PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nicholas Thibeau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Theodore Knotts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thibeau kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Amazing - Kanye West . I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Thibeau
vs
Knotts

169 cm
22
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

150 cm
22
130 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Jerusalem Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nicholas Thibeau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Theodore Knotts!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Steve Montenegro and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knotts tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Thibeau swivels and escapes.

Knotts looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Thibeau tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Knotts stops Thibeau from standing up.
Knotts landing some decent shots from guard.
Knotts wants to pass the guard but Thibeau is keeping the position.
Knotts trying to control the position from guard on top but Thibeau is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thibeau avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Knotts shoots in and drives through. Thibeau sprawls well.
Thibeau connects with the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knotts shoots in looking for a takedown. Thibeau tries to sprawl out of it but Knotts keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thibeau manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nicholas Thibeau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theodore Knotts.
Thibeau fails to land with a series of punches.
Nicholas Thibeau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thibeau throws a wild body kick that Knotts sees coming a mile off.
Knotts shoots for a takedown but Thibeau saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Thibeau throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Thibeau will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Thibeau lands with a cross.
Knotts shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nicholas Thibeau is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thibeau tries to clinch up but Knotts circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Knotts throws a right hand that misses
and Thibeau counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Thibeau throws a one two combo.

It looks like Theodore Knotts has been cut.
Thibeau throws a combination. Knotts tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Thibeau tests Knotts's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Thibeau tries to bum rush Knotts with a series of wild strikes but Knotts uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thibeau tries to clinch but Knotts moves out of range.
Thibeau thows a body shot but no joy.
Knotts takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Knotts shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Knotts controlling from the top position.
Knotts stops Thibeau from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knotts lands a couple of elbows.
Thibeau working a defensive guard here.
Knotts stands and throws Thibeau's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Knotts looks up at the clock and then as Thibeau takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Knotts smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knotts works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Knotts in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Knotts has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thibeau is breathing heavily.
Thibeau takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Thibeau is working to avoid the ground and pound but Knotts connects with a decent elbow.

Knotts tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Knotts has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Thibeau takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Thibeau stops Knotts from passing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Thibeau's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Knotts in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Knotts working the ground and pound.

Knotts wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Thibeau, who protects the arm well.
Thibeau parries the strikes from Knotts easily there. Knotts is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Thibeau to escape.
Thibeau struggling a bit here.
Knotts works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Knotts tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Knotts sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Thibeau is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Theodore Knotts will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Theodore Knotts's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thibeau lands a with a good body shot.
Thibeau misses with a few strikes there.
Nicholas Thibeau is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thibeau swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Knotts has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Knotts there as he acknowledges the shot.
Knotts takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Thibeau fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thibeau lands a two punch combo.
Thibeau scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Knotts doesn't seem bothered though.
Knotts circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thibeau clobbers Knotts with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Thibeau is looking to clinch.
Thibeau swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Thibeau scores with a nice strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Knotts with that takedown attempt.

Knotts changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thibeau looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Knotts works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Thibeau is not content to let Knotts control the position.
Knotts is chipping away with strikes.
Knotts cracks Thibeau with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Knotts working the ground and pound.
Knotts wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thibeau keeps working.
Knotts working the ground and pound.
Knotts working the ground and pound.
Knotts trying to control the action but Thibeau is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibeau wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Knotts has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Thibeau!
Knotts can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Thibeau is looking to escape.
Knotts scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Knotts looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Knotts controlling from mount.
Knotts landing strikes from the mount and Thibeau is in trouble!

Knotts has hold of Thibeau's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Thibeau manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Thibeau regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibeau is trying to stand back up but Knotts is controlling him
Thibeau is trying to maintain the position but Knotts is very close to passing his half guard.
Knotts is stalling here. Thibeau is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Knotts seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Thibeau has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Thibeau decides to stand back up.
Jab, jab by Thibeau - just one landing.
Knotts on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Thibeau changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Knotts is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Thibeau.
Thibeau cracks a nice hook into Knotts's ribs.
Thibeau lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knotts misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thibeau fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Knotts on the side of the head.
Thibeau is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Some wild striking there from Thibeau.
Thibeau scores with a three punch combo!
Thibeau's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Thibeau duly obliges.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Thibeau throws a series of punches but Knotts avoids them all with ease.
Thibeau tries to clinch up but Knotts circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thibeau slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Knotts needs to keep his hands up - Thibeau had a free shot at his head there.
Nice jab there from Thibeau.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholas Thibeau dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Theodore Knotts's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Knotts shoots in for a takedown but Thibeau shows good takedown defense.
Thibeau connects with the punch.
Thibeau looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Thibeau throws a series of strikes that have Knotts backpedaling.
Knotts tries for a takedown but Thibeau sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thibeau moves in looking to clinch but Knotts pushes him off.
Knotts fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nicholas Thibeau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Theodore Knotts.
Knotts shoots for a double leg takedown but Thibeau sprawls well. He's pushed Knotts's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nicholas Thibeau is winning the standup battle so far.
Knotts takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thibeau tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knotts paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A right-left combo lands from Thibeau.
Thibeau with a nice cross.
Thibeau misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knotts steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thibeau.
Thibeau cracks Knotts with an open hand slap.
Knotts on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Thibeau lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Thibeau fails to land with a series of punches.

Knotts feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Knotts content to stall in guard here.
Thibeau will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Knotts trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Knotts keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Thibeau's head.
Knotts wants to control from the top but Thibeau keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thibeau looking for a guillotine here but Knotts defends easily.
Knotts slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Thibeau keeping moving, preventing Knotts from controlling successfully.

Thibeau looking for a guillotine here but Knotts defends easily.
Thibeau is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Knotts is controlling him.
Thibeau is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Knotts trying to move into half guard but instead Thibeau has managed to sweep!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibeau tries to free his leg and advance position but Knotts is retaining full guard.
Thibeau tries to stand but Knotts is controlling from the bottom.
Thibeau won't allow Knotts to sweep him here.
Knotts manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thibeau manages to get himself to full guard.
Thibeau is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Knotts lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Knotts wants to control from the top but Thibeau keeps moving.
Thibeau wants to stand but Knotts is controlling the position.
Thibeau keeping moving, preventing Knotts from controlling successfully.
Knotts is working Thibeau over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

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.
Thibeau keeping moving, preventing Knotts from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knotts scoring with punches to the head and body.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thibeau misses with a wild combination.
Thibeau misses with a hook.
Thibeau swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thibeau misses with a hook.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Knotts.
Knotts works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Thibeau prevents Knotts from improving position.
Knotts working the head with strikes.

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 Nicholas Thibeau.
I think Thibeau has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nicholas Thibeau!