PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gabe Manuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drex Lanier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manuel comes into the arena with Violent Femmes- Blister In the Sun 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.

Manuel
vs
Lanier

168 cm
26
145 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

170 cm
21
130 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gabe Manuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Drex Lanier!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manuel lets loose with a powerful body kick. Lanier will feel that in the morning.
Lanier looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice leg kick lands there from Manuel.

Manuel lands a high kick to the side of Lanier's head that stuns him and send him tumbling down to the canvas! Manuel dives into guard, looking to finish.

Lanier is rocked!

It looks like Drex Lanier has been cut.
Manuel seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Lanier is still in real trouble! Can Manuel finish him?
Manuel working some strikes from top position.
Manuel sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lanier seems to have recovered his senses.
Manuel working some strikes from top position.
Manuel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lanier's head.
Lanier has momentary wrist control but Manuel slips an elbow through the middle.
Manuel showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Manuel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel lands a couple of digs.
Manuel scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Manuel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lanier preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Manuel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Manuel landing with the ground and pound.
Manuel is stalling in the full guard.
Lanier controls Manuel momentarily but Manuel frees himself.
Manuel chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel cracks Lanier with a solid left hand.
Manuel is stalling in the full guard.
Manuel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Manuel trying to control but Lanier is working from the bottom.
Manuel content to stall in guard here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Manuel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel landing with the ground and pound.
Manuel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lanier swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manuel working some strikes from top position.
Manuel has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Manuel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lanier swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manuel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Manuel lands a couple of digs.
Manuel makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Manuel lands an elbow.
Manuel working the body and head with strikes.
Lanier taking a bit of punishment here - Manuel scoring with strikes.
Lanier is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Manuel works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Lanier trying to remain calm as Manuel controls from the top position.
Manuel is working Lanier over with some ground and pound from side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Manuel taking a breather here.
Lanier takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
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 Drex Lanier's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lanier staying out of range there.
Manuel feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lanier's calf.
Lanier takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Good leg kick by Manuel there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Manuel scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Manuel keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Manuel trying to pass the guard but Lanier defending well.
Lanier trying to hold on to Manuel's head to control him but Manuel postures up.
Manuel takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Manuel is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Manuel trying to pass the guard but Lanier defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nice strikes from Manuel there.
Manuel is looking to advance position but Lanier won't allow it.

Manuel wants to work for an arm triangle but Lanier is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Manuel looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lanier with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Manuel is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Manuel working Lanier over with strikes.
Manuel trying to control from half guard but Lanier is working away.
Manuel controlling the action here.

Manuel is looking for a kimura but Lanier is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Manuel to get the leverage.
Gabe Manuel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Manuel keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Manuel slips a nice elbow through Lanier's hands, connecting with Lanier's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lanier taking some punishment here, with Manuel in his half guard.
Lanier keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Manuel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Manuel with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Manuel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lanier does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ground and pound from Manuel.
Manuel not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel is looking to pass Lanier's guard but actually Lanier recovers to full guard.
Lanier looking to control.
Manuel scoring with punches to the head and body.
Manuel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Manuel cracks Lanier with a solid left hand.
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 Drex Lanier's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Manuel fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Lanier throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gabe Manuel is winning the standup battle so far.
Manuel misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lanier throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Manuel connects with a solid leg kick.
Manuel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Manuel.

Manuel scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Manuel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Manuel keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Manuel working Lanier over with strikes.
Manuel sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Manuel wants to pass the guard but Lanier is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manuel maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Lanier could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Manuel has cracked it and Lanier is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Manuel!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Gabe Manuel!