PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Siphiwe Tshabalala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Douglas Maicon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Tshabalala
vs
Maicon

185 cm
18
150 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
152 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Los Diablos Rojos FightGear//$10 Apparel on Sale\\
Los Diablos Rojos FightGear//$10 Apparel on Sale\\

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Siphiwe Tshabalala!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Douglas Maicon!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tshabalala shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Tshabalala was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maicon is wriggling around trying to escape.
Maicon tries to improve his position but instead Tshabalala has taken his back!
Tshabalala is trying to stick to Maicon's back but Maicon is turning into Tshabalala. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Tshabalala's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Maicon.

Tshabalala throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tshabalala really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Tshabalala looking for a sweep. Not yet Tshabalala, not yet.
Tshabalala will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Maicon stands up from Tshabalala's guard - Maicon perhaps looking for a knockout.
Maicon moves out of range of the body kick from Tshabalala.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maicon misses with a takedown

and Tshabalala counters with a single leg into guard. Maicon didn't expect that.
Tshabalala is breathing heavily.
Tshabalala tries to free his leg and advance position but Maicon is retaining full guard.
Tshabalala won't allow Maicon to get back to his feet.
Tshabalala controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Tshabalala throws a big right hand that misses.
Tshabalala controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tshabalala throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maicon trying to control the position.

Tshabalala drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tshabalala jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Tshabalala decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Maicon, up you get!
Maicon throws a lazy head kick

and Tshabalala counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tshabalala.
Maicon trying to control the position.
Tshabalala trying to control but Maicon is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maicon is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Tshabalala stands and steps away. Maicon gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Tshabalala stuns Maicon with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tshabalala showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maicon.

Tshabalala looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Maicon!
Tshabalala looking to control but Maicon is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Siphiwe Tshabalala dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tshabalala clinches up with Maicon and pushes him back against the cage.
Maicon jumps guard but Tshabalala stands there with Maicon around his waist. Maicon gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tshabalala prevents the takedown attempt.
Maicon pushes Tshabalala back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Tshabalala gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Maicon is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tshabalala tries to free his leg and advance position but Maicon is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tshabalala is stalling in the full guard.
Tshabalala trying to control the position from guard on top but Maicon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tshabalala would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Maicon is trying to keep Tshabalala in close.
Maicon is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tshabalala would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Maicon looks to clinch

and Tshabalala counters with a single leg into guard. Maicon didn't expect that.
Tshabalala stopping the sweep attempt from Maicon.
Maicon looking to control.
Tshabalala stops Maicon from standing up.

Tshabalala is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Maicon being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala wants to pass the guard but Maicon is keeping the position.
Maicon not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tshabalala takes a decent strike to the side of the head.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Maicon tries to clinch but Tshabalala moves away

and Tshabalala counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Maicon taking some punishment here, with Tshabalala in his half guard.
Tshabalala stops Maicon from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala moves into full mount! Maicon won't be happy about that!
Tshabalala controlling the position easily from mount.
Maicon is working to get back to half guard.
Maicon is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tshabalala controlling his opponent.
Maicon tries to improve his position but instead Tshabalala has taken his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tshabalala darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Tshabalala trying to control the pace.
Tshabalala thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maicon's head.

Tshabalala decides to stand up.
Nice shot by Maicon.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maicon looks to clinch

and Tshabalala counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maicon is trying to keep Tshabalala in close.
Tshabalala throwing strikes from guard but Maicon blocks nicely.
Tshabalala tries to stand but Maicon is controlling from the bottom.
Maicon trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Tshabalala decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Maicon scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Tshabalala parries the strikes from Maicon easily there. Maicon is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Tshabalala to escape.
Tshabalala avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Maicon.
Tshabalala manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Tshabalala is trying to control but can't.
Tshabalala preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maicon passes into side control, despite Tshabalala's attempt to control the position.
Tshabalala tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Maicon presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Tshabalala swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Maicon fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Tshabalala can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Maicon tries to control but Tshabalala wriggling away.
Maicon content just to control the position here.
Siphiwe Tshabalala overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tshabalala slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Maicon tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tshabalala knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tshabalala gets full guard.
Tshabalala is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Siphiwe Tshabalala clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tshabalala misses with a body kick.
Maicon has his takedown stuffed

and Tshabalala counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Maicon's guard now.
Tshabalala is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tshabalala is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maicon can do to turn this around?
Maicon trying to keep a closed guard but Tshabalala is proving a slippery customer.
Tshabalala is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tshabalala trying to control but Maicon is working from the bottom.
Tshabalala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maicon is keeping the position for now.
Maicon working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tshabalala misses with a body shot.

That's two 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.
Tshabalala throws a lazy head kick

and Maicon counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Maicon.
Maicon scores with a knee to the head.
Tshabalala keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maicon's efforts to push away.
Tshabalala drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Maicon gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tshabalala tries to pull guard but Maicon holds him up against the cage and eventually Tshabalala drops back down to his feet.

Maicon manages to break the clinch.
Tshabalala fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Siphiwe Tshabalala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maicon misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maicon gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Tshabalala counters with a shoot takedown. Maicon fights it but they end up in guard.
Maicon trying to control the position.
Maicon wants to stand and escape but Tshabalala is having none of it.
Tshabalala postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Maicon looking for a sweep. Not yet Maicon, not yet.
Maicon trying to keep a closed guard but Tshabalala is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala is stalling in the full guard.
Tshabalala working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Tshabalala shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Maicon manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Maicon isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Tshabalala stacks Maicon on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Tshabalala!
Maicon is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Siphiwe Tshabalala had his way with Douglas Maicon in 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. This is the final round!

Maicon scores with a head kick.

Tshabalala gets the takedown into side control.
Tshabalala working the ground and pound.
Maicon is looking for a sweep.
Tshabalala landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Tshabalala tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tshabalala has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Maicon is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Tshabalala asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maicon being controlled for a moment.

Tshabalala wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Maicon, who protects the arm well.
Maicon gets back to half guard.

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.
Tshabalala stalling.
Maicon is trying to stand back up but Tshabalala is controlling him
Tshabalala controlling the action here.
Maicon wants to sweep but Tshabalala has passed to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maicon seems a little lost for a moment, as Tshabalala dominates the positioning.
Maicon struggling a bit here.
Maicon is trying to get back to half guard.
Maicon tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Maicon is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maicon taking shots to the head.
Maicon is looking to get to half guard.
Maicon taking shots to the head.
Tshabalala postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Maicon looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tshabalala controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Siphiwe Tshabalala showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tshabalala, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 50:45
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 50:45
Judge James Glass scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Siphiwe Tshabalala!
Siphiwe Tshabalala retains his lightweight title!