PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wille Thai (ranked 383 p4p, 239 weight class) and Ryan Bolt (ranked 60 p4p, 38 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Thai
vs
Bolt

195 cm
28
212
15 - 10 - 0

187 cm
30
212
7 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
New Standard

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

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 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Wille Thai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Bolt!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thai dives in and grabs Bolt's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bolt pushes down on Thai's head and hops out.
Bolt throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thai dives in for a single leg takedown but Bolt sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Bolt's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bolt swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bolt throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bolt throws out a loose jab but Thai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bolt just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolt throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Thai stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Thai goes for a double leg but Bolt avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bolt continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wille Thai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thai has Bolt pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bolt manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Thai drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bolt lands a left hand that snaps the head of Thai backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thai has Bolt pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bolt manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bolt softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thai wants to take the fight to the mat but Bolt manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bolt lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Thai or not.

Bolt manages to break the clinch.
Bolt throws a lazy right hand but Thai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A left lands for Bolt.
Bolt throws a hook but Thai blocks it.
Bolt throws the left hand but Thai avoids the punch easily.
Thai attempts a counter takedown but Bolt avoids it well and moves away.
Thai looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bolt is fending him off so far but Thai persists. Nope, Bolt circles away and we're back to standing.
Thai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bolt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thai attempts a counter takedown but Bolt avoids it well and moves away.
Bolt ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thai moves away.
Thai tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Bolt manages to circle out of the way.
A jab from Bolt does it's job there.
Bolt misses with a straight left.
Thai changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Bolt feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Thais jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Thai will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ryan Bolt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A chopping leg kick lands by Bolt.
Bolt thuds a left hand into Thai's body.
Thai closes the distance and clinches up with Bolt, looking for a takedown. Thai pushes Bolt against the cage but Bolt circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolt throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Thai on the side of the head.
Bolt scores with a nice head shot.
Bolt throws a low kick but Thai avoids it.
Thai tries to counter with a takedown but Bolt is quick to defend against it.
Ryan Bolt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thai ducks right into an uppercut from Bolt.
A leg kick checked by Thai.
Bolt throws a shot to the body.
Bolt moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Wille Thai has been cut.
Bolt rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Thai moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bolt misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bolt tries to avoid it but Thai manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bolt to the ground. Bolt escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bolt.
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!
Bolt looks to land a left hand but Thai moved out of range nicely.
Thai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bolt's waist but Bolt gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thai off to one side.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bolt, as that shot connected.
Bolt just misses with a punch to the body.
Thai half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Thai moves away from the strike by Bolt.
Thai tries to clinch but Bolt is having none of it.
Thai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bolt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Bolt dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wille Thai's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thai uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bolt.

Thai scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Bolt explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Bolt swings away with a body shot that misses

and Thai counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thai.
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!
Bolt keeping full guard, as Thai tries to pass.
Bolt wants to sweep but no luck.
Thai advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thai is working for a submission of some sort.

Thai seems to be working for a kimura but Bolt defends the submission attempt.

Thai is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Thai is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Thai seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two 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.
Thai is looking to advance position but Bolt won't allow it.
Bolt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Thai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Thai is looking for submissions but instead, Bolt has regained full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Thai tries to free his leg and advance position but Bolt is retaining full guard.
Bolt is pulling down on Thai's head. It's preventing any offense from Thai, at least for the moment.
Thai looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thai is working hard here to advance position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Thai postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bolt is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Thai, into his guard.

Thai has an active guard here but Bolt has managed to pass into half guard.

Thai actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Thai is looking to improve his position.
Bolt is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Thai slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bolt stopping the sweep attempt from Thai.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Thai throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Bolt escapes and throws Thai's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Thai tries to improve position but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryan Bolt will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Wille Thai's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Bolt misses with an uppercut. Thai saw that one coming.
Thai is looking to counter the offense by Bolt and move into the clinch.
Bolt thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thai half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Thai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bolt throws out the jab.
Bolt just misses with a punch to the body.
Bolt throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Bolt feints and then cracks Thai's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Thai down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolt scores with a decent looking hook.
Thai shoots in looking for a takedown but Bolt manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thai's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A low kick lands for Bolt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bolt gets caught napping as Thai dives in and scores a takedown. Bolt manages to retain guard.
Bolt keeping full guard, as Thai tries to pass.

Thai postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bolt is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Thai, into his guard.

Bolt seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Thai is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Wille Thai overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thai working for a triangle but Bolt defends it easily.
Thai wants to hit a sweep here but Bolt passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Thai there!
Thai is in all sorts of trouble here.
Bolt looking to control and managing it successfully.
Thai is squirming around, avoiding Bolt's attempts to control the action.
Thai can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thai slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bolt in particular looking to stall.
Thai wants to get back to full guard but Bolt has passed into side control.
Thai is looking to regain half guard here but Bolt keeps moving and retains side control.
Bolt is looking to take a break and control but Thai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Thai is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thai is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Thai wants to get back to full guard but Bolt has mounted him!
Thai really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ryan Bolt is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Thai slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bolt controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Bolt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bolt 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 26:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Bolt!
Our winner, Ryan Bolt, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.