PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Moura (ranked 1695 p4p, 259 weight class) and Alasdair Thacker (ranked 1297 p4p, 197 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Moura
vs
Thacker

185 cm
29
215 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

175 cm
34
197 lbs
19 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
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 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rickson Moura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Alasdair Thacker!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thacker slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Thacker scores with a three punch combo!
Moura changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thacker tries to avoid it but Moura manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thacker to the ground. Thacker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thacker throws out a counter right but Moura avoids it with no problem.
Thacker looks to land a body kick but Moura moved away.
A swing and a miss from Moura.
Moura blocks a jab.
Moura has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
No joy there for Thacker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Moura's jab looks to have found its range, popping Thacker under the eye.
Moura looks to score with a jab to the body but Thacker is just out of range.
Thacker misses with the combination.
Moura feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Thackers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Thacker ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thacker works the jab nicely.
Thacker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thacker slips a jab from Moura.
A big left from Moura misses.
Good exchange - Moura coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moura has his takedown stuffed
and Thacker counters with a stiff right hand.
Alasdair Thacker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thacker thuds his right hand into Moura's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Thacker connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Thacker is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Moura manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Thacker on his heels. He'll look to pass Thacker's guard now, I'm sure.
Thacker keeping full guard, as Moura tries to pass.
Moura in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thacker looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Moura passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Thacker is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Moura's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Moura is trying to control. Thacker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Thacker 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.
Moura is looking to advance position but Thacker won't allow it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Moura throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Moura looks to land a strike but Thacker avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Moura controlling from the top position.
Moura won't allow Thacker to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Thacker is pulling down on Moura's head to control his posture.
Moura 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.
Moura controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Thacker misses the shot to the body.
Moura half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Thacker throws a big shot that misses.
Thacker's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Moura connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Thacker scrambles back to his feet.
Thacker works the jab nicely.

Moura decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Moura lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Moura stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moura thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Thacker taking some punishment here, with Moura in his half guard.
Moura is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Moura passes to full mount!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Moura avoids the attempt from Thacker to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rickson Moura will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Moura walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Thacker defending well as Moura loads up on a big left hand.
Thacker dips to his left and cracks Moura with an uppercut!
Moura lands a head shot.
Thacker sizes up Moura with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Moura misses with an uppercut. Thacker saw that one coming.
Moura closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thacker circles away.
Thacker misses the shot to the body.
Moura shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thacker defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Thacker lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Moura has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Moura and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Thacker connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Thacker slaps away a takedown attempt from Moura, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Moura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice shot lands for Thacker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thacker throws a body shot but no joy.

Moura shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Thacker manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Moura passes into half guard.
Nice strikes from Moura there.
Rickson Moura overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Moura passes into side control, despite Thacker's attempt to control the position.
Thacker is looking for a sweep.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Moura lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thacker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Moura throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Thacker is trying to control Moura's posture but Moura avoids it.
Moura with the ground and pound but Thacker regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Moura uses his free foot to push down on Thacker's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Thacker.
Thacker regains half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Moura working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thacker is not content to let Moura control the position.
Well, if Moura is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Moura trying to control from Thacker's half guard. Thacker has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Moura showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Thacker is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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.
Moura trying to control the position from guard on top but Thacker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moura is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Thacker keeping moving, preventing Moura from controlling successfully.
Moura is really struggling to control Thacker but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moura dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rickson Moura will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Thacker pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Moura back to the cage. Thacker follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Moura is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Thacker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Moura.
Thacker doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Moura has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Thacker.
Thacker uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Moura.
Moura shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thacker as he avoids it easily.
Moura steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Thacker.
Moura half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Thacker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Moura.
Thacker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Moura misses with a left hand
and Thacker counters with a left to the body.
Moura uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thacker.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thacker fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Thacker misses with an attempted mid kick.
Good work by Moura as he checks the leg kick.
Moura throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Thacker on the side of the head.
Moura just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moura looks for a takedown but Thacker sprawls well.
Moura gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Thacker.
Moura jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Moura fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Moura. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thacker lands a right hook to the body.
Thacker pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Moura blocks a jab.
Moura moves out of range as Thacker strikes.
Moura takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A punch lands to the side of Moura 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Alasdair Thacker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thacker stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thacker wants it to stay on the feet.
Thacker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Moura.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Thacker. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Thacker throws a jab but it's blocked by Moura.
Moura tries to counter with a takedown but Thacker is quick to defend against it.
Thacker punishes Moura's body with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Thacker lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thacker misses with an uppercut.
Moura misses with a hook. Thacker ducked under it nicely.

Moura scores with a takedown into Thacker's guard.
Moura trying to control the position from guard on top but Thacker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moura throws a strike but Thacker rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Moura looking for a guillotine here but Thacker defends easily.
Thacker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moura throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Thacker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Moura manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Thacker manages to get himself to full guard.

Moura wants to control from the top but Thacker keeps moving.
Alasdair Thacker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rickson Moura is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Moura stopping the sweep attempt from Thacker.
Thacker keeping full guard, as Moura tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moura sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Moura's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Moura trying to control the position from guard on top but Thacker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moura controls from within his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alasdair Thacker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Moura has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rickson Moura!
An out of breath Rickson Moura thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.