PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Thiago (ranked 130 p4p, 15 weight class) and Mark Steve (ranked 220 p4p, 33 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Steve's choice of entrance music: Its a fine day to whoop somebodies ass. Thiago Thiago could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mark Steve's chin.

Thiago
vs
Steve

193 cm
27
215 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

190 cm
26
210 lbs
18 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Thiago!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Steve!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steve connects with a jab.

It looks like Thiago Thiago has been cut.
Steve lands a body shot.
Mark Steve seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steve tries to clinch up.
Thiago was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Thiago throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Steve is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Thiago looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Steve takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Thiago misses with a low kick.
Nice straight punches there by Steve. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Steve.

Steve moves into the clinch successfully.
Thiago swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thiago.
Thiago tries to throw a body punch but Steve avoids it by throwing Thiago back against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Steve.
Steve swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Steve swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Thiago lands a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thiago misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Thiago.
Steve misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Steve.
Thiago fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thiago misses with a punch on the inside.
Steve lands a nice uppercut.
Thiago has a couple of punches blocked by Steve.
Thiago blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steve lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Steve lands a hook to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Steve.
Steve swings wildly with an uppercut but Thiago uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steve lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Thiago is leaning against Steve and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Steve lands a right hand.
Thiago tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Steve tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thiago lands an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thiago blocking some punches.
Steve tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Steve.
Steve misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Thiago prevents a body shot from Steve.
Steve scores with a shoulder strike.
Steve misses with the head strike.
Steve struggles to land a body shot inside as Thiago controls his hands.
Thiago blocking some punches.
Thiago lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Steve backwards.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Steve creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short left from Steve.
Thiago throws a punch but it's blocked by Steve.
Steve swings wildly with an uppercut but Thiago uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steve misses with a punch to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Steve misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steve misses with a punch on the inside.
Thiago blocking some punches.
Thiago blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steve tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thiago's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve blocks a body shot from Thiago.
Thiago blocks a body shot from Steve.
Thiago tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Steve has a couple of punches blocked by Thiago.
Thiago tries to work over Steve's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thiago lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Steve blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steve has a couple of punches blocked by Thiago.
Thiago tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Steve smiles and moves away.
Thiago throws a sloppy head kick and Steve moves out of range easily.
Thiago scores with a kick to the body.
Thiago connects with a solid leg kick.
Steve with a hook.
Steve slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Steve.

Steve clinches up with Thiago and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steve softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Steve lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Thiago doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Thiago blocks an uppercut.
Steve misses with a punch on the inside.
Steve misses with a body punch.
Thiago tries to land a knee to the head but Steve blocks with his arms.
Thiago's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Thiago misses with some punches.
Thiago tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Steve smiles and moves away.
Thiago uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steve.
Thiago throws a low kick but it's checked well by Steve.
Steve misses with a body shot.
Steve throws a poor cross that misses
and Thiago counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steve doesn't manage to clinch there - Thiago circles away.
Steve tries to close the distance and clinch but Thiago swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Thiago swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Steve dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thiago Thiago's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Steve turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Steve is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Thiago.
Steve lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Thiago cracks Steve with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Steve loads up on a big right hand but Thiago slips the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve lands with a right hand.
Thiago has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Steve.
Steve avoids a kick to the body.
Steve misses with a wild body shot.
Thiago has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago avoids the body shot from Steve.
The fighters circling - Steve throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Thiago with a nice cross.
Steve misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Thiago.
Steve connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Thiago's hands.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thiago. Steve does a little dance to reset his feet.
Steve throws an overhand right that lands on Thiago's shoulder, as Thiago tries to avoid the shot.
Thiago throws a low kick but it's checked well by Steve.

Steve instigates a clinch.
Thiago lands an uppercut.
Steve swings wildly with an uppercut but Thiago uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Thiago.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thiago misses with a punch on the inside.
Thiago tries to throw a body punch but Steve avoids it by throwing Thiago back against the cage.
Steve blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steve lands a right hand.
Steve swings away with an uppercut that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thiago works on Steve's body with a couple of short punches.
Thiago looking to stall.
Thiago works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Steve has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thiago blocks a body shot from Steve.
Thiago doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Steve working aggressively here.
Steve throws a punch but it's blocked by Thiago.
Nice body punch from Steve - that landed with a thud.
Steve struggles to land a body shot inside as Thiago controls his hands.
Thiago softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Steve struggles to land a body shot inside as Thiago controls his hands.
Steve misses with a punch on the inside.
Thiago stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Steve misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve digs a right hand into Thiago's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Thiago's gas tank.
Steve swings wildly with an uppercut but Thiago uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thiago misses with some punches.
Thiago lands with a short shot to the head.
Steve doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Steve misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Steve misses with the head strike.
Thiago blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Steve.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Thiago misses with a punch to the body.
Thiago gets through Steve's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Steve letting Thiago take a breather here.
Steve throws a punch but it's blocked by Thiago.
Thiago fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve misses with a punch to the body.
A short body shot lands from Thiago as the two fighters clinch.
Thiago blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thiago tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Steve's elbow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Steve throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Steve.
Steve misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steve.
Steve blocking some punches.
Thiago lands a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thiago misses with a punch to the body.
Steve struggles to land a body shot inside as Thiago controls his hands.
Thiago swings wildly with an uppercut but Steve uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thiago throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Steve blocks it with crossed arms.
Steve working aggressively here.
A short right from Thiago on the inside.
Steve misses with the head strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mark Steve will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Thiago Thiago's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thiago looks for the body kick but Steve saw that one coming.
Thiago misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Steve.
Steve pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thiago slips a straight right by Steve.
Steve misses with a hook.
Thiago quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Steve throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Thiago takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Thiago throws a right hand that misses
and Steve counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thiago looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nice defenses there by Thiago.
Steve tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Steve throws an overhand right that lands on Thiago's shoulder, as Thiago tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Steve misses its intended target.
Steve misses with a hook to the body
and Thiago counters with a nice low kick that buckles Steve's knee momentarily.
Steve throws out a loose jab but Thiago uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steve uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thiago.
Steve tries to counter with a clinch but Thiago shakes him off and moves away.

Steve has managed to clinch.
A short right from Thiago on the inside.
Thiago misses with a punch on the inside.
Steve blocking some punches.
Steve lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Steve scores with a shoulder strike.
Steve fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thiago throws a punch but it's blocked by Steve.
Steve swings wildly with an uppercut but Thiago uses good head movement to avoid it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Steve.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Thiago lands a body shot in the clinch.
Thiago lands with a left to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A body shot lands from Steve.
Still in the clinch, Thiago scores with a nice short uppercut.
Steve swings wildly with an uppercut but Thiago uses good head movement to avoid it.
Steve lands a body shot.
Thiago misses with a hook to the ribs.
Steve lands a body punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thiago throws a punch but it's blocked by Steve.
Steve misses with a hook to the ribs.

Thiago breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thiago bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Steve connects with a looping right hand.
A jab from Thiago misses.
Steve looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve looks to land a right hand but Thiago moved out of range.
Thiago moves out of range of the strikes.
Thiago steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Steve.
Thiago quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Thiago.
As Steve backs away, Thiago returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Steve checks the leg kick nicely there.
Steve looks for the body kick but Thiago saw that one coming.
Steve lands with a shot to the body.
Steve is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thiago.
Steve looks to score with a jab to the body but Thiago is just out of range.
Thiago tried to counter with a leg kick but Steve avoided it.
A low kick from Steve misses
enabling Thiago to counter with a crisp jab.
Thiago displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Steve throws out the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Steve checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Steve swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Thiago tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Steve manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thiago lands a nice looking kick to the body. Steve takes a step back to recover.
Thiago ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Thiago seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Thiago bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A jab from Steve misses.
A big right from Steve misses.
Steve misses with a wild body shot.
Thiago just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Steve really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Thiago Thiago's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Thiago misses with a body kick.
Steve fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Thiago looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Steve throws a lazy right hand but Thiago sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Steve listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Steve swings widly with a right hand
and Thiago counters with a solid body kick.
Steve throws out a loose jab but Thiago uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thiago is looking to counter with a body kick.
Steve throws a solid leg kick but Thiago takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Steve.
Thiago tried to counter with a leg kick but Steve avoided it.
Steve throws a hook to the side of Thiago's head but Thiago sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve is looking to land body kicks.
Thiago feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Steve takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thiago avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mark Steve seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve looks to throw the jab but Thiago is out of range.
Thiago is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
A leg kick checked by Steve.
Steve with a jab.
Jab from Steve.
Thiago scores with a jab.
Steve connects with a solid leg kick.
Jab by Steve.

Thiago is rocked!
Nice straight punches there by Steve. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Steve.
Oh Thiago is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Steve darts in and lands a big hook, right on the button! Thiago's legs crumble underneath him as he falls to the canvas! The ref tackles Steve before he gets to land any more shots to his stricken foe.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Mark Steve!
Mark Steve is the new light heavyweight champion!
An out of breath and clearly excited Mark Steve thanked Zenith Nutrition (160q/$200) for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).