PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Christian Manuel (ranked 4888 p4p, 419 weight class) and Bryan Rumbaoa (ranked 3440 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Christian Manuel has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Manuel
vs
Rumbaoa

177 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
159 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Christian Manuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bryan Rumbaoa!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manuel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rumbaoa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rumbaoa fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Manuel is out of range.
Manuel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rumbaoa.
Manuel feinted with a counter takedown.
Manuel scores with a nice body kick.
Rumbaoa throws a low kick but Manuel moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Manuel with that takedown attempt.
Manuel looks to land a combination but Rumbaoa avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel doesn't manage to clinch there - Rumbaoa circles away.
Rumbaoa is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Manuel with a body shot.
Manuel shoots in for a takedown but Rumbaoa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Despite the aggression on Rumbaoa's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christian Manuel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manuel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Manuel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rumbaoa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Manuel darts in looking for a takedown but Rumbaoa gets double underhooks and turns Manuel into the cage.
Rumbaoa feints a counter leg kick.
Manuel checks a leg kick.
Christian Manuel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manuel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Manuel is looking to clinch.
Rumbaoa is looking for the big counter here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Manuel slips a jab from Rumbaoa.
Manuel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rumbaoa unleashes a big counter combination but Manuel bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Manuel.
Rumbaoa dodges the punch combination from Manuel.
A head kick misses from Manuel.
Rumbaoa was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
A punch combination from Manuel misses.
Manuel is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rumbaoa connects with a high kick.
Rumbaoa keeps the fight on the outside.

Rumbaoa takes the fight into the clinch.
Manuel wants to get back to striking at distance but Rumbaoa won't allow it.

Rumbaoa successfully pulls guard.
Rumbaoa pulls Manuel in close to his closed guard and prevents Manuel from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rumbaoa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rumbaoa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Manuel's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rumbaoa sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rumbaoa is pushing down on Manuel's leg trying to pass to half guard. Manuel is fighting to maintain full guard but Rumbaoa has managed to sneak the leg through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Manuel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rumbaoa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rumbaoa thinks about the counter body kick.
Nice takedown defense from Rumbaoa. No joy for Manuel on that attempt.
Rumbaoa keeps the fight on the outside.
Manuel scores with a kick to the body.
A shot to the liver by Manuel. Beautiful body shot.
Manuel paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manuel is looking to clinch but Rumbaoa is avoiding it.
Manuel throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rumbaoa's head.
Nice uppercut there from Manuel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rumbaoa misses with a looping left.

Manuel closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Manuel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rumbaoa keeps working.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rumbaoa tries to get to full guard but Manuel has control of the leg.
Rumbaoa regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Manuel.
Rumbaoa is pulling down on Manuel's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rumbaoa's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Rumbaoa has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Manuel off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Rumbaoa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rumbaoa misses with an uppercut. Manuel saw that one coming.
Manuel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rumbaoa manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel lands with a thumping leg kick.
Manuel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Manuel misses with a head kick.
Rumbaoa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Manuel.
Rumbaoa is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Manuel with a body shot.
Manuel takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Manuel tries to clinch
and Rumbaoa counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rumbaoa loads up on a big right hand but Manuel slips the punch.
Manuel slips a jab from Rumbaoa.
Rumbaoa misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rumbaoa swinging wildly here.
Rumbaoa lands with a thumping leg kick.
No luck for Manuel with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christian Manuel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A punch combination from Rumbaoa misses.
Rumbaoa throws out a leg kick but Manuel moves out of range and Rumbaoa only half commits.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bryan Rumbaoa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Manuel takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Manuel misses with a kick to the body.
Rumbaoa is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Manuel with a body shot.
Manuel takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Manuel closes the distance and clinches up with Rumbaoa, looking for a takedown. Manuel pushes Rumbaoa against the cage but Rumbaoa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bryan Rumbaoa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rumbaoa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Manuel tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rumbaoa swivels and escapes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rumbaoa scoring well with a low kick there.
Manuel fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christian Manuel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A jab from Rumbaoa misses.
A jab from Rumbaoa misses.
As Rumbaoa looks to move away, Manuel throws a big counter combo but Rumbaoa just gets out of the way.
Manuel throws a right and a left that Rumbaoa avoids nicely.
Manuel looks to clinch
and Rumbaoa counters with a two punch combo.
Manuel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rumbaoa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rumbaoa throws a fast counter high kick but Manuel manages to duck under it in time.
Manuel throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Manuel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rumbaoa holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Rumbaoa pulls guard effortlessly.
Rumbaoa pulls Manuel in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rumbaoa uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Manuel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rumbaoa. That did some damage!
Manuel tries to clinch up but Rumbaoa circles away and keeps his distance.
Rumbaoa fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Manuel manages to avoid it.
Manuel doesn't manage to clinch there - Rumbaoa circles away.
Despite the aggression on Rumbaoa's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel shoots for a takedown but Rumbaoa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Manuel throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bryan Rumbaoa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Manuel shoots in for a double leg but Rumbaoa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Manuel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Manuel misses with a double jab.
Rumbaoa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Manuel is looking for a counter combo.
Christian Manuel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bryan Rumbaoa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rumbaoa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Manuel looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Rumbaoa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rumbaoa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Rumbaoa!