PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Thaiday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Carwin (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?

Thaiday
vs
Carwin

190 cm
31
270 lbs
13 - 10 - 0

194 cm
31
250 lbs
20 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Thaiday!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shane Carwin!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carwin throws a looping overhand right but Thaiday ducks down to avoid it.
Thaiday misses with an uppercut.
A big left from Thaiday misses.
Thaiday looks to land a left hand but Carwin moved out of range nicely.
Thaiday throws a series of punches but Carwin moves out of range.
Thaiday throws a leg kick but Carwin sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Shane Carwin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carwin walks into a left hand.
Good shot there by Carwin.
No joy there for Carwin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Thaiday avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carwin scores with a jab to the body.
Thaiday misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Carwin.
Thaiday jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thaiday uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carwin.
Nice straight punches there by Thaiday. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thaiday.
Carwin slips a jab and a cross from Thaiday.
Thaiday displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Carwin throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Thaiday does no damage.
Carwin lands with a cross.

It looks like Sam Thaiday has been cut.
Thaiday scores with a punch to the head.
Carwin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thaiday moves away.
Carwin looks to land a right hand but Thaiday moved out of range.
Carwin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Carwin slips under a jab from Thaiday.
Carwin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carwin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Carwin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Carwin misses with a body shot.
Thaiday pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Carwin back to the cage. Thaiday follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Thaiday misses with a wild combination.
Thaiday drops his hands momentarily and Carwin takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thaiday misses with a double jab.
Thaiday uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carwin.
Carwin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thaiday.
Carwin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Thaiday.
Carwin takes a swing at Thaiday's ribcage but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thaiday takes one to the chin there.
Carwin takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shane Carwin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sam Thaiday's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Thaiday swings for the body but Carwin moves out of range.
Carwin throws a jab but it's blocked by Thaiday.
Sam Thaiday is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carwin swings for the body but Thaiday moves out of range.
Thaiday throws a nice looking combination but Carwin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Carwin thows a body shot but no joy.
Some wild striking there from Carwin.
Thaiday throws a hook to the side of Carwin's head but Carwin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carwin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thaiday uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carwin.
Carwin smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Carwin. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Thaiday fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Carwin avoids it really well and circles away.
Carwin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No joy there for Carwin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Carwin. Thaiday does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Thaiday finds it's way through Carwin's defenses.
Thaiday moves out of range as Carwin strikes.
Carwin throws a right hand that Thaiday ducks under and follows up with a left that Thaiday also avoids with ease.
Carwin is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Thaiday rather than just go for the knockout.
Thaiday misses with a low kick.
Thaiday misses with a combination
and Carwin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Thaiday thinking.
Thaiday swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Carwin counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Carwin.
Carwin jabs Thaiday to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Carwin. Thaiday does a little dance to reset his feet.
Shane Carwin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Carwin swings for the body but Thaiday moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Thaiday misses the target.
Thaiday takes a swing at Carwin's ribcage but misses.
Thaiday shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Carwin defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thaiday drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Carwin swinging wildly here.
Thaiday keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thaiday scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Thaiday misses with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Carwin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sam Thaiday'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. This is the final round!

Thaiday blocks a jab.
Thaiday throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A punch combination from Thaiday misses.
Carwin darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Carwin misses with a hook. Thaiday ducked under it nicely.
Carwin lands a body shot.
Carwin takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Thaiday takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carwin takes a swing at Thaiday's ribcage but misses.
Carwin jabs at Thaiday's body.
Thaiday waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Carwin.
Carwin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thaiday manages to avoid it.
Carwin scores with a hook.
Carwin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Carwin throws a nice looking combination but Thaiday bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Carwin cracks a nice hook into Thaiday's ribs.
Shane Carwin seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thaiday lands a body shot.
Carwin throws a hook but Thaiday blocks it.
Carwin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thaiday manages to avoid it.
Thaiday looks to land a combination but Carwin avoids it well.
Thaiday throws a hook to the side of Carwin's head but Carwin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Thaiday cracks Carwin with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Thaiday throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thaiday throws a right hand that Carwin ducks under and follows up with a left that Carwin also avoids with ease.
Carwin throws a body punch but Thaiday moves out of range.
Thaiday rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Carwin makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Shane Carwin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Carwin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Thaiday at a distance.
Nice cross by Thaiday.
Thaiday slips under a jab from Carwin.
Carwin misses the jab.
Sam Thaiday has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carwin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thaiday manages to avoid it.
Carwin misses the shot to the body.
Carwin dips to his left and cracks Thaiday with an uppercut!
Thaiday misses with a left hand
and Carwin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thaiday lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Carwin backs up against the cage.

It looks like Shane Carwin has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carwin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carwin scores with a nice head shot.
Thaiday throws a poor cross that misses
and Carwin counters with a stiff right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shane Carwin.
Well Carwin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Carwin!