PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paulo Antonio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor MacManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Connor MacManus enters the cage!

Antonio
vs
MacManus

171 cm
27
142 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

170 cm
26
143 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Antonio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Connor MacManus!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Antonio swats away the attempt to clinch by MacManus.
Antonio fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
MacManus tries to close the distance and clinch but Antonio swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
MacManus tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Antonio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Antonio checks a leg kick.
Antonio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Danga de danga de dang - MacManus scores with a four punch combination!

MacManus pushes Antonio up against the cage in a clinch.

MacManus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
MacManus bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Antonio avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Good work by Antonio as he checks the leg kick.
Antonio shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says MacManus as he avoids it easily.
Antonio shoots in for a takedown but MacManus shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulo Antonio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Antonio shoots for a double leg takedown but MacManus sprawls well. He's pushed Antonio's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Antonio has his takedown stuffed

and MacManus counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
MacManus working the ground and pound.
MacManus trying to control the position but Antonio is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacManus is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Antonio wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Antonio tries to bench press MacManus off him but MacManus keeps the position.
MacManus tries to advance to mount but can't.

MacManus looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

MacManus is trying to get an arm triangle but Antonio is defending well.
Antonio gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Antonio gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacManus postures up in Antonio's guard and throws a big left but Antonio blocks it.
MacManus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Antonio swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Antonio looking to control.
Antonio is looking to sweep but instead, MacManus has passed into half guard.
MacManus seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Antonio wants to improve his position but MacManus is controlling well.
MacManus is keen to just control but Antonio is a slippery customer.
Antonio is looking for a sweep. MacManus is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
MacManus seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Antonio does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
MacManus trying to pass the guard but Antonio defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antonio slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Antonio looking for a guillotine here but MacManus defends easily.
MacManus is working Antonio over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Antonio wants to sweep here but MacManus controlling him for the moment.

Antonio looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
MacManus pushing down on Antonio's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
MacManus missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Antonio wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Antonio manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Antonio throws his legs up looking for a submission but MacManus uses it to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

MacManus thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Antonio is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked MacManus off and has taken his back!
MacManus is taking damage to the body and head.

Antonio working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Antonio is looking for the choke from the back position but MacManus is controlling his hands well.
Antonio lands strikes to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
MacManus trying to control the hands but Antonio breaks the grip.
Antonio softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Antonio lands strikes to the head.
MacManus has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Antonio.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Connor MacManus will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Antonio checks a leg kick.
MacManus misses with an attempted mid kick.
MacManus slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
MacManus fails in his attempt to clinch.
MacManus leaves Antonio with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Antonio avoids a punch combination nicely.
Antonio throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
MacManus swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Antonio dives in and grabs MacManus's left leg, looking for a takedown. MacManus pushes down on Antonio's head and hops out.
Antonio misses with a takedown attempt - MacManus sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulo Antonio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
MacManus misses with the combination.
Paulo Antonio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Antonio checks a leg kick.
MacManus misses with a wild combination.

MacManus clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacManus is pressed up against the cage. Antonio has hold of a leg and is looking to drag MacManus down to the mat. MacManus avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Antonio shoots in and drives through. MacManus sprawls well.
No joy there for MacManus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Antonio has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from MacManus.
Antonio shoots for a double leg takedown but MacManus sprawls well. He's pushed Antonio's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Antonio takes one to the chin there.
The fighters circle momentarily. MacManus darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
MacManus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Antonio scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
MacManus tries to get to full guard but Antonio has control of the leg.
Antonio wants to pass the guard but MacManus is defending well.
Antonio is thwarting MacManus's attempts to control the position.
Antonio thows a huge punch but MacManus dodges it nicely.
Paulo Antonio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Antonio is looking to advance position but MacManus won't allow it.
Antonio works his foot free and advances to mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Antonio working away from the top, dropping strikes.
MacManus is bucking up trying to escape but Antonio cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Antonio lands with some strikes.
MacManus is squirming around, avoiding Antonio's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MacManus sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
MacManus is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Antonio not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Antonio looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Antonio is trying to control the action in half guard but MacManus is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
MacManus tries to get to full guard but Antonio has control of the leg.
Antonio thows a huge punch but MacManus dodges it nicely.
Antonio tries to pass to full mount but MacManus defends it.
Antonio takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Antonio trying to advance position but MacManus counters by regaining guard.
MacManus keeping full guard, as Antonio tries to pass.
Antonio throws a big elbow that misses.
MacManus has control of Antonio's left arm, preventing Antonio from doing any damage.
Antonio makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
MacManus wants to sweep but no luck.
MacManus is trying to keep Antonio in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
MacManus seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Antonio pushing down on MacManus's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paulo Antonio dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

No luck for Antonio with that takedown attempt.

MacManus looking to score a takedown here. Antonio is defending well but MacManus drives through and ends up in Antonio's guard.
Antonio keeping moving, preventing MacManus from controlling successfully.

Antonio is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and MacManus defends well.
MacManus wants to control from the top but Antonio keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Antonio not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
MacManus stops Antonio from standing up.
Antonio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacManus sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Connor MacManus wasn't active enough on the ground.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Antonio.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Antonio.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paulo Antonio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
MacManus moves in looking to clinch but Antonio pushes him off.
MacManus tries to clinch up but Antonio circles away and keeps his distance.
Antonio shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has MacManus pinned against the cage. MacManus gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Antonio fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

MacManus fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Antonio, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Antonio has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but MacManus regains guard immediately.
MacManus wants to sweep but no luck.
MacManus working a defensive guard here.
MacManus pulls Antonio in close to prevent any damage.
Antonio passes MacManus's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Antonio 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
MacManus wants to improve his position but Antonio is controlling well.
Antonio wants to free his trapped foot but MacManus is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacManus is controlling Antonio's trapped leg to prevent Antonio from advancing to side control.
MacManus is looking for a sweep. Antonio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
MacManus is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
MacManus is positioning himself well to prevent Antonio advancing to mount.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Connor MacManus hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Antonio shoots in but MacManus avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - MacManus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Antonio shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacManus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
MacManus moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

MacManus rushes Antonio and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
MacManus effectively controlling the action here.
Antonio has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. MacManus avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
MacManus is trying to drag Antonio to the mat but Antonio just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

MacManus has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Antonio uses from the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Antonio preventing the sweep.
Antonio lands a couple of digs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Antonio looking to sit in guard and control but MacManus gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor MacManus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think MacManus 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor MacManus!
Connor MacManus gave a mention to [WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry) in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).