PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cathal Doherty (ranked 1206 p4p, 1564 weight class) and Darius Thibodeaux (ranked 186 p4p, 237 weight class). Doherty comes to the cage accompanied by Jeremy- Pearl Jam. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Doherty
vs
Thibodeaux

188 cm
22
193
7 - 4 - 0

188 cm
22
207
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

PWNAGE™
Arcticus University: London

Conviction

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Cathal Doherty!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darius Thibodeaux!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thibodeaux fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Doherty manages to avoid it.
Thibodeaux will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Doherty was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Nice defenses there by Thibodeaux.
A slow jab from Thibodeaux misses its intended target.
Doherty throwing a counter right hand but Thibodeaux manages to avoid it.
Thibodeaux works Doherty's body with a nice hook.
Thibodeaux throws a nice inside leg kick.
Thibodeaux takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Thibodeaux throws a big shot that misses.
Doherty moves into range and connects with a jab.
Doherty swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Doherty throws a jab when Thibodeaux was well out of range.
Good exchange - Doherty coming out on top.
Thibodeaux tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Doherty was well out of range. Poor timing from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Doherty.
Thibodeaux misses with an uppercut. Doherty saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thibodeaux uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Doherty.
Doherty displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thibodeaux throws out the jab.
Thibodeaux bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Doherty's head backwards.
Thibodeaux steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Doherty.
A big left from Doherty misses.
Thibodeaux misses the shot to the body.
Thibodeaux lands with a hook. Doherty tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Thibodeaux looks to land a right hand but Doherty moved out of range.
Doherty throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Doherty seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Doherty sizes up Thibodeaux with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Thibodeaux swings for the body but Doherty moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux slips under a jab from Doherty.
Doherty uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thibodeaux.
Doherty was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doherty throws a lazy uppercut
and Thibodeaux counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Doherty misses with an uppercut.
Thibodeaux only half commits to the counter leg kick.
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!
Good standup being displayed there by Doherty as he connects with a hook.
Doherty throws a lazy uppercut
and Thibodeaux makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Thibodeaux loads up on a big right hand but Doherty slips the punch.
Doherty throws a looping overhand right but Thibodeaux ducks down to avoid it.
Doherty thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thibodeaux is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Doherty lands a glancing blow to the side of Thibodeaux's head.
Thibodeaux misses with a body punch
and Doherty connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Doherty slips a jab from Thibodeaux.
Doherty moves away from the strike by Thibodeaux.
Doherty missing with a left hand there. Thibodeaux was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Thibodeaux now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Doherty walks into a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Doherty.
Thibodeaux misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Doherty.
Thibodeaux uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Doherty.
Thibodeaux swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A thudding body kick lands there by Thibodeaux!
Doherty jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Thibodeaux connects with a body shot.
Doherty is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Doherty misses with a hook
and Thibodeaux counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Doherty takes a swing at Thibodeaux's ribcage but misses.
Doherty moves into range and connects with a jab.
Jab, jab by Doherty - just one landing.
Doherty fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Thibodeaux on the side of the head.
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!
Thibodeaux tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Doherty was well out of range. Poor timing from Thibodeaux.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux throws a looping overhand right but Doherty ducks down to avoid it.
Doherty scores with the left hand. Thibodeaux knows he should have avoided that one.
Thibodeaux swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Doherty throws a shot from downtown. Thibodeaux moves away and avoids it.
Thibodeaux turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Doherty pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thibodeaux ducks under a wild hook from Doherty.
Thibodeaux throws a low kick but Doherty moves out of range easily.
A clash of legs there as Doherty blocks the low kick.
Thibodeaux just misses with a punch to the body.
Thibodeaux throws an off balance right hand
enabling Doherty to counter with a crisp jab.
Doherty throws a poor cross that misses
and Thibodeaux counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thibodeaux throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Doherty swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Doherty swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Cathal Doherty will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thibodeaux throws a hook but Doherty avoids it easily.
Thibodeaux cracks Doherty with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Doherty connects with a good right hand that stumbles Thibodeaux. Thibodeaux circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Thibodeaux moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Thibodeaux tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Doherty was well out of range. Poor timing from Thibodeaux.
An attempted straight right counter from Doherty misses the target.
Thibodeaux throws a big shot that misses.
Doherty keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thibodeaux needs to keep his hands up - Doherty had a free shot at his head there.
A telegraphed right hand from Doherty misses the target.
Doherty ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Thibodeaux misses.
Doherty is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Thibodeaux.
Doherty looks to land a left hand but Thibodeaux moved out of range nicely.
Doherty connects with a nice looking jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux throws an overhand right that lands on Doherty's shoulder, as Doherty tries to avoid the shot.
Doherty uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thibodeaux.
Doherty is looking to counter punch.
Thibodeaux staying out of range there.
Thibodeaux is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Doherty with a body shot.
Thibodeaux slips a jab from Doherty.
Nice shot by Doherty.
Thibodeaux ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Doherty moves away.
Doherty swings for the body but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
Thibodeaux cracks Doherty with an open hand slap.
Doherty uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Thibodeaux.
Doherty throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Thibodeaux swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A decent looking cross lands there for Thibodeaux.
A swing and a miss from Doherty.
Thibodeaux takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Thibodeaux throws the kick towards the body but Doherty avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Doherty misses.
Nice defenses there by Doherty.
Thibodeaux swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thibodeaux dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Doherty keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Decent striking displayed by Thibodeaux there.
Doherty misses with a body shot.
Doherty ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thibodeaux moves away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Thibodeaux! But no joy.
Thibodeaux lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Doherty misses with an uppercut.
Thibodeaux misses with a looping right.
Doherty swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Doherty throws the left hand but Thibodeaux avoids the punch easily.
Doherty slips a jab from Thibodeaux.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doherty misses with a straight right.
Thibodeaux connects with a body shot.
Thibodeaux displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Doherty throws out the jab.
Thibodeaux looks to land a right hand but Doherty moved out of range.
A big left from Thibodeaux misses.
Doherty avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Thibodeaux misses with an uppercut. Doherty saw that one coming.
Thibodeaux buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Doherty keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Doherty uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux throws a hook but Doherty blocks it.
Thibodeaux lands a really nice looking cross but Doherty seems unphased.
Doherty lands with an uppercut that bounces Thibodeaux off the cage and back into range.
Doherty connects with a good right hand that stumbles Thibodeaux. Thibodeaux circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doherty throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Thibodeaux on the side of the head.
Thibodeaux has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thibodeaux throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Doherty pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Doherty throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Thibodeaux just misses with a punch to the body.
Doherty misses with a series of wild punches.
Thibodeaux misses with a hook. Doherty ducked under it nicely.
Doherty throws a jab when Thibodeaux was well out of range.
Doherty takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Thibodeaux misses with a lunging right hand
and Doherty counters with a nice body shot.
Thibodeaux keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Thibodeaux throws an off balance right hand
and Doherty counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Darius Thibodeaux will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Thibodeaux scores with a crisp jab that stopped Doherty in his tracks.
Doherty slips a straight right by Thibodeaux.
Doherty misses with an uppercut
and Thibodeaux counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Doherty thinking.
Doherty misses with a lunging right hand
and Thibodeaux counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Thibodeaux slips under a jab from Doherty.
Thibodeaux misses the jab.
Thibodeaux displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Doherty throws out the jab.
Doherty throws a lazy uppercut
and Thibodeaux counters with a straight right hand.
Doherty needs to keep his hands up - Thibodeaux had a free shot at his head there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Doherty misses the target.
Doherty fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Thibodeaux manages to avoid it.
Thibodeaux now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Doherty moves away from the strike by Thibodeaux.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thibodeaux. Doherty does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux connects with a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Doherty. Thibodeaux does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thibodeaux uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Doherty.
Thibodeaux throws out a counter right but Doherty avoids it with no problem.
Doherty jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Thibodeaux throws a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thibodeaux. Doherty does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thibodeaux throws a big shot that misses.
Darius Thibodeaux seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thibodeaux lands a jab to Doherty's midsection.
Thibodeaux misses the body punch
and Doherty counters with a stiff right hand.
Thibodeaux misses with a wild body shot.
Nice defenses there by Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Doherty stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Doherty misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux just misses with a punch to the body.
Thibodeaux misses with a straight left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Doherty. Thibodeaux does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little jabbing left from Thibodeaux on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Thibodeaux takes a swing at Doherty's ribcage but misses.
Doherty throws a lazy right hand but Thibodeaux sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Thibodeaux digs a good hook to Doherty's body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Doherty looks to land a right hand but Thibodeaux moved out of range.
Thibodeaux waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Doherty.
Thibodeaux misses with a leg kick
and Doherty counters with a right hand to the body.
Thibodeaux throws a body shot but no joy.
Thibodeaux defending well as Doherty loads up on a big left hand.
Doherty throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Thibodeaux takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A jab lands there for Doherty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doherty misses with a hook.
Doherty throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Doherty swings for the body but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
Doherty throws a looping overhand right but Thibodeaux ducks down to avoid it.
Thibodeaux only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Doherty throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thibodeaux sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thibodeaux misses with a jab to the body
and Doherty cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thibodeaux thuds a left hand into Doherty's body.
Doherty looks to land a right hand but Thibodeaux moved out of range.
Thibodeaux looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Thibodeaux throws a body shot but no joy.
Thibodeaux throws an overhand right that lands on Doherty's shoulder, as Doherty tries to avoid the shot.
Thibodeaux swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fighters circle momentarily. Doherty darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux throws a body kick that misses
and Thibodeaux takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice jab there from Doherty.
A big right from Doherty misses.
Thibodeaux uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Doherty.
Doherty takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thibodeaux moves out of range as Doherty strikes.
Thibodeaux looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Doherty punishes Thibodeaux's body with a nice straight punch.
Thibodeaux dodges the punch combination from Doherty.
Doherty throws a lazy uppercut
and Thibodeaux makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Thibodeaux fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Doherty manages to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Doherty on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Doherty throws an overhand right that lands on Thibodeaux's shoulder, as Thibodeaux tries to avoid the shot.
Thibodeaux throws a body shot but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Cathal Doherty.
Well Doherty has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Cathal Doherty!
A very excited looking Cathal Doherty rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.