PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sauvage Thibodeaux (ranked 1845 p4p, 2099 weight class) and Timo White (ranked 268 p4p, 296 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Thibodeaux
vs
White

180 cm
19
195
3 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
195
5 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sauvage Thibodeaux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo White!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

White moves into the clinch successfully.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from White.

Thibodeaux has picked White up - he's going for a ride! Thibodeaux dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Thibodeaux is controlling the pace.
Thibodeaux missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thibodeaux is controlling the pace.
Thibodeaux thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed White's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thibodeaux landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Thibodeaux content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Thibodeaux not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Thibodeaux not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
White has hold of Thibodeaux's hands but Thibodeaux slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Thibodeaux throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thibodeaux sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Thibodeaux throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Thibodeaux seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if White can do anything to dispel that myth.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Thibodeaux in particular looking to stall.
White won't allow Thibodeaux to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Thibodeaux gets a clinch.
White working some nice short punches in the clinch.
White digs a right hand underneath Thibodeaux's ribcage. Thibodeaux let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Thibodeaux changes levels and goes for a takedown here. White fights it off and pushes away nicely.

White moves into the clinch.
White lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A nice left hand lands by White.
White working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
White scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Thibodeaux is trying to pull guard but White has him pressed against the cage.
We've been informed that White has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sauvage Thibodeaux. That's going to take a lot out of him.
White lands a hook that snaps the head of Thibodeaux backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thibodeaux tries to pull guard but White forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Thibodeaux jumps guard but White turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Thibodeaux gets control of White's arms and successfully pulls guard. Thibodeaux will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

White got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thibodeaux has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, White has managed to get both his arms back between Thibodeaux's legs - danger averted.

Thibodeaux has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. White doesn't defend quickly enough and Thibodeaux has managed to lock this one up! Can White escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Thibodeaux on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Sauvage Thibodeaux!
Sauvage Thibodeaux seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.