PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bukmang Thao (ranked 4759 p4p, 4723 weight class) and Vega Abyss (ranked 506 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Thao
vs
Abyss

171 cm
18
163
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
25
164
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bukmang Thao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vega Abyss!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Franklyn Lucas and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thao closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thao lands a left hand.
Abyss drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Abyss tries to score a body lock takedown but Thao shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Thao manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Thao lands a body shot.
Abyss is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Thao is defending well.
Bukmang Thao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vega Abyss.
Thao looking to stall.

Thao breaks from the clinch.
Thao looks to land a combination but Abyss avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thao misses with the combination.
Abyss throws a counter combo.
Abyss takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thao closes the distance and pushes Abyss back into the cage.
Thao scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Abyss's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Thao prevents a takedown attempt there.
Thao prevents a takedown attempt there.
Thao is leaning against Abyss and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Thao working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Abyss prevents a body shot from Thao.
Abyss is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Abyss wants to take the fight to the mat but Thao manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Abyss looks winded!
Abyss tries for a takedown but Thao manages to get underhooks.

Thao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thao tries to bum rush Abyss with a series of wild strikes but Abyss uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Thao fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Abyss ducks under a wild hook from Thao.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thao rushes Abyss and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thao lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thao has Abyss pushed against the cage.
Thao lands an uppercut.
Abyss's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Abyss is trying to drag Thao to the mat but Thao just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Thao makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Abyss wants a takedown.
Thao lands a shot to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Thao.
Thao struggles to land a body shot inside as Abyss controls his hands.
Thao lands with a left to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Thao takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thao lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Abyss backwards.
Abyss drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Thao gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Thao's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Thao breaks from the clinch.
Thao connects with a nice looking jab.
Thao bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Abyss's head backwards.
Abyss blocks the body kick.
Abyss is looking for the big counter here.
Thao throws a right hand that Abyss ducks under and follows up with a left that Abyss also avoids with ease.
Thao looks to land a combination. Abyss sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abyss moves out of range of the strikes.
Bukmang Thao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thao connects with a jab.
Some wild striking there from Thao.
Abyss slips a jab from Thao.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Abyss walks into a stiff left hand from Thao.

Thao closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Abyss tries for a takedown but Thao manages to get underhooks.

Thao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Thao. Those never looked like landing.
Abyss shapes to counter with a head kick.
Abyss ducks under a wild hook from Thao.
Abyss is trying to counter with his kicks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thao swinging wildly here.
Abyss unleashes a big counter combination but Thao bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Abyss gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Thao.
Thao is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Abyss can do to turn this around?
Thao lands with an overhand left.
Abyss walks into a left hand.
Abyss avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thao swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abyss staying out of range there.
As Thao backs off Abyss throws a huge counter combo but Thao manages to avoid it all.
Thao looks to land a combination but Abyss avoids it well.
Abyss is looking for the big counter here.

Abyss tries to keep at a distance but Thao has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abyss 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.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Abyss has Thao pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Thao manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Abyss drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Thao gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bukmang Thao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vega Abyss.
Abyss is breathing heavily.
Abyss is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Thao is defending well.
Abyss has Thao pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Thao manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Thao breaks the clinch.

Thao has managed to clinch.
Abyss 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.
Bukmang Thao has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Thao lands a left hand.
Thao scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Thao scores with a shot to the side of Abyss's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Thao throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Abyss.
As Thao backs off Abyss throws a huge counter combo but Thao manages to avoid it all.
Thao is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Thao jabs Abyss right on the nose. Abyss blinks but takes it well.

Thao clinches up with Abyss and pushes him back against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Thao.

Thao escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Abyss takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Thao pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thao throws a right and a left that both miss.
Abyss lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Thao lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Abyss circles away quickly and effectively.
Abyss is looking for the big counter here.
A right-left combo lands from Thao.
Bukmang Thao is winning the standup battle so far.
Thao looks to land a left hand but Abyss moved out of range nicely.
Abyss throws a counter combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thao connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Thao scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Abyss avoids a punch combination nicely.
As Thao backs off Abyss throws a huge counter combo but Thao manages to avoid it all.
Thao is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Abyss unleashes a big counter combination but Thao bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Abyss uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thao.
Abyss lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Thao tries to close the distance and clinch but Abyss swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big left from Thao misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thao fails to land with a series of punches.
Thao tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Abyss is able to avoid easily.
Thao misses with a hook. Abyss ducked under it nicely.
Despite the aggression on Abyss's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Thao throws a right and a left that Abyss avoids nicely.
Abyss staying out of range there.
Thao throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thao misses with a body shot.
Abyss moves out of range as Thao throws a body kick.
Abyss unleashes a big counter combination but Thao bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Thao throws a right hand that Abyss ducks under and follows up with a left that Abyss also avoids with ease.
Abyss lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Thao misses with a straight right.
Abyss throws a counter combo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Abyss swats away the attempt to clinch by Thao.
Abyss has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Thao finds it's way round the side to connect with Abyss's head.
Thao misses with a hook.
Thao swings for the body but Abyss moves out of range.

Thao clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abyss drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thao lands an uppercut.
Thao lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Abyss is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Thao is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Thao - that landed with a thud.
Abyss takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thao lands a hook that snaps the head of Abyss backwards.

Thao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Abyss avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Abyss's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Thao connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Abyss scrambles back to his feet.
Thao throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Thao forces Abyss back against the cage and clinches.
Thao's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Thao stops a takedown attempt from Abyss.
Bukmang Thao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vega Abyss.
Thao cracks Abyss with a nice body shot.
Abyss is trying to drag Thao to the mat but Thao just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Thao pushes Abyss back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abyss is working for takedown but Thao is calmly controlling the position for now.

Thao pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Thao moves in looking to clinch but Abyss pushes him off.

Thao closes the distance and pushes Abyss back into the cage.
Thao lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A shot in the inside from Thao.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thao.
Abyss changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Thao fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Thao lands a jab to the head.
Bukmang Thao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thao fails to land with a series of punches.
Abyss avoids the body shot from Thao.
Abyss throws a counter combo.
Thao scores with a jab to the head.
Abyss slips a jab and a cross from Thao.
Vega Abyss has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bukmang Thao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Abyss uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thao.
As Thao backs off Abyss throws a huge counter combo but Thao manages to avoid it all.
Thao scores with a hook to the body. Abyss takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Thao closes the distance and pushes Abyss back into the cage.

Abyss gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Abyss seems to be working for a kimura but Thao defends the submission attempt.
Bukmang Thao is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thao is staying active underneath Abyss, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Abyss is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Thao is trying to control but can't.
Abyss trying to pass the guard but Thao defending well.
Abyss performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bukmang Thao showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Thao, 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:25
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:25
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bukmang Thao!
Bukmang Thao spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.