PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between pp pp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joaquim Manuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

pp
vs
Manuel

200 cm
20
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, pp pp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Joaquim Manuel!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manuel looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? pp is fending him off so far but Manuel persists. Nope, pp circles away and we're back to standing.

Manuel gets the takedown into side control.
pp sneaks back into half guard.
pp is looking to improve his position.
pp wants to control but Manuel is keeping busy.

pp looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Manuel is taking a breather. pp says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
pp is looking for a sweep. Manuel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
pp misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Manuel trying to mount his opponent but pp defends it.
pp pushes Manuel off looking to stand but Manuel dives back in and keeps control.
pp wants to improve his position but Manuel is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
pp trying to hold on to Manuel's head to control him but Manuel postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Manuel shoots for a double leg takedown but pp sprawls well. He's pushed Manuel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Manuel gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows pp to score an easy takedown into full guard.

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

Manuel is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Manuel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. pp gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Manuel has his foot on pp's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. pp works his way back into a safe position though.
Manuel looks gassed!

Manuel has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. pp 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 Manuel.
Manuel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Manuel tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but pp presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Manuel is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
pp dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquim Manuel dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Manuel fails with the takedown

and pp counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by pp.
pp is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Manuel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Manuel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. pp defends it easily.

Manuel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. pp defends it easily.
pp passes Manuel's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Manuel wants to get back to full guard.
Manuel is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manuel looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and pp pushes past his half guard into mount!

pp goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Manuel is on top in guard.
Manuel stops pp from standing up.
pp wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
pp is wriggling around but Manuel manages to pass to half guard.
Manuel controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
pp has a hand on Manuel's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Manuel takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
pp tries to hold on but Manuel pushes him away.
Manuel controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
pp is arching his back trying to strike from the bottom but Manuel turns him over and now has his back.
pp trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
pp is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Manuel is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Manuel patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joaquim Manuel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

pp drives through with a takedown into guard.

Manuel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
pp trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Manuel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and pp defends well.
pp would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Manuel is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. pp is aware though and is defending well.
pp has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
pp wants to control from the top but Manuel keeps moving.

pp is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Manuel has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. pp is looking to defend but Manuel has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for pp! Manuel pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, pp taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Joaquim Manuel!