PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between IP Mann (ranked 4835 p4p, 4859 weight class) and Melo Carter (ranked 547 p4p, 550 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mann
vs
Carter

177 cm
25
160
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
160
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, IP Mann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Melo Carter!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mann swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Carter checks a leg kick.
Mann shoots in looking for a takedown but Carter manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mann's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mann closes this distance looking for a takedown but Carter circles away.
Carter swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mann is trying hard to land a takedown here. Carter sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for IP Mann. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mann throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Carter looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mann tries to clinch but Carter is having none of it.
Carter throws out a counter right but Mann avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mann tries to close the distance and clinch up but Carter swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Carter blocks a head kick by Mann.
Mann looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Carter is fending him off so far but Mann persists. Nope, Carter circles away and we're back to standing.
Carter throws out a counter right but Mann avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mann fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mann misses with a straight right.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Carter! But no joy.
No luck for Mann with that takedown attempt.
Carter appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
IP Mann seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mann shoots in but no luck this time.
A countering left hand to the body from Carter misses.
Mann tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mann throws a right and a left that Carter avoids nicely.
Mann shoots in looking for a takedown. Carter tries to sprawl out of it but Mann keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Carter manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mann is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mann tries to clinch up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mann.
Carter swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mann closes the distance and clinches up with Carter, looking for a takedown. Mann pushes Carter against the ropes but Carter circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mann tries a head kick but it misses.
Carter avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A countering left hand to the body from Carter misses.
Mann shoots in and drives through. Carter sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mann is looking to clinch.
It seemed like Carter was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mann tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Carter defends well and Mann ends up having to push Carter into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mann tries to close the distance and clinch but Carter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Carter looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Melo Carter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Carter avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mann is looking to clinch but Carter is avoiding it.
Carter tries to counter with a clinch but Mann shakes him off and moves away.
Mann tries a head kick but it misses.
Carter keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Carter doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Mann changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Carter tries to avoid it but Mann manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Carter to the ground. Carter escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Carter! But no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mann goes for a double leg but Carter avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the ropes as Carter continues to drive forward.
Carter looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Carter circles away from the clinch attempt.
Carter keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Carter looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nice takedown defense from Carter. No joy for Mann on that attempt.
Carter is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Mann with a body shot.
Mann tries to clinch up.
Carter is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Nice takedown defense from Carter. No joy for Mann on that attempt.
And Carter tries to counter it with a takedown but Mann pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mann fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mann fails to land the takedown.
Mann throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Carter's waist but Carter gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mann off to one side.
Carter drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mann defends it well.
Mann tries to close the distance and clinch up but Carter swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mann tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mann throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mann fails with a takedown attempt.
Carter throws out a counter right but Mann avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for IP Mann. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mann tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mann wants to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Carter on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Carter has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mann dives in and grabs Carter's left leg, looking for a takedown. Carter pushes down on Mann's head and hops out.
Carter throws out a counter right but Mann avoids it with no problem.
Carter swats away the attempt to clinch by Mann.
Mann tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Carter defends well and Mann ends up having to push Carter into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Carter now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
IP Mann is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carter avoids the head kick by Mann.
Mann shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carter but Carter pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mann shoots for a double leg takedown but Carter sprawls well. He's pushed Mann's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Melo Carter seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mann closes the distance and clinches up with Carter, looking for a takedown. Mann pushes Carter against the ropes but Carter circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Carter looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mann throws a right hand that Carter ducks under and follows up with a left that Carter also avoids with ease.
Mann throws a right and a left that both miss.
Carter drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mann defends it well.
Carter blocks a head kick by Mann.
Carter is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Mann with a body shot.
Mann shoots for a takedown but Carter saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mann dives in and grabs Carter's left leg, looking for a takedown. Carter pushes down on Mann's head and hops out.
Mann is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Carter swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mann dives in and grabs Carter's left leg, looking for a takedown. Carter pushes down on Mann's head and hops out.
Carter is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mann shoots in looking for a takedown. Carter tries to sprawl out of it but Mann keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Carter manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Carter doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Mann misses with a jab, cross combination.
A little jabbing left from Carter on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Carter circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mann tries to score a power double leg takedown but Carter sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mann somewhat.
A nice side step and Carter releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Carter keeps the fight on the outside.
Mann fails with a takedown attempt.
Mann doesn't manage to clinch there - Carter circles away.
Carter is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Mann with a body shot.
Mann shoots for a takedown but Carter saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Carter looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Carter keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
No luck for Mann with that takedown attempt.
It seemed like Carter was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melo Carter 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 ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Mann looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mann shoots in but Carter avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A little jabbing left from Carter on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mann shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carter but Carter pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mann tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Carter paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mann fails in his attempt to clinch.
Carter looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mann pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mann shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Carter tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for IP Mann. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mann throws a head kick but Carter moves out of range.
Mann fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mann throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Carter! But no joy.
Carter stuffs the takedown attempt from Mann. Mann gets slowly back to his feet.
Mann moves in looking to clinch but Carter pushes him off.
Mann will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mann tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Carter swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mann shoots in for a takedown but Carter shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mann pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mann changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Carter tries to avoid it but Mann manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Carter to the ground. Carter escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Carter doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Mann misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mann shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Carter looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Mann tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Carter defends well and Mann ends up having to push Carter into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Carter is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Mann with a body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Carter. No joy for Mann on that attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mann is defended easily by Carter.
Carter doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mann misses with a head kick.
Mann throws a body kick that misses.
Mann closes the distance but Carter moves to the side

and Carter counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mann!
Carter trying to control the action but Mann is working from the bottom.
Carter landing strikes.
Carter scoring with punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mann takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Carter lands some shots froms side control.
Melo Carter is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Carter has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Mann!
Mann is squirming around, avoiding Carter's attempts to control the action.
Carter in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Mann is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Carter raining down shots from the mount!
Oh Mann is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Carter connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Carter looking to control but Mann is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Carter cracks Mann with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Melo Carter!