PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yurik Khripunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Mangan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Khripunov
vs
Mangan

171 cm
27
150 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

174 cm
29
157 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yurik Khripunov !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matthew Mangan!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Viktor Lagutenko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mangan shoots in but no luck this time.
Mangan has a takedown stuffed.
Mangan fails with the takedown
and Khripunov counters with a stiff right hand.
Yurik Khripunov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Mangan.
Mangan throws the left hand but Khripunov avoids the punch easily.
Khripunov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mangan.
Mangan digs a good hook to Khripunov 's body.
Decent striking displayed by Mangan there.

Khripunov clinches up with Mangan and pushes him back against the cage.
Mangan is working for takedown but Khripunov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Mangan is working for takedown but Khripunov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Mangan has Khripunov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Khripunov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mangan goes for a takedown attempt but Khripunov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mangan misses with a left hand
and Khripunov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khripunov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mangan.
Khripunov motions for Mangan to come forward. Khripunov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mangan doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Khripunov counters with a thumping low kick.
Mangan looks gassed!
Mangan loads up on a big right hand but Khripunov slips the punch.
Khripunov misses with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mangan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Khripunov .
Mangan dodges the punch combination from Khripunov .

Mangan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Khripunov sprawls well initially but Mangan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Khripunov keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Mangan looks to land a strike but Khripunov avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Mangan throws an elbow that misses. Khripunov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mangan's guard. Nice move by Khripunov !
Mangan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Khripunov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khripunov stays in close to Mangan's body and controls the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Khripunov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Khripunov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Khripunov throwing strikes but missing.
Khripunov throws an elbow that misses. Mangan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Khripunov 's guard. Nice move by Mangan!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mangan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mangan throws an elbow that misses. Khripunov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mangan's guard. Nice move by Khripunov !
Khripunov 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.
Khripunov stops Mangan from standing up.
Mangan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Khripunov 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.
Khripunov stopping the sweep attempt from Mangan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khripunov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mangan wants to stand but Khripunov is controlling the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mangan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Khripunov wants to control from the top but Mangan keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khripunov 's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mangan throws out a loose jab but Khripunov uses good head movement to avoid it.
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 Yurik Khripunov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Khripunov 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mangan thows a body shot but no joy.
Mangan swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Khripunov closes the distance and clinches.
Khripunov working Mangan over with knees to the body.
Mangan tries for a takedown but Khripunov manages to get underhooks.
Mangan is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Mangan is looking to take this one to the mat.
Khripunov has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Mangan wants a takedown.
Yurik Khripunov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Mangan.
Khripunov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Khripunov crunches a lovely knee into Mangan's ribcage.
Khripunov gets underhooks to prevent Mangan's takedown attempt.
Khripunov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mangan is defending well for now.
Mangan managing to block the knees to the body from Khripunov .
Khripunov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Khripunov lands an elbow that stopped Mangan in his tracks for a moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khripunov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mangan is breathing heavily.
Khripunov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mangan blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khripunov lands an elbow inside that Mangan shrugs off.
Mangan tries to score a body lock takedown but Khripunov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mangan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Khripunov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Khripunov taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Mangan looking to slow down the pace here.
Mangan tries for a takedown but Khripunov manages to get underhooks.
Mangan wants to take the fight to the mat but Khripunov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Khripunov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Khripunov has Mangan pressed against the cage, preventing Mangan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Khripunov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mangan.
Khripunov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Mangan's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mangan is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Khripunov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Mangan drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Khripunov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Mangan is rocked!
Mangan goes for a takedown attempt but Khripunov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mangan is still on wobbly legs! Can Khripunov finish him?
Khripunov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Khripunov is throwing punches like he's double parked. Oh my word! Huge right hand from Khripunov shuts the power down on Mangan. Lights out, game over! Khripunov is your winner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Yurik Khripunov !