PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tank Tribute (ranked 310 p4p, 343 weight class) and Wille Thai (ranked 46 p4p, 49 weight class). Tribute comes to the cage accompanied by tank abbot tribute. 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?

Tribute
vs
Thai

184 cm
28
204
16 - 7 - 0

195 cm
27
212
14 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Carnage Clothing
Voodoo Nutrition

Urban Fighter
Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tank Tribute!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Wille Thai!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Shimada and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tribute just misses with a punch to the body.
Thai with the counter takedown but Tribute avoids it easily.
A head kick by Tribute misses

and Thai counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Tribute is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Thai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thai wants to get back to full guard.

Thai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thai taking some punishment here, with Tribute in his half guard.

Thai actively working from the bottom here.
Tribute throwing shots but Thai is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thai is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tribute pulls his head out easily.

Thai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Thai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tribute missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Thai is pressing down on Tribute's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Thai looking for a sweep. Not yet Thai, not yet.
Tribute working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tribute works over Thai with some ground and pound from guard.
Tribute throws a big elbow that misses.

Thai working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Tribute has passed into half guard!

Thai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ground and pound from Tribute.
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.

Thai is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tribute pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Thai is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tribute scores with a couple of nice shots.

Thai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Thai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thai tries to get to full guard but Tribute has control of the leg.
Tribute working over Thai with some ground and pound. Thai looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Thai on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tribute lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tribute trying to control from half guard but Thai is working away.

Thai looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tribute trying to pass the guard but Thai defending well.

Thai is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tribute pulls his head out easily.
Thai is pressing down on Tribute's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Thai is looking for a triangle but Tribute pushes his legs off easily.

Thai had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tribute defends it easily.

Thai throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tribute chips away with some ground and pound.
Tribute has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Thai working for submissions but it's allowed Tribute to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tribute drops an elbow to the side of Thai's head.
Tribute prevents Thai from improving his position.
Tribute is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Tribute lands with a punch from half guard.
Tribute lands with a punch from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tribute lands a nice short elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thai has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Tribute escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Tribute!
Tribute cracks Thai with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thai manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tribute's best efforts.
Tribute seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Thai looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tank Tribute dominated 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.

Tribute takes a swing at Thai's ribcage but misses.
Tribute cracks a nice hook into Thai's ribs.
Tribute leaves Thai with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tribute misses the jab.
Thai feints the counter takedown.
Thai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tribute.
Thai tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tribute misses with an uppercut. Thai saw that one coming.
Tribute scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Tribute throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tank Tribute is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai tries for a takedown but Tribute sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tribute fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thai manages to avoid it.
Thai drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tribute defends it well.
Tank Tribute seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tribute throws out a loose jab but Thai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tribute jabs Thai right on the nose. Thai blinks but takes it well.
Thai moves away from the strike by Tribute.
Thai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tribute.
Thai tries to move into range but Tribute moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Tribute swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Thai.

It looks like Wille Thai has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tribute tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thai was well out of range. Poor timing from Tribute.
Tribute connects with a looping right hand.
Thai avoids the head kick by Tribute.
Tribute throws a hook to the side of Thai's head but Thai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tribute tries a head kick but it misses.
Tribute displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Thai.
Tank Tribute has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wille Thai.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tribute throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thai sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tribute throws a looping overhand right but Thai ducks down to avoid it.
Thai tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tribute swivels and escapes.
Thai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tribute throws out the jab.
Tribute misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Thai counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Thai is looking for a kimura here.
Tribute keeping control of the position.
Tribute is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Thai can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thai is looking for a kimura here.

Thai looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Tribute moves into full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thai forces his way into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tank Tribute dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wille Thai's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Thai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Thai has Tribute up against the cage in a clinch.
Tribute tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thai's elbow.
Tribute is leaning against Thai and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Tribute throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Thais head.
Tribute works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Tribute works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Thai jumps guard but Tribute turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tribute throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Thais head.
Good body shot from Tribute.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tribute lands a left hand.
Thai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tribute lands a right hand that snaps the head of Thai backwards.
Tribute scores with a shoulder strike.
Tribute scores with a shoulder strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tribute is working Thai over against the cage.
A body shot lands from Tribute.
Tribute works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tribute works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Thai is fighting off a takedown attempt but Tribute is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Thai to the mat. Thai regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Thai has his foot on Tribute's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tribute works his way back into a safe position though.

Thai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tribute gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tribute is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Tribute lands a couple of elbows.
Tribute might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tribute lands a couple of digs.
Tribute is working Thai over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Our spies down at at London MMA Club inform us that Thai has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Tribute wants to control from the top but Thai keeps moving.
Tribute scoring with some ground and pound.
Tribute content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tribute makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Thai is rocked!

Thai has his foot on Tribute's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tribute works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thai has his foot on Tribute's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tribute works his way back into a safe position though.
Tribute with a nice head shot there.
Thai keeping full guard, as Tribute tries to pass.

Thai looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Thai has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Tribute is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Thai.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thai on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Tribute lands some shots froms side control.
Thai is still in real trouble! Can Tribute finish him?
Tribute in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Thai looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Tribute turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tank Tribute!
After winning the bout, Tank Tribute thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.