PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tiago Camilo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mano Thao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Camilo might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Time. Thao has chosen Sabotage as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Camilo
vs
Thao

180 cm
31
188 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

197 cm
31
212 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tiago Camilo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mano Thao!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Luis Engracia and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Thao misses.
Thao throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Thao stuffs the takedown attempt from Camilo. Camilo gets slowly back to his feet.
Thao cracks Camilo with an open hand slap.
Camilo shoots for a double leg takedown but Thao sprawls well. He's pushed Camilo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Camilo closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Thao's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Thao keeping full guard, as Camilo tries to pass.
Camilo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Camilo advances position into side control!
Thao is not content to let Camilo control the position.
Thao felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Camilo tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Camilo is looking to take a break and control but Thao is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Camilo seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Thao can do anything to dispel that myth.

Camilo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Camilo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Camilo throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Camilo controlling the position from side mount.
Camilo 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.
Camilo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thao keeps working.
Camilo advances to full mount.

Camilo is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Thao to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Thao shrugs it off.
Camilo unloading with bombs!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Camilo throwing strikes but Thao uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Camilo not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Camilo is looking for a kimura but Thao is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Camilo to get the leverage.
Thao is trying to stand back up but Camilo is controlling him
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thao is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Thao has hold of Camilo's hands but Camilo slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Camilo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Camilo scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Camilo looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Camilo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Camilo is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Thao to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Thao shrugs it off.
Camilo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Camilo wants to control the pace but Thao is squirming around nicely.

Camilo is working for a guillotine from mount but Thao frees his head quite easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Camilo lands a couple of good shots and Thao has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tiago Camilo dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thao jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Camilo fails with a takedown attempt.
Camilo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Good leg kick by Thao there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Camilo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Thao counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Thao tries to clinch but Camilo is having none of it.
Thao swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Camilo.
Thao is looking to slow Camilo down with leg kicks.
Thao closes the distance and lands a one-two.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thao misses with a double jab.
Camilo needs to keep his hands up - Thao had a free shot at his head there.
Thao is looking to clinch.
Thao throws a sloppy head kick and Camilo moves out of range easily.
Camilo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thao.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thao tries to clinch up.
No luck for Camilo with that takedown attempt.
Camilo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiago Camilo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thao tries to clinch but Camilo moves away

and Camilo counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Camilo wants to pass the guard but Thao is keeping the position.

Thao is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Camilo presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Thao working hard to break the clinch.
Thao tries to work over Camilo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thao holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Camilo as Thao tries to tie him up.
Thao misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thao tests Camilo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thao wants to clinch up but Camilo keeps it at a distance.
Camilo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Camilo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thao sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Camilo moves out of range of the strikes.
Camilo ducks under a wild hook from Thao.
Thao lands a jab to the nose.
Thao tries to clinch up.
Camilo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Thao closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thao misses with a body punch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Camilo trying to land knees to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Camilo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Thao is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Thao utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Thao taking a breather.

Thao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thao fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mano Thao seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thao misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Thao wants to clinch up but Camilo keeps it at a distance.
Thao tries to clinch but Camilo moves out of range.
Camilo ducks under a wild hook from Thao.
Thao fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Camilo moves out of range of the body kick from Thao.
Thao tries to clinch there but Camilo circles away.
Camilo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mano Thao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thao fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Camilo is out of range.
The crowd cheers as Thao lands an impressive looking overhand right. Camilo doesn't seem phased though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thao tries to score with a low kick but Camilo moves his leg out of the way.
Thao pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Thao throws a looping overhand right but Camilo ducks down to avoid it.

Camilo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Thao to the mat! Thao manages to get full guard.
Camilo wants to control from the top but Thao keeps moving.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Camilo passes Thao's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mano Thao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Thao misses with a low kick.
Thao throws a nice outside leg kick.
Thao stuffs the takedown attempt from Camilo. Camilo gets slowly back to his feet.
Thao jabs Camilo right on the nose. Camilo blinks but takes it well.
Thao misses with a body shot.
Thao closes the distance but Camilo moves to the side

and Camilo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Thao's guard.
Thao keeping moving, preventing Camilo from controlling successfully.
Thao is looking to stand up but Camilo isn't so interested in that idea.
Camilo looking to sit in guard and control but Thao gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Camilo is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Thao rolls with it to try and escape but Camilo cranks on the arm and Thao is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tiago Camilo!
A victorious Tiago Camilo thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.