PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Ziegler (ranked 1326 p4p, 1805 weight class) and Kaiden Thibodeaux (ranked 87 p4p, 114 weight class). Thibodeaux has chosen Scotty x D4L as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ziegler
vs
Thibodeaux

160 cm
32
140
13 - 5 - 0

150 cm
32
140
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Ziegler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kaiden Thibodeaux!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ziegler is looking to slow Thibodeaux down with leg kicks.
Ziegler swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Thibodeaux let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Thibodeaux misses with a straight left.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Ziegler scores with a punch to the head.
Thibodeaux punishes Ziegler's body with a nice straight punch.
Ziegler lands with a hook. Thibodeaux tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Ziegler looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ziegler walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ziegler on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ziegler throws a sloppy body shot
and Thibodeaux counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ziegler misses the body punch
and Thibodeaux connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thibodeaux throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ziegler sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ziegler is looking to counter punch.
Ziegler avoids the body shot from Thibodeaux.
Ziegler throws a quick counter kick to the body but Thibodeaux avoids it.
Thibodeaux scores with a nice strike.
Thibodeaux throws a lazy uppercut
and Ziegler counters with a nice uppercut.
Ziegler dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Thibodeaux throws a jab but it's blocked by Ziegler.
Thibodeaux swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ziegler tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ziegler at a distance.
Thibodeaux jabs Ziegler right on the nose. Ziegler blinks but takes it well.
Thibodeaux misses with a body shot.
Ziegler is looking to counter punch.
Ziegler misses with a jab to the body
and Thibodeaux counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ziegler 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.
Thibodeaux looks to throw the jab but Ziegler is out of range.
It looked like Ziegler was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Thibodeaux.
Ziegler misses with a looping right.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Thibodeaux misses with an uppercut.
It looked like Ziegler was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Thibodeaux.
Ziegler uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thibodeaux.
Ziegler fires out a quick counter leg kick but Thibodeaux just manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ziegler counters with an inside leg kick.
Thibodeaux connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ziegler throws a half hearted mid kick.
Thibodeaux lands a nice shot to the body.
Thibodeaux misses with a looping left.
It looked like Ziegler was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Thibodeaux.
Ziegler is looking to wear down Thibodeaux with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Thibodeaux jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ziegler takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A low kick from Ziegler misses
and Thibodeaux connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ziegler ducks under a wild hook from Thibodeaux.
The fighters circling - Thibodeaux throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ziegler with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Thibodeaux throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ziegler on the side of the head.
A jab from Thibodeaux misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thibodeaux misses with an uppercut.
Thibodeaux looks to land a right hand but Ziegler moved out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kaiden Thibodeaux dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ziegler uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Thibodeaux.
Ziegler swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ziegler wants to slow Thibodeaux down by chopping away at his legs.
Thibodeaux appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Thibodeaux throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ziegler counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Thibodeaux fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ziegler manages to avoid it.
Ziegler was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kaiden Thibodeaux seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thibodeaux takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Thibodeaux misses with a looping left.
Kaiden Thibodeaux seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice body punch from Thibodeaux.
Ziegler looks to score with a jab to the body but Thibodeaux is just out of range.
Thibodeaux let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Ziegler misses with a lunging right hand
and Thibodeaux counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziegler lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A shot to the liver by Thibodeaux. Beautiful body shot.
Thibodeaux takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
A shot to the liver by Ziegler. Beautiful body shot.
Thibodeaux throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ziegler connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Thibodeaux in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Ziegler moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ziegler is looking to land body kicks.
Ziegler throws a looping overhand right but Thibodeaux ducks down to avoid it.
A countering left hand to the body from Thibodeaux misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux misses with a shot to the body
and Ziegler counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Thibodeaux tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ziegler was well out of range. Poor timing from Thibodeaux.
As Thibodeaux backs away, Ziegler returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Ziegler throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thibodeaux misses with a body shot.
Ziegler uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux digs a good body shot into Ziegler's ribs.
Thibodeaux connects with a jab.
Thibodeaux bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ziegler throws a push kick but Thibodeaux slaps the foot to one side.
A little jabbing left from Thibodeaux on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Nice body punch from Thibodeaux.
Ziegler lands with a straight right. Thibodeaux didn't see that one coming.

Thibodeaux is rocked!
Thibodeaux just misses with a punch to the body.
Ziegler feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Thibodeaux is still on wobbly legs! Can Ziegler finish him?
Thibodeaux uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ziegler.
A nice side step and Thibodeaux releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Thibodeaux seems to have recovered his senses.
Thibodeaux throws a right hand that misses
and Ziegler counters with a straight right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Thibodeaux. Ziegler does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thibodeaux keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ziegler throws out a leg kick but Thibodeaux moves out of range and Ziegler only half commits.
Thibodeaux fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ziegler looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Thibodeaux throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thibodeaux swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A swing and a miss from Thibodeaux.
Thibodeaux misses with a hook.
Ziegler connects with a looping right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Ziegler dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ziegler takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ziegler is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nice uppercut there from Ziegler.
Ziegler throws a head kick but Thibodeaux moves out of range.
Ziegler needs to keep his hands up - Thibodeaux had a free shot at his head there.
Thibodeaux uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ziegler.
Thibodeaux throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ziegler counters with a huge left! Thibodeaux is in big trouble! He's backing up but Ziegler isn't giving him chance to recover. Under a barage of punches the ref has to step in to save Thibodeaux from any more damage. A dominating finish by Ziegler!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mike Ziegler!
After winning the bout, Mike Ziegler thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.