PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Dai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sthawy Sthowp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sthowp is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Blind Guardian - Into the Storn. Sthawy Sthowp has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dai
vs
Sthowp

175 cm
26
185 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

180 cm
30
174 lbs
20 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

RMC - $ 11 Shorts!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Dai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sthawy Sthowp!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Seu Braga and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dai misses with a body shot.
Dai has a takedown stuffed.
Dai tries for a takedown but Sthowp sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sthowp stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Dai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sthowp's waist but Sthowp gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dai off to one side.
Sthowp tries to clinch there but Dai circles away.
Dai swings for the body but Sthowp moves out of range.

Sthowp tries to sprawl but Dai drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Dai not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sthowp manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Dai throws a strike but Sthowp rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Dai has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sthowp throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sthowp is one step ahead there.
Dai wants to stand and escape but Sthowp is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sthowp stopping the sweep attempt from Dai.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sthowp accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dai trying to control the position.
Sthowp is working Dai over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sthowp loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dai is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sthowp trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sthowp trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sthowp working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dai keeping moving, preventing Sthowp from controlling successfully.
Sthowp throws a big elbow that misses.
Dai wants to sweep here but Sthowp controlling him for the moment.
Dai controlling the position.
Sthowp postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dai trying to control the position.
Sthowp throws a big right hand that misses.
Dai manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sthowp manages to get himself to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dai missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dai with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dai's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Dai throws an elbow that misses. Sthowp uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dai's guard. Nice move by Sthowp!
Dai wants to sweep but no luck.
Dai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sthowp preventing the sweep.
Sthowp being controlled here momentarily.
Dai looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dai pulls Sthowp in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mark Dai just wasn't active enough.
Dai tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sthowp sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dai somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sthowp's waist but Sthowp gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dai off to one side.
Sthowp lands with an overhand left.
Dai shoots in for a takedown but Sthowp shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Dai drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dai creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Sthowp is looking for a sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The strikes coming from Dai are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sthowp is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Dai lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sthowp down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Dai dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dai shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sthowp as he jumps to the side.
Sthowp is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Sthowp looking to score a takedown here. Dai is defending well but Sthowp drives through and ends up in Dai's guard.
Sthowp throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sthowp trying to control but Dai is working from the bottom.
Sthowp looking to pass the guard.
Dai looking for a sweep. Not yet Dai, not yet.
Dai keeping moving, preventing Sthowp from controlling successfully.
Dai looking for a sweep. Not yet Dai, not yet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sthowp throwing strikes but missing.
Dai wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dai looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sthowp tries for a takedown but Dai sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dai fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sthowp.
Sthowp displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dai.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Dai. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sthowp drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dai wants to stand but Sthowp is controlling the position.
Dai preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sthowp is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Dai is adopting a defensive guard.
Dai has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Sthowp has passed into side control.
Dai is looking to regain half guard here but Sthowp keeps moving and retains side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dai is working hard here to advance position.
Sthowp laying and praying for a moment but Dai takes advantage and regains half guard.
Dai wants to control but Sthowp is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dai is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sthowp's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sthowp's back!
Dai throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Dai punches Sthowp on the ear.
Dai scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Sthowp is looking for a way out.
I really don't envy Sthowp right now.

Dai is looking for a choke. Sthowp gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Sthowp manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Sthowp stopping the sweep attempt from Dai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dai lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sthowp!
Dai breaks from Sthowp's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dai scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sthowp?
Dai lands a nice shot to the head.
Sthowp is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mark Dai overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dai lands with some strikes.
Dai working Sthowp over with strikes here.
Dai cracks Sthowp with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Dai dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

No luck for Dai with that takedown attempt.
Sthowp moves to clinch but Dai breaks away

and Dai counters with a single leg into guard. Sthowp didn't expect that.
Dai throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dai accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dai throwing strikes but missing.
Sthowp keeping moving, preventing Dai from controlling successfully.
Sthowp avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sthowp looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dai throwing strikes from guard but Sthowp blocks nicely.
Dai scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dai is looking to work some ground and pound but Sthowp has wrist control.
Dai with a nice head shot there.
Dai postures up in Sthowp's guard and throws a big left but Sthowp blocks it.
Sthowp preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dai working some strikes from top position.
Sthowp tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dai with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sthowp looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sthowp takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dai throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dai accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dai is looking to work some ground and pound but Sthowp has wrist control.
Dai throws a big elbow that misses.
Sthowp is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dai postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sthowp keeping full guard, as Dai tries to pass.
Dai throws an elbow that misses. Sthowp uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dai's guard. Nice move by Sthowp!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sthowp won't allow Dai to sweep him here.
Sthowp slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dai is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sthowp utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sthowp working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dai.
Dai postures up.
Dai lands a couple of elbows.
Sthowp trying to keep a closed guard but Dai is proving a slippery customer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dai accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mark Dai is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sthowp being controlled here, momentarily.
Sthawy Sthowp has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dai misses with a takedown attempt
and Sthowp cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sthowp tries to clinch up but Dai circles away and keeps his distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sthowp is defended easily by Dai.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sthowp misses with a straight left.

Dai looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Dai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dai, 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight for Mark Dai!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Mark Dai!
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight for Mark Dai!

Mark Dai wins by unanimous decision!