PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Melvin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neil Brove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manhoef comes into the arena with Melvin Manhoef feat.Lange Frans blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Manhoef
vs
Brove

180 cm
22
222 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

198 cm
19
265 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Fighting Spirit

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 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Melvin Manhoef!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Neil Brove!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Donald Grub and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brove wants to clinch.
Manhoef could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Brove pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Brove. No joy for Manhoef on that attempt.
A combination from Manhoef does no damage.
Manhoef shoots in but no luck this time.

Brove closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Brove lands in his opponent's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Brove wants to stand but Manhoef has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Manhoef might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Brove stands up from Manhoef's guard - Brove perhaps looking for a knockout.
A lazy left from Brove finds it's target.
Manhoef shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Brove counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Melvin Manhoef. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brove stands up from Manhoef's guard - Brove perhaps looking for a knockout.
Manhoef tries for a takedown but Brove circles away easily
enabling Brove to counter with a crisp jab.
Manhoef with a lazy takedown attempt
and Brove counters with a stiff right hand.
Manhoef is breathing heavily.

Brove drives through and clinches with Manhoef against the ropes.

Brove breaks the clinch.
Brove throws a series of punches but Manhoef avoids them all with ease.

Brove gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Brove escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Manhoef shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Brove counters with a left and a right that stings Manhoef.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Brove lands with a kick to the temple. Manhoef shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Melvin Manhoef has been cut.

Brove darts in and clinches Manhoef up against the ropes.

Brove breaks from the clinch.

Brove forces Manhoef back against the ropes and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manhoef breaks from the clinch.

Brove fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Manhoef, pushing him back against the ropes.
Brove lands a nice knee to the body.

Brove manages to break the clinch.

Brove scores a takedown into full mount!

Brove is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Manhoef is surviving well by controlling Brove's body position as best he can.
Manhoef is trying desperately to improve position.
Brove breaks from Manhoef's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Brove controlling his opponent.

Manhoef defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Brove.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef tries to hold on but Brove postures up.

Brove is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Manhoef takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Brove clinches up with Manhoef and pushes him back against the ropes.

Brove manages to break the clinch.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Manhoef. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Brove pushes Manhoef up against the ropes in a clinch.
Brove is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Manhoef takes an elbow to the forehead.

Brove breaks from the clinch.
Brove scoring well with a low kick there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Brove has Manhoef up against the ropes in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Brove pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Brove has Manhoef up against the ropes in a clinch.

Brove's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Manhoef fails with the takedown
and Brove counters with a series of strikes. Manhoef will be more careful next time no doubt.

Brove pushes Manhoef up against the ropes in a clinch.

Brove breaks the clinch.

Brove clinches up with Manhoef and pushes him back against the ropes.

Brove pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Manhoef shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Brove counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Brove pushes Manhoef up against the ropes in a clinch.

Brove breaks from the clinch.
Brove throws a head kick that half lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neil Brove dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Melvin Manhoef's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Brove moves into range and clinches up with Manhoef.

Brove's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Manhoef tries to keep at a distance but Brove has taken the fight into the clinch.
Manhoef avoiding damage as Brove throws knees to the body.

Brove manages to break the clinch.

Brove takes the fight into the clinch.
Manhoef fails to pull guard.

Brove pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Manhoef shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Brove manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Brove preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Manhoef working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Brove looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Brove is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Brove wants to control but Manhoef passes easily into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Brove can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brove looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Brove wants to stand back up but Manhoef manages to pass into side control.
Brove tries to escape but Manhoef is in control.
Brove is trying to control Manhoef's posture but Manhoef avoids it.
Manhoef connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Brove some visible discomfort.
Manhoef wants to lay and pray for a moment but Brove keeps working.
Neil Brove has got the better of the ground game so far.
Manhoef working the ground and pound but Brove is defending the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Manhoef misses with a takedown attempt

and Brove counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Brove.
Brove works over Manhoef with some ground and pound from guard.
Brove wants to control from the top but Manhoef keeps moving.

Manhoef working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Brove doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Brove manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Brove stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Brove looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Manhoef!

Brove working for a guillotine from mount but Manhoef is in no mood to give up.

Brove get's back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef tries to clinch

and Brove counters with a shoot takedown. Manhoef fights it but they end up in guard.
Manhoef not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Brove passes Manhoef's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Manhoef wants to control but Brove is keeping busy.

Brove decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Brove gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Brove manages to break the clinch.
A head kick by Manhoef misses

and Brove counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Manhoef!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Manhoef somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef fails with the takedown

and Brove counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Melvin Manhoef. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manhoef is trying to get back to half guard.

Brove stands up and beckons Manhoef to his feet.
Melvin Manhoef is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manhoef tries for a takedown but Brove circles away easily
and Brove counters with a slapping leg kick.
Brove scores with a body shot.
Manhoef shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Brove counters by clinching up.
Brove has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Brove breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Brove tries to clinch but Manhoef moves out of range.

Brove rushes Manhoef and presses him up against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neil Brove showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Melvin Manhoef's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Brove closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.

Brove breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Manhoef circles away from the clinch attempt.
Brove is looking to clinch.
Manhoef with a poor takedown

and Brove holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Manhoef drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Brove gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Brove breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Manhoef has his takedown stuffed

and Brove moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Melvin Manhoef. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Brove breaks from the clinch.

Brove has taken the fight to the clinch.

Brove breaks the clinch.

Manhoef gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Manhoef not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brove gets to his feet. Manhoef looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Brove lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Brove gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Brove lands an elbow that stopped Manhoef in his tracks for a moment.

Brove manages to break the clinch.
Brove feints and then cracks Manhoef's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Manhoef down.

Brove closes the distance and clinches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Brove.

Brove's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Brove throws a series of punches but Manhoef moves out of range.
Brove goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Brove displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Brove closes the distance and pushes Manhoef back into the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brove lands a damaging elbow.
Manhoef is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Brove gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Brove breaks the clinch.
Brove fails with an attempt to clinch.

Brove gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Brove breaks from the clinch.
Manhoef shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Brove counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Brove trying to control the position from guard on top but Manhoef is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manhoef controls Brove momentarily but Brove frees himself.
Manhoef lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Brove!
Neil Brove is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brove tries to hold on but Manhoef pushes him away.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Manhoef punching from mount but Brove doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Manhoef throws some wild stikes that Brove manages to avoid easily.
Brove wants to control but Manhoef is having none of it.
Brove is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Melvin Manhoef has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manhoef thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Brove is trying to get to the ropes to help him get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Brove is in all sorts of trouble here.

Manhoef with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
You get the feeling that Brove really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Manhoef 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.
Manhoef punching from mount but Brove doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Brove tries to hold on but Manhoef postures up.
Manhoef throws some wild stikes that Brove manages to avoid easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neil Brove comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Brove 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 James Atkins scores the fight 26:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neil Brove!