PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between jens pulver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Mantil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). pulver comes to the cage accompanied by littlle evil. 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.

pulver
vs
Mantil

177 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 3 - 1

225 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 2 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, jens pulver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Craig Mantil!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
pulver shoots in but no luck this time.
pulver fails with the takedown.
pulver avoids the head kick by Mantil.
Mantil with a poor takedown

and pulver counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mantil won't be happy with that.
Mantil is looking to regain half guard here but pulver keeps moving and retains side control.
Mantil manages to get back to half guard.
pulver is breathing heavily.
Mantil is trying to control but can't.
Mantil is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mantil trying to control but pulver postures up.
Mantil is looking to escape.

pulver seems to be working for a kimura but Mantil defends the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
pulver prevents Mantil from improving his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
pulver shoots in looking for a takedown. Mantil tries to sprawl out of it but pulver keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mantil manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for jens pulver. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mantil lands a head kick!

pulver scores with a takedown into Mantil's guard.
Mantil trying to keep a closed guard but pulver is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mantil looking for a guillotine here but pulver defends easily.
Mantil is looking to stand up but pulver isn't so interested in that idea.
Mantil not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
pulver sitting in guard, not really doing much.
pulver postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
pulver tries for a takedown but Mantil circles away easily

and Mantil counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mantil passes to side control.
pulver is looking for a sweep.
pulver is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Mantil is controlling him well.
Mantil working the ground and pound from side control.
pulver is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mantil decides to stand up, so the ref orders pulver to his feet.
pulver shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mantil sprawls well. Mantil wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. pulver gets slowly back to his feet.
pulver avoids the head kick by Mantil.

pulver shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mantil's guard.
pulver wants to pass the guard but Mantil is keeping the position.
pulver wants to control from the top but Mantil keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that jens pulver will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mantil misses with a takedown

and pulver counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mantil won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

pulver is trying to get an arm triangle but Mantil is defending well.
Mantil gets back to half guard.
Mantil is trying to maintain the position but pulver is very close to passing his half guard.
pulver trying to pass the guard but Mantil defending well.
pulver is trying to control the action in half guard but Mantil is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantil is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of pulver's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take pulver's back!
pulver is in bad spot here.
pulver covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
pulver rolls, trying to escape but Mantil keeps control of the position.

Mantil is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
pulver covering up well and avoiding damage.
pulver tries to break free.

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.
pulver breaks Mantil's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Mantil is trying to keep pulver in close.
pulver trying to control the position from guard on top but Mantil is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mantil takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mantil tries for a takedown but pulver sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

pulver gets a takedown into half guard.
pulver tries to pass to full mount but Mantil defends it.
jens pulver overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pulver trying to control the pace.
pulver is thwarting Mantil's attempts to control the position.
pulver content to control rather than advance.
pulver really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mantil is staying active underneath pulver, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
pulver tries to pass to full mount but Mantil defends it.

Mantil looking for submissions off his back.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
pulver shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mantil counters with a nice low kick that buckles pulver's knee momentarily.

Mantil looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for pulver!
pulver is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

jens pulver dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

pulver has a takedown stuffed.
Mantil tries to score a power double leg takedown but pulver sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mantil somewhat.
pulver takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Mantil tries to clinch up.
pulver tries to clinch up but Mantil circles away and keeps his distance.
Mantil shoots and misses

and pulver counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mantil!
Mantil is bucking up trying to escape but pulver cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

pulver goes for an armbar but Mantil turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Mantil.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mantil tries to free his leg and advance position but pulver is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantil controlling from the top position.
pulver might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Mantil gets to his feet - pulver follows without any prompting.
jens pulver is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mantil fails with the takedown

and pulver counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
jens pulver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Mantil.
Mantil tries to get to full guard but pulver has control of the leg.
pulver tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mantil knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mantil is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mantil is looking to improve his position.

pulver is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mantil defends it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
pulver prevents Mantil from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

pulver shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mantil manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
pulver stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mantil swivels though and keeps the full guard.
pulver prevents Mantil from getting back to his feet.
pulver preventing the sweep.
pulver throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mantil working a defensive guard here.
Mantil wants to sweep here but pulver controlling him for the moment.
pulver controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

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

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mantil with a poor takedown

and pulver counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
pulver postures up.
pulver thows a big elbow that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mantil is trying to hold pulver in close to prevent damage but pulver has managed to pass into half guard.
Ground and pound from pulver.

And that's the end of the fight!
jens pulver showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for pulver, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for jens pulver!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for jens pulver!
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for jens pulver!

jens pulver wins by unanimous decision!