PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bartholomew Bainbridge (ranked 168 p4p, 47 weight class) and Wille Thai (ranked 30 p4p, 7 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bainbridge
vs
Thai

185 cm
28
206
14 - 7 - 1

195 cm
34
212
28 - 19 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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NARCOS
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bartholomew Bainbridge!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 19 - 0, fighting out of London, Wille Thai!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Steve Erwin and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bainbridge misses with a leg kick.
Thai throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bainbridge's waist but Bainbridge gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Thai off to one side.
Bainbridge seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Thai fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bainbridge to the ground. Thai is now in Bainbridge's guard.
Bainbridge looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bainbridge is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Thai tries to free his leg and advance position but Bainbridge is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bainbridge looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thai wants to pass the guard but Bainbridge is keeping the position.
Thai slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bainbridge is looking to regain half guard here but Thai keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bainbridge pushes Thai away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Thai gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Bainbridge trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

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

Thai tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Thai is trying to get an arm triangle but Bainbridge is defending well.
Bainbridge is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

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

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

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!

Thai is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bainbridge knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bainbridge is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Thai looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bainbridge is controlling Thai's trapped leg to prevent Thai from advancing to side control.

Thai is working for a kimura but Bainbridge is defending it quite comfortably.
Bainbridge is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Hare of the Dog Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

Bainbridge has one foot on Thai's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Bainbridge looks to land a combination but Thai avoids it well.
Thai dodges the punch combination from Bainbridge.
And Thai tries to counter it with a takedown but Bainbridge pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Bainbridge throws a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bainbridge lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Thai fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bainbridge misses with a low kick.
Thai shoots in for a takedown but Bainbridge shows good takedown defense.
Bartholomew Bainbridge has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wille Thai.
Bainbridge misses the shot to the body.
Bainbridge throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

so Thai counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Bainbridge pushes Thai off and scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bainbridge works Thai's body with a nice hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Thai checks a low kick from Bainbridge.
Thai feints the counter takedown.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bainbridge. Thai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thai tries to counter with a clinch but Bainbridge shakes him off and moves away.
Bainbridge looks to land a combination but Thai avoids it well.
Thai is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Thai moves into the clinch.

Thai gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Bainbridge tries to kick Thai off but Thai keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Thai passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Bainbridge!

Bainbridge has left one of his arms exposed and Thai doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Bainbridge screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Wille Thai! Wille Thai retains his light heavyweight title!