PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mano Thao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobby TupperIII (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Thao might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Sabotage by Beastie Boys. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thao
vs
TupperIII

197 cm
36
212 lbs
16 - 14 - 0

200 cm
37
215 lbs
26 - 26 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mano Thao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bobby TupperIII!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Felipe Paraventi and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thao moves in looking to clinch but TupperIII pushes him off.
It seemed like TupperIII was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Thao takes the fight into the clinch.
Thao scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Bobby TupperIII has been cut.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that TupperIII has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Thao breaks the clinch.
TupperIII takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Mano Thao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
TupperIII slips a jab from Thao.
TupperIII changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
TupperIII takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thao shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. TupperIII eats them both and turns towards Thao to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Thao moves into range and clinches up with TupperIII.
TupperIII on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
TupperIII tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thao smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thao tries to work over TupperIII's front leg with a kick but TupperIII checks it.
TupperIII feints the counter takedown.

Thao gets a clinch.
Thao is pushing TupperIII up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
TupperIII tries to pull guard but Thao won't allow it.
TupperIII wants a takedown.
Mano Thao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby TupperIII.
A knee to the head by Thao.
TupperIII jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thao walks away with a smile on his face. TupperIII gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've been told by Thao's head coaches at Soco na mãe - Stand Up Striking that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
TupperIII blocks a low kick nicely.
TupperIII changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
TupperIII avoids the body shot from Thao.
TupperIII throws out a counter right but Thao avoids it with no problem.
Thao thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thao is looking to slow TupperIII down with leg kicks.
Thao takes a swing at TupperIII's ribcage but misses.
TupperIII feints the counter takedown.
Thao scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Thao tries to close the distance and clinch up but TupperIII swats him away and circles back towards the center.
TupperIII is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Thao tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and TupperIII counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thao won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

TupperIII looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

TupperIII is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Thao has escaped the position, nice work there.

TupperIII is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Thao is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

TupperIII tries for a kimura but Thao is defending well.

TupperIII tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

TupperIII thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

TupperIII swings around for an armbar but Thao sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into TupperIII's guard.
Thao tries to stand but TupperIII is controlling from the bottom.

TupperIII working for a triangle but Thao defends it easily.

TupperIII is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

TupperIII throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thao wants to stand but TupperIII has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mano Thao dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bobby TupperIII's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

A head kick misses from Thao.
TupperIII avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
TupperIII was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Thao fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but TupperIII is out of range.
TupperIII is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Thao finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Thao lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Thao waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract TupperIII.
TupperIII was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Mano Thao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Thao clinches.
Thao lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thao buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Thao is looking to clinch but TupperIII is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thao tries to clinch but TupperIII moves away
and TupperIII counters with a series of strikes. Thao will be more careful next time no doubt.
Thao misses with a hook
letting TupperIII counter with a right hand.
Thao tries to clinch but TupperIII is having none of it.
Thao fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mano Thao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
TupperIII keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
TupperIII drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thao defends it well.
Thao throws a series of punches but TupperIII avoids them all with ease.

Thao drives through and clinches with TupperIII against the ropes.
A knee to the head by Thao.
TupperIII fails to pull guard.
TupperIII is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thao pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Thao tries to land a knee to the head but TupperIII blocks with his arms.
Thao landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
TupperIII is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
TupperIII blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thao misses with a knee to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thao lands a left hand that snaps the head of TupperIII backwards.

Thao manages to break the clinch.

Thao moves into the clinch successfully.
Thao tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
TupperIII tries to pull guard but Thao holds him up against the ropes and eventually TupperIII drops back down to his feet.
Mano Thao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby TupperIII.
TupperIII dodges an elbow strike from Thao.
TupperIII is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Thao is defending well.
TupperIII fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Thao.
A short uppercut from Thao.

Thao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
TupperIII takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Thao cracks TupperIII with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Thao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Thao throws a quick inside leg kick.
Thao connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Thao moves into the clinch.

Thao manages to break the clinch.
Thao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And TupperIII tries to counter it with a takedown but Thao pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Thao gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Thao working aggressively here.
TupperIII jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Thao walks away with a smile on his face. TupperIII gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A combination from Thao does no damage.
TupperIII on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The fighters circle momentarily. Thao darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Thao lands with a kick to the temple. TupperIII shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Thao missing with knees to the body.
Thao tried to land a shot to the body but connects with TupperIII's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mano Thao dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bobby TupperIII's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

TupperIII blocks a head kick by Thao.
TupperIII drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Thao defends it well.
Thao tries to clinch up.
TupperIII throws out a counter right but Thao avoids it with no problem.
Thao scores with a sloppy right hand. TupperIII should have avoided that one.
Thao is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that TupperIII can do to turn this around?
TupperIII swats away the attempt to clinch by Thao.
Thao doesn't manage to clinch there - TupperIII circles away.
Thao tries to close the distance and clinch up but TupperIII swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
TupperIII checks the leg kick nicely there.
Thao fails with an attempt to clinch.

Thao gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Thao with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thao tries to land knees in the clinch but TupperIII avoids the damage to the body.
Thao misses with an elbow over the top.
Thao stalling in the clinch but TupperIII improves position.
Thao trying to land knees to the body.
Thao scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mano Thao has scored more points in the clinch so far.

TupperIII has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Thao uses from the top position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Thao avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

TupperIII is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Thao is sitting in close to TupperIII's body. TupperIII has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Thao is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Thao is tapping! That was a very nice submission by TupperIII.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Bobby TupperIII!
Bobby TupperIII took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Museum of Monsters & Madmen for their support in the buildup to the fight.