PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gabe Manuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Japheth Vasya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manuel's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Violent Femmes- Blister In the Sun. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Manuel
vs
Vasya

168 cm
25
145 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

176 cm
25
130 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gabe Manuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Japheth Vasya !
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manuel scores with a head kick.

It looks like Japheth Vasya has been cut.
Manuel tried to score with a low kick but Vasya checks it.
Manuel lands a really nice looking cross but Vasya seems unphased.
Manuel works Vasya 's body with a nice hook.
Manuel throws a head kick that half lands.
Manuel misses with a wild body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vasya is defended easily by Manuel.
Vasya shoots in and drives through. Manuel sprawls well.
Manuel misses the jab.

Manuel clinches up with Vasya and pushes him back against the cage.

Vasya manages to pull guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manuel trying to control but Vasya is working from the bottom.
Manuel lands a couple of decent looking shots.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vasya has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Manuel is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Vasya .
Vasya manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Vasya missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Vasya is trying to work for a kimura but Manuel is defending well.
Vasya looks gassed!
Manuel trying to control but Vasya postures up.
Manuel wants to get back to his feet.
Vasya is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Manuel moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Vasya throws a strike but Manuel rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Manuel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vasya has his foot on Manuel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Manuel works his way back into a safe position though.
Vasya being controlled here, momentarily.
Manuel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vasya 's head.
Manuel scoring with some ground and pound.

Manuel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Manuel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Manuel keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Vasya 's head.
Manuel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vasya is keeping the position for now.

Vasya has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Manuel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasya striking off his back but it's not causing Manuel any problems.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vasya keeping full guard, as Manuel tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vasya throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Manuel is in close to Vasya 's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Vasya is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Manuel defends well.
Manuel trying to control the position from guard on top but Vasya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manuel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Manuel scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Manuel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vasya swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manuel lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Manuel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Vasya is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Manuel is aware though and is defending well.
Manuel postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Manuel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Manuel trying to control the position from guard on top but Vasya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Manuel is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vasya is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Manuel passes easily into side control. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe Manuel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Japheth Vasya 's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vasya is trying hard to land a takedown here. Manuel sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vasya tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Manuel misses with a head kick.
Vasya shoots in for a double leg but Manuel sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vasya blocks a head kick by Manuel.
Manuel misses with an uppercut.
Japheth Vasya is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Manuel moves into the clinch.
Manuel lands a shot to the body.
Manuel tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vasya 's elbow.
Manuel struggles to land a body shot inside as Vasya controls his hands.
Manuel missing with knees to the body.
Manuel's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Vasya is breathing heavily.
Vasya takes a shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel tries to land knees in the clinch but Vasya avoids the damage to the body.
Vasya has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Manuel avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gabe Manuel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Japheth Vasya .
Vasya tries to pull guard but Manuel holds him up against the cage and eventually Vasya drops back down to his feet.
Manuel lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Vasya tries for a takedown but Manuel manages to get underhooks.
Nice body punch from Manuel.
Vasya wants a takedown but no success here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Vasya avoiding damage as Manuel throws knees to the body.
Vasya managing to block the knees to the body from Manuel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Vasya in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Manuel misses with a body punch.
Manuel works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Manuel trying to land knees to the body.
Manuel is pushing Vasya up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Manuel landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Manuel scores with a hook to the body.
Manuel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vasya avoids it.
Manuel tries to throw a body punch but Vasya avoids it by throwing Manuel back against the cage.
Vasya jumps guard but Manuel stands there with Vasya around his waist. Vasya gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Vasya has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Manuel is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel scores a nice knee to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Manuel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vasya is defending well for now.
Manuel lands a body shot in the clinch.
Good body shot from Manuel.
Manuel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Manuel pressing his opponent against the cage.
Manuel working Vasya over with knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Manuel.
Vasya blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Manuel lands a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel cracks Vasya with a nice body shot.
A right handed body shot lands from Manuel.
Manuel lands a body shot in the clinch.
Manuel unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Manuel presses Vasya against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vasya takes a knee right on the jaw!
Manuel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Vasya lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Manuel misses with a knee strike.
Manuel presses Vasya against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Manuel obliges.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Manuel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Vasya .
Manuel misses with a body punch.
Manuel tries a body shot but Vasya blocks it.
Vasya on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe Manuel dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Japheth Vasya 's cut.
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!

A head kick misses from Manuel.
Manuel is looking to clinch but Vasya is avoiding it.
Manuel fails to land with a series of punches.
A shot to de liver by Manuel. Beautiful body shot.
Manuel tries a head kick but it misses.
Manuel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed right hand from Manuel misses the target.
Manuel keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Good work by Vasya as he checks the leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manuel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Manuel tries to work over Vasya 's front leg with a kick but Vasya checks it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Vasya .

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Manuel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Manuel tries to bum rush Vasya with a series of wild strikes but Vasya uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Manuel thows a body shot but no joy.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vasya is defended easily by Manuel.
Gabe Manuel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Japheth Vasya .
Manuel throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A clash of legs there as Vasya blocks the low kick.
Manuel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Manuel scores with a leg kick.

Vasya throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Manuel was covering up waiting for the punch and Vasya finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasya working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vasya won't allow Manuel to sweep him here.
Vasya throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Manuel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vasya stands and throws Manuel's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Vasya is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Manuel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Manuel manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasya throwing shots but Manuel is blocking nicely.
Manuel is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vasya 's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vasya 's back!
Manuel landing with strikes.
Vasya is trying to break free.
Vasya is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Manuel has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Vasya has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Manuel is punishing Vasya with strikes - can he finish him?!
Vasya turns into Manuel and is now in his guard.
Vasya stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Manuel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manuel trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Vasya has gone for a leg lock! Manuel slips out almost immediately though and dives into Vasya 's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Manuel is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Manuel cracks Vasya with a solid left hand.
Manuel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Manuel trying to control but Vasya is working from the bottom.
Manuel throws a big right hand that misses.

Vasya working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Manuel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Manuel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Japheth Vasya has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Manuel got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vasya has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Manuel has managed to get both his arms back between Vasya 's legs - danger averted.

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 Gabe Manuel.
Well Manuel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:26
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:26
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabe Manuel!