PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gage R (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barry Manilow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

R
vs
Manilow

187 cm
33
195 lbs
20 - 9 - 2

188 cm
26
201 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Black Hand Fight Gear & Laundry

Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gage R!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Barry Manilow!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manilow throws a big shot that misses.
Barry Manilow seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
R takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Manilow is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Manilow moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
R misses with a hook.
Manilow looks to throw the jab but R is out of range.
Manilow keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
R takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Manilow throws a low kick but it's checked well by R.
R checks a low kick from Manilow.
R tries to clinch but Manilow is having none of it.
R throws a leg kick that is checked
and Manilow counters with a stiff right hand.
Manilow will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
R takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
R checks a leg kick.
Manilow ducks down and throws a hook to the body but R moves away.
Manilow throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Manilow tries to move into range but R moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Manilow lands with a thumping leg kick.
R cracks Manilow with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Manilow steps to the side to avoid the strikes from R.
R keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Manilow.
A cross from Manilow lands.
Manilow throws a half hearted mid kick.
Manilow lands with a straight right. R didn't see that one coming.
R keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Manilow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
R fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manilow thuds his right hand into R's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
R takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
R blocks a low kick nicely.
Jab by Manilow.
R misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Manilow.
Manilow thows a body shot but no joy.
Manilow swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
R misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Manilow makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Manilow lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Manilow throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Manilow pulls out of a head kick attempt.
R chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Manilow can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manilow fails in his attempt to clinch.
Manilow pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manilow lands with a thumping leg kick.
R moves out of range of the leg kick from Manilow.
Manilow throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent R stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Manilow scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
R wants to clinch up but Manilow keeps it at a distance.
Manilow misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
R pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A swing and a miss from R.
Manilow throws an uppercut from half a mile away. R sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Decent striking displayed by Manilow there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manilow throws a quick inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
R misses with a kick to the body
and Manilow counters with a nice uppercut.
R takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Manilow connects with a body shot that sends R's belly button to the back.
Manilow lands a jab to the head.
Barry Manilow is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Manilow tries to clinch up.
Manilow has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from R finds it's way round the side to connect with Manilow's head.
Manilow missing with a left hand there. R was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
R waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Manilow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Manilow feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Manilow dodges the punch combination from R.
R tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Manilow dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

R misses with a wild combination.
R with a nice cross.
R ducks right into an uppercut from Manilow.
Manilow ducks under a wild hook from R.
R on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Barry Manilow seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Manilow displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as R throws out the jab.
Manilow slips under a jab from R.
Manilow lets loose with a powerful body kick. R will feel that in the morning.
Manilow connects with a right hand. R shakes it off.
R avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
R steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Manilow.
Manilow tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. R manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
R thows a left - swing and a miss!
Manilow tries to clinch up but R circles away and keeps his distance.
R looks to land a right hand but Manilow moved out of range.
R takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
R swings for the body but Manilow moves out of range.
R ducks right into an uppercut from Manilow.
R swings widly with a right hand
and Manilow counters with a straight right hand.
Manilow rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but R moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
R takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Manilow scores with a punch to the head.
Manilow throws a head kick but R moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manilow avoids the head kick by R.
Manilow turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manilow clobbers R with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The fighters circling - Manilow throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Manilow slips under a jab.
R throws a looping overhand right but Manilow ducks down to avoid it.
Manilow scores with a jab to the jaw.
Gage R is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manilow cracks R with an open hand slap.
R misses with a looping left.
R is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Manilow lands a jab.
R fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Manilow on the side of the head.
Manilow lands a lovely overhand right.
Manilow throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
R throws a lazy uppercut
and Manilow counters with a three punch combo that has R backing up. R nods at Manilow to acknowledge the strikes.
Manilow pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Manilow ducks down and throws a hook to the body but R moves away.
Manilow scores with a push kick.
Manilow with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Manilow just misses with a punch to the body.
Manilow dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on R. That did some damage!
R misses with a looping right.
Manilow scores with a nice strike.
Manilow lands a nice hook to R's body. R takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
R drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
R looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Manilow tests R's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manilow connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Manilow throws a solid leg kick but R takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Manilow.
Manilow lands a body shot.
R is looking to chop away at Manilow's legs.
Manilow connects with an inside leg kick.
Manilow throws an uppercut from half a mile away. R sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Manilow has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Manilow lands with a kick to the ribs.
Manilow looks to land a combination but R avoids it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
R pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
R is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
R is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Manilow tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. R manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Manilow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

A head kick misses from Manilow.
Manilow connects with a single shot there.
Manilow throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
R with a hook.
Manilow throws a hook but R blocks it.
R throws a right and a left that Manilow avoids nicely.
Manilow throws a front kick aimed at R's knee but R avoids it well.
Manilow connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between R's hands.
Manilow throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Some wild striking there from Manilow.
Manilow tries to land a front kick but R steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Manilow tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
R blocks a jab.
Manilow misses with a straight right.
Manilow moves out of range as R strikes.
Manilow swings for the body but R moves out of range.
R misses with a series of wild punches.
Manilow keeps R at a distance using the push kick.
Manilow lands a head kick. R smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
R stalks Manilow and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Manilow's face. Manilow staggers backwards, shaken.
Manilow misses with a body shot.
R takes a swing at Manilow's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manilow scores with a nice strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Manilow wants to clinch up but R keeps it at a distance.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Manilow, as that shot connected.
R takes a swing at Manilow's ribcage but misses.
A nice combination there by Manilow.
A big left from Manilow misses.
Manilow lands with a slapping head kick.
Manilow dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on R. That did some damage!
R misses with a looping left.
R shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

R is rocked!
The fighters circling - R throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Manilow looks to land a left hand but R moved out of range nicely.
Barry Manilow is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manilow lands with a nice body punch.
Manilow lands a jab to the head.
R swinging wildly here.
Manilow throws a chopping leg kick but R manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Manilow scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gage R has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manilow scores with a decent looking hook.
R misses with a series of wild punches.
Manilow scores with a shot to the body.
Manilow scores with a jab. R acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Manilow bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of R's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

R pushes Manilow up against the cage in a clinch.
A short left from Manilow.
Good body shot from R.
Manilow is working R over against the cage.
R tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Manilow gets through R's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A nice left hand lands by R.

Manilow breaks the clinch.
R throws a right and a left that Manilow avoids nicely.
Manilow swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Some wild striking there from Manilow.
Manilow scores with a hook to the body. R takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barry Manilow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Manilow winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barry Manilow!
A relieved looking Barry Manilow thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.