PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marion Stein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Thigpen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Thigpen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Stein
vs
Thigpen

176 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

165 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Marion Stein!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Thigpen!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stein gets caught flat footed, as Thigpen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Thigpen trying to control the position from guard on top but Stein is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stein working a defensive guard here.
Thigpen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stein works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Thigpen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stein swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Thigpen controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stein is looking to stand up but Thigpen isn't so interested in that idea.
Thigpen trying to control the position from guard on top but Stein is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thigpen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Stein tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Thigpen is in Stein's guard.
Stein keeping moving, preventing Thigpen from controlling successfully.
Thigpen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Stein trying to keep a closed guard but Thigpen is proving a slippery customer.
Thigpen prevents Stein from getting back to his feet.
Thigpen trying to control but Stein is working from the bottom.
Stein will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thigpen throwing strikes from guard but Stein blocks nicely.
Stein is trying to control the position but Thigpen postures up.
Thigpen postures up in Stein's guard and throws a big left but Stein blocks it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Thigpen clinches up with Stein and pushes him back against the cage.

Stein manages to break the clinch.
Thigpen has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Thigpen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Thigpen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thigpen wants to control from the top but Stein keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thigpen trying to move into half guard but instead Stein has managed to sweep!

Thigpen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Thigpen wants to stand and escape but Stein is having none of it.
Thigpen tries to strike from the bottom.
Thigpen pulls Stein in close to prevent any damage.
Stein trying to control the position from guard on top but Thigpen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Thigpen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Thigpen is trying to keep Stein in close.
Stein throws a big elbow that misses.
Thigpen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Thigpen looking for a guillotine here but Stein defends easily.
Stein has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Stein trying to control the position from guard on top but Thigpen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Thigpen scores with a takedown into Stein's guard.
Stein is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Thigpen is controlling him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thigpen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stein swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Thigpen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Thigpen has closed the distance and engaged Stein in a clinch.
Stein's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Stein is trying to force a seperation but Thigpen has the dominant position.
Stein is trying to break the clinch but Thigpen is controlling him.
Stein avoiding damage as Thigpen throws knees to the body.
Thigpen has Stein pressed against the cage, preventing Stein from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Thigpen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thigpen stalls.

Thigpen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Thigpen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Thigpen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thigpen decides to stand up, so the ref orders Stein to his feet.
Thigpen misses with the combination.
Stein wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stein misses with a head kick.

Thigpen moves into the clinch.

Thigpen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Marion Stein is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stein shoots in and drives through. Thigpen sprawls well.

Thigpen clinches up with Stein and pushes him back against the cage.
Stein is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Thigpen to keep the fight standing.
Stein tries to pull guard but Thigpen holds him up against the cage and eventually Stein drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marion Stein. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stein manages to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stein is looking to stand up but Thigpen isn't so interested in that idea.

Thigpen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Thigpen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Stein looking to control.
Thigpen trying to control but Stein is working from the bottom.
Stein not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thigpen tries to free his leg and advance position but Stein is retaining full guard.
Stein is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Thigpen stands up from Stein's guard - Thigpen perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thigpen looks for the body kick but Stein saw that one coming.

Thigpen moves into range and clinches up with Stein.

Thigpen breaks from the clinch.

Stein gets tackled into the cage by Thigpen. Thigpen maintains the clinch.
Thigpen lands a shoulder strike.

Thigpen has hold of one of Stein's legs. Stein is fighting the takedown attempt but Thigpen gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Thigpen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Thigpen prevents Stein from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stein thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Thigpen postures up in Stein's guard and throws a big left but Stein blocks it.

Thigpen gets to his feet - Stein follows without any prompting.

Thigpen gets a double leg takedown into Stein's guard.
Thigpen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Stein is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stein wants to stand and escape but Thigpen is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thigpen trying to control the position from guard on top but Stein is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stein utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stein wants to clinch up but Thigpen keeps it at a distance.

Stein gets caught flat footed, as Thigpen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Thigpen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Stein controls Thigpen momentarily but Thigpen frees himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thigpen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crunch! Thigpen slams his shin into Stein's torso.
Michael Thigpen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thigpen rushes Stein and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Thigpen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thigpen stalling in the clinch.
Stein wants to break free but Thigpen has control.

Thigpen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thigpen scores with a head kick. Stein tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Marion Stein has been cut.

Thigpen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Stein looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Thigpen tries for a kimura but Stein is defending well.
Thigpen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stein avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Thigpen.
Thigpen tries to move to mount but Stein blocks the move with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stein is pushing Thigpen's head away, looking to escape. Thigpen manages to hold on to the position though.
Thigpen wants to control but Stein is keeping him busy.
Stein tries to escape but Thigpen is in control.
Thigpen works to advance to full mount. Stein defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Michael Thigpen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Stein is trying to stand.
Thigpen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Thigpen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Thigpen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stein is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Thigpen throws some wild stikes that Stein manages to avoid easily.
Stein holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Thigpen tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Thigpen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stein is looking to escape.

Thigpen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Stein wants to hold on but Thigpen pushes him away.
Stein is trying to stand but he's just given Thigpen his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stein is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Thigpen looking for the RNC.
Stein trying to get back to his feet but Thigpen is in full control for now.

Thigpen looking for the RNC.
Stein trying to control the action but Thigpen just sinks the hooks in.
Thigpen tries to get the hooks in deep but Stein pushed the leg off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thigpen gets his hands free as Stein looks to control.

Thigpen working for the choke.
Marion Stein has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Thigpen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Stein is trying to get back to his feet but Thigpen has full control of the position and if anything, Stein has just worked his way into a worse spot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Thigpen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thigpen 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 25:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 25:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Thigpen!