PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kennedy Calaway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Thiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Calaway comes into the arena with Click Click Boom - Saliva blaring out of the sound system. Thiago has chosen I made it as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Calaway
vs
Thiago

180 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
170 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kennedy Calaway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antonio Thiago!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thiago throws a right and a left that both miss.

Calaway clinches up with Thiago and pushes him back against the cage.
Thiago prevents the takedown attempt.
Calaway stalls.
Thiago prevents the takedown attempt.
Calaway misses with a hook to the ribs.
Calaway pushes off an throws an elbow but Thiago leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Thiago can't get the takedown.
Calaway tries for a takedown but Thiago manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kennedy Calaway. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thiago can't get the takedown.

Calaway turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Calaway manages to end up in side control.
Calaway wants to control but Thiago is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago is trying to get back to his feet.
Calaway has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Thiago!
Calaway trying to control but Thiago is having none of it.
Thiago flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Thiago is trying to stand.
Thiago really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Calaway tries to control but Thiago wriggling away.
Calaway controlling from mount.
Thiago is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Thiago looks gassed!
Calaway looking to control and managing it successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Calaway looking to control but Thiago is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Thiago wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Calaway tries to control but Thiago wriggling away.
Calaway controlling from the full mount.
Calaway with the ground and pound from mount.
Calaway tries to control but Thiago wriggling away.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kennedy Calaway just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Thiago misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago misses with a few strikes there.

Calaway closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Thiago to the mat! Thiago manages to get full guard.
Calaway connects with a couple of short punches.

Calaway stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Calaway throws a low kick but Thiago avoids it.
Calaway wants to clinch up but Thiago keeps it at a distance.
Calaway throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Calaway is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Thiago's half guard.
Thiago wants to get back to his feet.
Calaway drops an elbow to the side of Thiago's head.
Thiago is trying to stand up here but Calaway is controlling him well.
Calaway takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calaway stops Thiago from getting back to his feet.
Thiago is refusing to be controlled, as Calaway sits in half guard.
Thiago looks like he's trying to stand up.
Calaway is looking to take a break and control but Thiago is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Calaway tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thiago throws a head kick but Calaway moves out of range.

Calaway clinches up against the cage.
Thiago wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thiago tries to break the clinch but Calaway is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kennedy Calaway dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Calaway misses with a wild combination.
Thiago misses with a takedown

and Calaway counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thiago's guard now.
Calaway wants to control from the top but Thiago keeps moving.

Thiago is working an open guard so Calaway takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Calaway darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Thiago tries to kick Calaway off but Calaway keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Thiago tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Calaway manages to move to mount!
Calaway controlling the pace for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Calaway has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Thiago's face.
Thiago squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Calaway tries to control but Thiago wriggling away.
Thiago is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Thiago flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Calaway tries to control but Thiago wriggling away.
Calaway controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Thiago is trying to stand up.
Calaway lands a heavy elbow.

Thiago bucks up and throws Calaway to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Thiago throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Calaway counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Thiago kicks Calaway off and gets back to his feet.
Calaway lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Calaway.
Thiago looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Thiago darts in trying to clinch

and Calaway counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago wants to stand but Calaway is controlling the position.

Calaway gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Thiago tries for a takedown but Calaway circles away easily

and Calaway counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Calaway works his way into full mount!
Calaway controlling from the full mount.
Thiago wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Thiago can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thiago bucks up and throws Calaway to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Calaway throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thiago.
Thiago closes the distance but Calaway moves to the side

and Calaway counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thiago wants to get back to full guard.
Kennedy Calaway overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Thiago has one foot on Calaway's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Kennedy Calaway seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Calaway instigates a clinch.
Calaway fails to pull the fight into his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Calaway misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thiago.

Thiago pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Calaway shoots in for a double leg but Thiago sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kennedy Calaway dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Calaway avoids a punch combination nicely.
Thiago throws a lazy head kick

and Calaway counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Calaway.
Thiago tries to strike from the bottom.
Calaway is standing up over Thiago. Thiago looks to escape but Calaway dives into side control.
Thiago is trying to get back to his feet.
Calaway cracks Thiago with a big elbow.
Calaway is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Thiago's shoulder. That is not cool.
Thiago is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Calaway asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Thiago is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Calaway lands some shots froms side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago trying to remain calm as Calaway controls from the top position.
Thiago is trying to buck Calaway off.
Thiago wants to get back to his feet but Calaway is dominant here and he's now got Thiago's back!
Calaway just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Thiago is trying to get back to his feet but Calaway has full control of the position and if anything, Thiago has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Thiago fending off the submission attempt from Calaway.
Thiago is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Calaway trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's two 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.
Calaway is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Thiago looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Thiago staying busy and making it hard for Calaway to control.
Thiago wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thiago is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Calaway off. It looks like it's working - Calaway slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Thiago displaying calm under pressure there.
Calaway shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Calaway goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Thiago tries to close the distance and clinch up but Calaway swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Calaway wants to clinch
and Thiago cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thiago circles away from the clinch attempt.
A swing and a miss from Thiago.
Calaway tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Calaway drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thiago trying to strike off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thiago has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Calaway off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The fight stays on the outside here - Calaway looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Calaway looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Calaway tries to clinch up
and Thiago counters with a three punch combo that has Calaway backing up. Calaway nods at Thiago to acknowledge the strikes.
Antonio Thiago has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thiago fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Calaway changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thiago looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Thiago throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Kennedy Calaway is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Calaway slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Thiago.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kennedy Calaway showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Calaway, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kennedy Calaway!