PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gerard Forelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Thaiday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Forelli
vs
Thaiday

201 cm
27
255 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

190 cm
28
270 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gerard Forelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Thaiday!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Forelli tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thaiday throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Forelli.

Forelli pushes Thaiday up against the cage in a clinch.
Forelli is stalling here.
Thaiday lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Forelli backwards.
Thaiday wants a takedown.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Thaiday.

Forelli breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Forelli doesn't manage to clinch there - Thaiday circles away.
Forelli just misses with a punch to the body.
Thaiday ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A punch combination from Forelli misses.
Forelli throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thaiday.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forelli shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Thaiday as he jumps to the side.
Thaiday throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Forelli is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thaiday sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Thaiday misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Forelli misses with a takedown

and Thaiday counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerard Forelli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thaiday landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Forelli is not content to let Thaiday control the position.
Thaiday with the ground and pound but Forelli uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forelli controlling the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Thaiday trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Forelli looking for a sweep. Not yet Forelli, not yet.
Thaiday stops Forelli from standing up.
Thaiday with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Forelli looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Forelli not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Thaiday is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Forelli avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thaiday pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Forelli is keeping the position for now.
Thaiday must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Thaiday trying to control but Forelli is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forelli looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Forelli will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Thaiday preventing the sweep.
Thaiday working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Forelli's head.
Thaiday won't allow Forelli to get back to his feet.
Thaiday loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Forelli uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Forelli feints a jab promting Thaiday to slip. Forelli then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Thaiday slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Forelli misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thaiday throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Forelli on the side of the head.
Forelli on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Forelli throws an overhand right that lands on Thaiday's shoulder, as Thaiday tries to avoid the shot.
Forelli avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Thaiday lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Forelli circles away quickly and effectively.
No joy there for Thaiday, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Forelli looks to land a combination but Thaiday avoids it well.
Forelli tries for a takedown but Thaiday sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Thaiday dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Forelli fails with the takedown.
Forelli gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thaiday counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Forelli tries to close the distance and clinch but Thaiday swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Forelli fails in his attempt to clinch.
Thaiday throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Forelli.
Danga de danga de dang - Thaiday scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Gerard Forelli has been cut.
Thaiday fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Thaiday swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forelli tries to close the distance and clinch but Thaiday swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Forelli tried to score with a low kick but Thaiday checks it.
Sam Thaiday seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Thaiday lands with a nice body punch.
Forelli tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thaiday paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Forelli shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Forelli takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerard Forelli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thaiday throws a right and a left that Forelli avoids nicely.

Forelli moves into the clinch.
Thaiday is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Forelli.
Thaiday gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Forelli.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Forelli.
Forelli tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Thaiday's elbow.
Forelli stops a takedown attempt from Thaiday.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Forelli.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Thaiday blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thaiday prevents the takedown attempt.
Forelli goes for a takedown attempt but Thaiday pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Forelli tries to close the distance and clinch but Thaiday swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Forelli fails in his attempt to clinch.
Forelli fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Thaiday avoids it really well and circles away.
Thaiday swinging wildly here.
Thaiday circles away from the clinch attempt
and Thaiday counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Forelli darts in and clinches Thaiday up against the cage.
Forelli can't find room to land a body shot as Thaiday controls the action.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Forelli trying to control the position but instead, Thaiday has worked for underhooks and has pushed Forelli into the cage.
Forelli blocking some punches.
Thaiday has Forelli pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Forelli manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Forelli keeps control of Thaiday as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Forelli as Thaiday tries to tie him up.
Forelli has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Thaiday avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Thaiday showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gerard Forelli's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Thaiday avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Forelli is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Forelli misses with a takedown attempt - Thaiday sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Forelli misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Forelli looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thaiday leaves Forelli with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Thaiday lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Thaiday misses its intended target.
Forelli is looking to clinch.
Forelli uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Thaiday.
Forelli changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thaiday tries to avoid it but Forelli manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thaiday to the ground. Thaiday escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gerard Forelli. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Forelli pushes Thaiday up against the cage in a clinch.
Thaiday works on Forelli's body with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thaiday goes for a takedown attempt but Forelli pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Forelli tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thaiday counters with a three punch combo that has Forelli backing up. Forelli nods at Thaiday to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thaiday rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Forelli moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Thaiday throws a series of punches but Forelli moves out of range.
Thaiday ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Forelli shoots in for a takedown but Thaiday shows good takedown defense.
Forelli changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Thaiday tries to avoid it but Forelli manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Thaiday to the ground. Thaiday escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Forelli misses with a jab to the body
and Thaiday counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Forelli slips a jab and a cross from Thaiday.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thaiday lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Thaiday fails to land the takedown.
Forelli tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Forelli looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Forelli doesn't manage to clinch there - Thaiday circles away.
Forelli wants to clinch but Thaiday slips to the side
letting Thaiday counter with a right hand.
Thaiday defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Forelli.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thaiday misses with a two punch combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Forelli.
Thaiday lands a glancing blow to the side of Forelli's head.
Sam Thaiday is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Forelli misses with a looping right.
Thaiday throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Forelli.
Thaiday misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Forelli.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Forelli looks for a takedown but Thaiday sprawls well.
Gerard Forelli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Forelli slips a jab and a cross from Thaiday.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Thaiday comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Thaiday winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Thaiday!