PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saúl Tacoronte (ranked 439 p4p, 383 weight class) and Wille Thai (ranked 73 p4p, 64 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Tacoronte
vs
Thai

190 cm
40
208
26 - 16 - 3

195 cm
30
212
18 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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Urban Fighter
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 26 - 16 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Saúl Tacoronte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Wille Thai!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tacoronte looks to throw a body kick

and Thai counters with a shoot takedown. Tacoronte fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thai wants to pass the guard but Tacoronte is keeping the position.

Thai thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Thai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tacoronte swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tacoronte managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Thai drops back looking for a leg! Tacoronte is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tacoronte manages to kick Thai off! Thai jumps back into Tacoronte's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thai thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tacoronte keeping full guard, as Thai tries to pass.
Thai passes Tacoronte's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tacoronte is positioning himself well to prevent Thai advancing to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thai is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Thai trying to mount his opponent but Tacoronte defends it.
Tacoronte knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thai on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Thai is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Tacoronte has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thai is working away from the top position though.
Tacoronte is pressing down on Thai's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Thai stands and throws Tacoronte's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Thai wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tacoronte, who protects the arm well.
Thai is trying to move to mount but Tacoronte reverses beautifully and ends up in Thai's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thai throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Tacoronte escapes and throws Thai's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Thai is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Thai's face as Tacoronte controls the position.
Thai is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Tacoronte off and has taken his back!
I really don't envy Tacoronte right now.

Thai working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tacoronte manages to reverse the position and now he's in Thai's guard. Nice work there by Tacoronte.

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

Thai had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tacoronte defends it easily.

Thai throws his legs up looking for a submission but Tacoronte uses it to pass to side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thai manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Thai is trying to work for a kimura but Tacoronte is defending well.

Thai is looking for a kimura but Tacoronte is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Thai to get the leverage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wille Thai dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thai fails with the takedown.
An attempted straight right counter from Tacoronte misses the target.
Tacoronte misses with a leg kick

and Thai counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Thai.
Tacoronte keeping full guard, as Thai tries to pass.
Tacoronte is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thai looking to pass the guard.

Thai drops back looking for a leg! Tacoronte is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tacoronte manages to kick Thai off! Thai jumps back into Tacoronte's guard.
Thai advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tacoronte is looking for a sweep.

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

Thai tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Wille Thai has got the better of the ground game so far.

Thai is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tacoronte knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tacoronte can't do much from the bottom here.
Tacoronte stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Tacoronte prevents Thai from improving position.

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

Thai wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tacoronte, who protects the arm well.
Thai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thai is trying to get an arm triangle but Tacoronte is defending well.

Thai tries for a kimura but Tacoronte is defending well.

Thai tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Thai has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Tacoronte's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

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

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.

Thai working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Thai is trying to get an arm triangle but Tacoronte is defending well.

Thai goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Tacoronte rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Thai's guard! Nice work there by Tacoronte!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Thai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tacoronte gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Thai escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tacoronte gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Wille Thai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Tacoronte does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Thai tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Tacoronte ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thai moves away.
Thai shoots in for a takedown but Tacoronte shows good takedown defense.
Thai defending well as Tacoronte loads up on a big left hand.
Tacoronte looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The crowd cheers as Tacoronte lands an impressive looking overhand right. Thai doesn't seem phased though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tacoronte throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And Thai tries to counter it with a takedown but Tacoronte pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Tacoronte.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tacoronte takes a swing at Thai's ribcage but misses.
Tacoronte waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thai.
Thai shoots in looking for a takedown but Tacoronte manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Thai's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tacoronte loads up on a big right hand but Thai slips the punch.
Thai fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Tacoronte misses the target.
Saúl Tacoronte has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wille Thai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tacoronte leaves Thai with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tacoronte feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Thai takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Thai fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tacoronte avoids it really well and circles away.
As Thai backs away, Tacoronte returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tacoronte. Thai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thai tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Saúl Tacoronte has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tacoronte keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Thai drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thai looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Thai is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Tacoronte controls Thai momentarily but Thai frees himself.
Thai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tacoronte swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tacoronte throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Thai passes Tacoronte's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Wille Thai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Thai is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
Saúl Tacoronte showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thai has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wille Thai!