knees in the clinch but Gaspar avoids the damage to the body.
A short uppercut from Gaspar.
Gaspar looking to slow down the pace here.
Thibodeaux tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gaspar can't find room to land a body shot as Thibodeaux controls the action.
Thibodeaux tries to land knees in the clinch but Gaspar avoids the damage to the body.
Gaspar lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Thibodeaux backwards.
Thibodeaux scores with a shoulder strike.
Gaspar avoiding damage as Thibodeaux throws knees to the body.
Thibodeaux misses with a knee strike.
Gaspar misses with a punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Gaspar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pablo Gaspar's cut.
That's time! Thibodeaux's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Thibodeaux circles away from the clinch attempt
and Thibodeaux counters with a right hand to the body.
Gaspar throws a lazy body kick
and Thibodeaux counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Thibodeaux misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gaspar.
Gaspar is looking to clinch but Thibodeaux is avoiding it.
It looked like Thibodeaux wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaspar looks to land a left hand but Thibodeaux moved out of range nicely.
Gaspar moves in looking to clinch but Thibodeaux pushes him off.

Gaspar clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thibodeaux misses with a body punch.
Gaspar misses with a punch to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gaspar.

Gaspar manages to break the clinch.

Gaspar has closed the distance and engaged Thibodeaux in a clinch.
Thibodeaux misses with a knee to the head.

Thibodeaux escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Gaspar rushes Thibodeaux and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thibodeaux is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gaspar is defending well for now.
Gaspar blocking some punches.

Gaspar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gaspar misses with a body kick.
A little feinted left hand from Thibodeaux on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Pablo Gaspar seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thibodeaux with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gaspar clinches with his opponent.
Thibodeaux lands a left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thibodeaux lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That has opened up Pablo Gaspar's cut even more.
Gaspar tries a body shot but Thibodeaux blocks it.
Gaspar tries to pull guard but Thibodeaux forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Thibodeaux blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Thibodeaux misses with a punch to the body.
Thibodeaux throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thibodeaux wants to get back to striking at distance but Gaspar won't allow it.
Gaspar tries to work over Thibodeaux's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gaspar is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gaspar.
Thibodeaux softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short left from Gaspar.
A nice left hand lands by Gaspar.
Thibodeaux misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux is trying to break the clinch but Gaspar is controlling him.

Thibodeaux manages to break the clinch.
Gaspar misses with a double jab
and Gaspar takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Gaspar closes the distance and clinches.
Thibodeaux goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Thibodeaux misses with a shot to the kidneys.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gaspar creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Gaspar makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Thibodeaux throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gaspar blocks it with crossed arms.
Thibodeaux goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gaspar prevents a body shot from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux misses with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thibodeaux.
Gaspar lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Thibodeaux backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gaspar managing to block the knees to the body from Thibodeaux.

Thibodeaux breaks the clinch.
Gaspar tries to clinch there but Thibodeaux circles away.

Gaspar drives through and clinches with Thibodeaux against the cage.
Thibodeaux scores with a knee to the head.

The cut above Pablo Gaspar's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thibodeaux lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gaspar backwards.
Gaspar misses with a punch on the inside.
Pablo Gaspar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gaspar misses with a body punch.
Thibodeaux goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Thibodeaux breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gaspar moves to clinch but Thibodeaux breaks away
and Thibodeaux counters with a nice uppercut.

Gaspar rushes Thibodeaux and presses him up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Darius Thibodeaux.
I think Gaspar 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Gaspar!