PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Samak Tiyapairat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Lashley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Tiyapairat might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Ram Muay. Lashley has chosen Hustlin 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.

Tiyapairat
vs
Lashley

174 cm
38
166 lbs
27 - 18 - 0

168 cm
38
153 lbs
28 - 28 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Samak Tiyapairat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 28 - 0, fighting out of London, Luke Lashley!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lashley fails with a takedown attempt.

Tiyapairat closes the distance and pushes Lashley back into the cage.
Tiyapairat lands a good knee to the midsection. Lashley won't want to take too many of those.
Lashley looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lashley looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Tiyapairat is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Tiyapairat stops a takedown attempt from Lashley.
Samak Tiyapairat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Lashley.

Lashley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tiyapairat stuffs the takedown attempt from Lashley. Lashley gets slowly back to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Lashley misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lashley fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lashley fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Tiyapairat has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lashley on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiyapairat is pressed up against the cage. Lashley has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tiyapairat down to the mat. Tiyapairat avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Tiyapairat. No joy for Lashley on that attempt.

Lashley darts in and clinches Tiyapairat up against the cage.

Lashley breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Lashley crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Tiyapairat - the referee stops the clock and Lashley gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Tiyapairat. Lashley manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Tiyapairat has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lashley can't get the takedown.
Lashley tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tiyapairat smiles and moves away.

Tiyapairat tries to keep at a distance but Lashley has taken the fight into the clinch.

Tiyapairat escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lashley has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Lashley there as he acknowledges the shot.
Tiyapairat looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lashley shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tiyapairat looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Tiyapairat fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lashley dives in for a single leg takedown but Tiyapairat sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Tiyapairat throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tiyapairat moves into range and clinches up with Lashley.
Tiyapairat missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lashley can't get the takedown.
Lashley managing to block the knees to the body from Tiyapairat.
Tiyapairat is pushing Lashley up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Lashley is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tiyapairat pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Lashley wants to break free but Tiyapairat has control.
Lashley is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tiyapairat to keep the fight standing.
Tiyapairat is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Tiyapairat trying to land knees to the body.
Lashley wants to break the clinch but can't.
Tiyapairat lands a nice knee to the body.
Lashley is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tiyapairat is defending well.
Lashley looks winded!
Lashley is trying to break the clinch but Tiyapairat has him pressed against the cage.
Lashley blocks the elbow strike.
Tiyapairat is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Tiyapairat comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lashley blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tiyapairat prevents Lashley from breaking the clinch.

Tiyapairat breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tiyapairat leaves Lashley with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lashley keeps the fight on the outside.
Lashley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tiyapairat tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lashley paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Samak Tiyapairat is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tiyapairat defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lashley.
Lashley drops his hands momentarily and Tiyapairat takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Luke Lashley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lashley takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Tiyapairat dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tiyapairat will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lashley fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Lashley clinches up with Tiyapairat and pushes him back against the cage.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lashley drives through and clinches with Tiyapairat against the cage.
Tiyapairat gets underhooks to prevent Lashley's takedown attempt.
Tiyapairat stops a takedown attempt from Lashley.
Tiyapairat taking a breather.
Lashley can't break the clinch.
Tiyapairat trying to land knees to the body.

Lashley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tiyapairat tries to clinch but Lashley moves out of range.
Tiyapairat tries to clinch but Lashley is having none of it.
Tiyapairat cracks Lashley with an open hand slap.
Tiyapairat is looking to clinch but Lashley is avoiding it.

Lashley closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tiyapairat did well to prevent Lashley getting side control.
Lashley with the ground and pound but Tiyapairat uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Tiyapairat is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Tiyapairat lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Lashley or not.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tiyapairat has closed the distance and engaged Lashley in a clinch.
Lashley jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tiyapairat walks away with a smile on his face. Lashley gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tiyapairat scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Luke Lashley has been cut.

Lashley instigates a clinch.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lashley blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knees to the body from Tiyapairat.
Lashley taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Tiyapairat with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tiyapairat dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Lashley managing to block the knees to the body from Tiyapairat.
Lashley is looking for a takedown.

Lashley manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Lashley with that takedown attempt.
Samak Tiyapairat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Lashley.
Lashley is breathing heavily.
Tiyapairat cracks the inside of Lashley's front leg.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tiyapairat tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lashley paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lashley fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiyapairat lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Lashley shoots in but no luck this time.
Lashley doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Tiyapairat moves into the clinch.
Tiyapairat lands an uppercut.
Tiyapairat tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lashley avoids it.
Lashley can't break the clinch.
Lashley jumps guard but Tiyapairat turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tiyapairat misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lashley.
Tiyapairat misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lashley.
Lashley is working for takedown but Tiyapairat is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lashley is trying to break the clinch but Tiyapairat has him pressed against the cage.
Tiyapairat is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lashley is defending well for now.
Lashley tries to score a body lock takedown but Tiyapairat shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tiyapairat lands with a light punch inside.
Tiyapairat taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiyapairat misses with a knee to the head.
Tiyapairat is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lashley can do to turn this around?
Tiyapairat lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Tiyapairat lands a hook to the side of the head.
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!
Tiyapairat prevents the takedown attempt.
Tiyapairat gets underhooks to prevent Lashley's takedown attempt.
Tiyapairat lands an elbow just above Lashley 's eye.
Samak Tiyapairat has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Tiyapairat lands an elbow inside.
Tiyapairat is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lashley is defending well for now.
Lashley lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Tiyapairat breaks from the clinch.
Samak Tiyapairat is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tiyapairat moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tiyapairat tries to clinch up but Lashley circles away and keeps his distance.
Lashley on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Tiyapairat slaps away a takedown attempt from Lashley, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tiyapairat looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tiyapairat lands with a good body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lashley closes the distance and clinches.

Lashley's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tiyapairat connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lashley momentarily.
Lashley's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Tiyapairat connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Lashley scrambles back to his feet.
Lashley shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tiyapairat defends it nicely.
Lashley shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tiyapairat but Tiyapairat pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Samak Tiyapairat is winning the standup battle so far.
Lashley gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Lashley avoids the head kick by Tiyapairat.
No luck for Lashley with that takedown attempt.
Tiyapairat tries to close the distance and clinch but Lashley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice jab there from Tiyapairat.
Tiyapairat connects with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiyapairat throws a sloppy head kick and Lashley moves out of range easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lashley showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tiyapairat.
Lashley shoots in but no luck this time.

Tiyapairat has closed the distance and engaged Lashley in a clinch.
Tiyapairat is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Lashley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tiyapairat rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lashley moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tiyapairat lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Lashley has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Tiyapairat scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lashley shoots in but Tiyapairat avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tiyapairat misses with a head kick.
Tiyapairat lands a really nice looking cross but Lashley seems unphased.
Lashley swats away the attempt to clinch by Tiyapairat.
Lashley lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tiyapairat slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Tiyapairat displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lashley.
Lashley sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Tiyapairat will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lashley throws out a counter right but Tiyapairat avoids it with no problem.
Tiyapairat tries to bum rush Lashley with a series of wild strikes but Lashley uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lashley will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Lashley has closed the distance and engaged Tiyapairat in a clinch.
Tiyapairat lands a good knee to the midsection. Lashley won't want to take too many of those.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiyapairat scores with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tiyapairat.
Lashley changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tiyapairat fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Samak Tiyapairat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Lashley.
Lashley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tiyapairat delivers a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lashley gets tackled into the cage by Tiyapairat. Tiyapairat maintains the clinch.
Lashley on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Lashley takes an elbow to the temple.
Tiyapairat scores a nice knee to the body.
Lashley is trying to pull guard but Tiyapairat turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Tiyapairat utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Tiyapairat.
Nice elbow from Tiyapairat.
Tiyapairat creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Lashley's defenses.
Tiyapairat comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Tiyapairat lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Lashley jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Tiyapairat walks away with a smile on his face. Lashley gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice takedown defense from Tiyapairat. No joy for Lashley on that attempt.
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!
Tiyapairat throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Lashley's head.
Lashley avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Tiyapairat moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiyapairat using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Tiyapairat lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tiyapairat lands a nice elbow.
Tiyapairat scores a nice knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Tiyapairat.
Tiyapairat lands an elbow inside.
Lashley blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tiyapairat tries to land a knee to the head but Lashley blocks with his arms.
Lashley tries to circle away but Tiyapairat has him pinned against the cage.
Come on Tiyapairat - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Lashley tries to break the clinch but Tiyapairat is controlling the position.

Tiyapairat manages to break the clinch.
Tiyapairat connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Lashley dodges the punch combination from Tiyapairat.
Luke Lashley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiyapairat throws a head kick but Lashley moves out of range.
Tiyapairat tries to clinch up.

Lashley shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tiyapairat manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Lashley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lashley throws a big elbow that misses.
Lashley with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lashley has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lashley postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lashley throws a big right hand that misses.
Lashley lands a couple of decent looking shots.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lashley scoring with some ground and pound.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tiyapairat thumps Lashley with a low kick.
Sloppy strikes from Lashley. Those never looked like landing.
Lashley takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Lashley shoots in but no luck this time.
Tiyapairat was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Tiyapairat gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Tiyapairat is pressed up against the cage. Lashley has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tiyapairat down to the mat. Tiyapairat avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tiyapairat throws a nice outside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Lashley rushes Tiyapairat and presses him up against the cage.

Lashley drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lashley had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tiyapairat defends it easily.

Tiyapairat decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lashley, up you get!

And that's the end of the fight!
Samak Tiyapairat showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tiyapairat, 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samak Tiyapairat!
Samak Tiyapairat decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.