PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Thiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ronnie Volvic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Thiago
vs
Volvic

168 cm
19
134 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

174 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Paulo Thiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ronnie Volvic!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, William Gold and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Volvic darts in and clinches Thiago up against the cage.
Thiago lands an elbow inside.

Thiago breaks the clinch.
Volvic misses with a takedown attempt - Thiago sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Thiago misses the shot to the body.
Thiago looks to land a combination but Volvic avoids it well.
Thiago tries to clinch but Volvic moves out of range.
Thiago takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Thiago throws a head kick but Volvic moves out of range.
Volvic shoots in for a takedown but Thiago shows good takedown defense.

Thiago pushes Volvic up against the cage in a clinch.
Thiago gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Volvic.
Paulo Thiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ronnie Volvic.

Volvic wants the takedown. Thiago is fighting it off but Volvic persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Thiago's guard against the cage.
Thiago keeping full guard, as Volvic tries to pass.
Volvic prevents Thiago from getting back to his feet.
Volvic scoring with punches to the head and body.
Volvic stopping the sweep attempt from Thiago.
Thiago wants to get back to his feet but Volvic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago wants to sweep here but Volvic controlling him for the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Volvic fails to land the takedown.
Thiago throws a head kick that half lands.
Thiago throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thiago turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Thiago tries to clinch but Volvic is having none of it.
Volvic shoots in looking for a takedown. Thiago tries to sprawl out of it but Volvic keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thiago manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Volvic gets the takedown into side control.
Volvic looks gassed!
Thiago is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Thiago manages to get to full guard.
Thiago wants to stand but Volvic is controlling the position.

Thiago working for a triangle but Volvic defends it easily.
Volvic really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thiago. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Thiago wants to sweep here but Volvic controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Thiago lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Volvic!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago looking to control but Volvic is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Volvic is in all sorts of trouble here.
Volvic is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thiago throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Volvic because Thiago loaded up on that one.
Volvic really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Thiago thowing shots but they're missing.
Volvic holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Thiago tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Volvic is wriggling around trying to escape.
Thiago misses with a head shot.
Thiago avoids the attempt from Volvic to control.
Thiago misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Volvic is looking to get to half guard.

Thiago has hold of Volvic's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Volvic manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Thiago pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Volvic fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Thiago sprawls well initially but Volvic persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Thiago manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Thiago wants to stand but Volvic is controlling the position.
Thiago keeping full guard, as Volvic tries to pass.
Volvic connects with a couple of short punches.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Volvic's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Thiago wants to stand but Volvic is controlling the position.

Thiago working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Volvic doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Volvic manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Volvicis looking to pass into half guard but Thiago pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Thiago is in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volvic keeping moving, preventing Thiago from controlling successfully.
Volvic trying to strike off his back.
Volvic looking to control.
Thiago has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Volvic is proving hard to escape from.
Volvic pulls Thiago in close to prevent any damage.
Thiago wants to pass the guard but Volvic is keeping the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Volvic can do anything to dispel that myth.
Thiago wants to stand and escape but instead Volvic has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Thiago looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Volvic shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Volvic is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Volvic accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Volvic wants to control from the top but Thiago keeps moving.

Thiago kicks Volvic off and gets to his feet.
Thiago throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Volvic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thiago attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Thiago has his takedown stuffed

and Volvic counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Volvic lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Volvic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thiago bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Volvic's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Thiago is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Volvic has escaped the position, nice work there.
Thiago lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Volvic can't do much from the bottom here.

Thiago decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Paulo Thiago is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thiago tries to clinch up

and Volvic counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Thiago's guard now.
Thiago tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volvic chips away with some ground and pound.
Thiago preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Volvic wants to control from the top but Thiago keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thiago tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Thiago had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Volvic is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Thiago Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Volvic's back instead.
Thiago keeps control of the position as Volvic tries to break free.
Thiago lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Thiago lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Volvic hold on?!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Volvic 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!

Thiago misses with a looping right.

Volvic drives through with a takedown into guard.
Volvic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thiago is keeping the position for now.
Thiago trying to keep a closed guard but Volvic is proving a slippery customer.

Thiago throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Volvic is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Thiago keeping full guard, as Volvic tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Volvic with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Thiago bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Volvic's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago won't allow Volvic to sweep him here.

Thiago gets to his feet. Volvic looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Thiago pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Volvic thuds his shin into the meat of Thiago's side.
Volvic throws a leg kick that misses.
Volvic circles away from the clinch attempt

and Volvic counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Thiago pushes Volvic off and gets back to his feet.
Volvic throws a series of strikes that have Thiago backpedaling.

Volvic shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Volvic lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Volvic looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Thiago is refusing to be controlled, as Volvic sits in half guard.
Thiago striking from half guard on the bottom.
Thiago is not content to let Volvic control the position.
Thiago gets back to full guard.

Thiago scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Volvic fails with the takedown
and Thiago counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volvic misses with a takedown

and Thiago counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Volvic!

Thiago wants to finish this one by submission but Volvic is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Thiago.
Thiago looking to ground and pound but Volvic is blocking nicely.
Thiago working Volvic over with strikes here.
Volvic working to try and regain half guard.
The referee warns Volvic that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Volvic is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiago looking to finish Volvic with some ground and pound. This is bad for Volvic!
Thiago trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thiago throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Volvic takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Thiago misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Thiago looking to finish with strikes here!
Thiago throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Thiago postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Volvic looks a forlorn figure.
Thiago lands a big shot there that rocks Volvic but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

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 Paulo Thiago.
I think Thiago has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paulo Thiago!