PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Conner MacManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Caluha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Caluha has chosen Dirty Harry as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Mike Caluha was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

MacManus
vs
Caluha

179 cm
23
160 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

176 cm
23
159 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Conner MacManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mike Caluha!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

MacManus darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

MacManus is working for a kimura but Caluha is defending it quite comfortably.
Caluha wants to get back to his feet.
MacManus wants to free his trapped foot but Caluha is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Caluha tries to kick MacManus off but MacManus keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

MacManus is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Caluha doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time MacManus.
MacManus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Caluha keeps working.
Caluha wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacManus wants to pass the guard but Caluha is defending well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Caluha misses with a takedown attempt
and MacManus counters with a nice body shot.
MacManus scores with a hook to the body. Caluha takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

MacManus is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Caluha's half guard.
MacManus wants to free his trapped foot but Caluha is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Caluha is looking to escape.
MacManus tries to pass the half guard into mount. Caluha knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Caluha is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
MacManus is looking to advance position but Caluha won't allow it.
MacManus trying to control from half guard but Caluha is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacManus prevents Caluha from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

MacManus is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
MacManus takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Caluha misses with a takedown

and MacManus counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Caluha tries to get to full guard but MacManus has control of the leg.

MacManus wants to work for an arm triangle but Caluha is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Caluha is not content to let MacManus control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caluha wants to control but MacManus is keeping busy.
MacManus is trying to control. Caluha wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
MacManus looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Caluha looks like he's trying to stand up.

MacManus is looking for a kimura here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

MacManus looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Caluha!
Caluha working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

MacManus is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Caluha to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Caluha shrugs it off.
MacManus avoids the attempt from Caluha to control.

MacManus is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Caluha has managed to escape the submission attempt.

MacManus jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Caluha is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Caluha and MacManus has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MacManus is breathing heavily.
Caluha is trying to buck MacManus off.
Caluha is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

MacManus throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Caluha's waist but Caluha gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing MacManus off to one side.

Caluha shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
MacManus moves into full guard.
Caluha must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
MacManus not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
MacManus keeping full guard, as Caluha tries to pass.

MacManus is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Caluha is aware though and is defending well.
Caluha wants to pass the guard but MacManus is keeping the position.

Caluha avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Caluha controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacManus trying to keep a closed guard but Caluha is proving a slippery customer.
MacManus working a defensive guard but Caluha manages to pass into side control anyway.
MacManus trying to remain calm as Caluha controls from the top position.
MacManus is looking for a sweep.
MacManus is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Caluha's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
MacManus is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
MacManus gets full guard.

MacManus working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Caluha doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Caluha manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Caluha with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Caluha wants to pass the guard but MacManus is keeping the position.

MacManus had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Caluha defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Caluha postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caluha trying to control the position from guard on top but MacManus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

MacManus looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Caluha throwing strikes from guard but MacManus blocks nicely.
Caluha working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of MacManus's head.
Caluha is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Caluha wants to control from the top but MacManus keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Caluha accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Conner MacManus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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.

MacManus has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Caluha 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 MacManus.
MacManus is working to avoid the ground and pound but Caluha connects with a decent elbow.
MacManus takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
MacManus takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
MacManus taking punishment in the form of punches.
MacManus wants to control but Caluha postures up.
What's MacManus going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
MacManus taking a bit of punishment here - Caluha scoring with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mike Caluha will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Caluha misses with a takedown attempt
and MacManus connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Caluha misses with a takedown
and MacManus counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

MacManus drives through with a takedown into guard.
MacManus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Caluha is keeping the position for now.
Caluha looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
MacManus trying to control but Caluha is working from the bottom.
MacManus is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Caluha is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
MacManus slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Caluha trying to keep a closed guard but MacManus is proving a slippery customer.
MacManus trying to control the position from guard on top but Caluha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

MacManus is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Caluha is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Caluha has escaped and now he's on top!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as MacManus holds on and takes a little breather.

MacManus working for a triangle but Caluha defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Caluha sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed MacManus's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caluha missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Caluha sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. MacManus defending well though.
MacManus is trying to get back to full guard.

MacManus looking for subs from the bottom but Caluha mounts him!
MacManus really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Caluha landing strikes, looking to finish!
Caluha can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as MacManus is looking to escape.
Caluha postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. MacManus looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacManus gets back to half guard.
Caluha throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Caluha is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
MacManus preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Caluha is nestled in close to MacManus, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Caluha lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

MacManus looking for submissions off his back.
Caluha passes to side control.
MacManus wants to control but Caluha postures up.
MacManus dodges the ground and pound from Caluha.
Caluha working away.
Caluha throwing shots but missing, from side control.
MacManus takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
MacManus is trying to get back to half guard.
MacManus is working to avoid the ground and pound but Caluha connects with a decent elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike Caluha.
I think Caluha has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Caluha!