PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Freddy Zalapdos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Zalapdos
vs
McManus

160 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 Las Vegas, Freddy Zalapdos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas McManus!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McManus looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Zalapdos clinches up against the cage.
McManus tries to score a body lock takedown but Zalapdos shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Zalapdos tries to break free but McManus pushes him back against the cage.
McManus landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
McManus stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Zalapdos has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by McManus after a bit of a struggle.
McManus is looking to control Zalapdos's arms but Zalapdos gets an underhook and turns him. Now McManus has his back to the cage.
McManus is pushing Zalapdos up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
McManus unloads a knee to the mid-section.
McManus landing knees to the head.
McManus misses with a knee strike.
Zalapdos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McManus has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zalapdos tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Zalapdos manages to break the clinch.
Thomas McManus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zalapdos fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Freddy Zalapdos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McManus moves in looking to clinch but Zalapdos pushes him off.

McManus gets the takedown into side control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Zalapdos is trying to buck McManus off.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zalapdos wants to control but McManus postures up.
McManus throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

McManus tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
McManus misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Zalapdos is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McManus decides to stand back up. McManus steps back and let's Zalapdos get back to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zalapdos is defended easily by McManus.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McManus scores with a push kick.

McManus drives through with a takedown into Zalapdos's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
McManus is pushing down on Zalapdos's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zalapdos is fighting to maintain full guard but McManus has managed to sneak the leg through.
McManus moves nicely into side control.
Zalapdos is being controlled here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McManus stands up.
McManus throws a head kick that Zalapdos semi-blocks.
Zalapdos misses with a takedown attempt - McManus sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McManus is looking to clinch but Zalapdos is avoiding it.
McManus closes the distance and lands a one-two.

McManus moves into range and clinches up with Zalapdos.
The referee is keeping an eye on McManus - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A knee to the head by McManus.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus lands a knee to the head.
Zalapdos takes a knee to the side of the body.

McManus manages to pull guard.

McManus has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zalapdos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

McManus escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zalapdos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McManus is trying to keep Zalapdos in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas McManus dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

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

Zalapdos breaks the clinch.
McManus shoots for a takedown but Zalapdos saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
McManus is looking to clinch but Zalapdos is avoiding it.

Zalapdos closes the distance and clinches.
McManus goes for a takedown attempt but Zalapdos pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
McManus tries for a takedown but Zalapdos sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Freddy Zalapdos has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas McManus.
McManus fails in his attempt to clinch.

Zalapdos has taken the fight to the clinch.
McManus prevents the takedown attempt.
McManus tries to land knees in the clinch but Zalapdos avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus just leaning against Zalapdos, taking a breather.

Zalapdos gets control of McManus's arms and successfully pulls guard. Zalapdos will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
McManus won't allow Zalapdos to sweep him here.
Zalapdos is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Zalapdos keeping moving, preventing McManus from controlling successfully.

Zalapdos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McManus sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Thomas McManus has got the better of the ground game so far.

Zalapdos had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. McManus defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zalapdos keeping moving, preventing McManus from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells McManus's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

McManus gets to his feet. Zalapdos looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Zalapdos swats away the attempt to clinch by McManus.
Freddy Zalapdos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McManus throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from McManus. Those never looked like landing.
Zalapdos misses with a takedown attempt - McManus sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

McManus shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zalapdos manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
McManus slips nicely into half guard.
McManus works his foot free and advances to mount.
McManus avoids the attempt from Zalapdos to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! McManus connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Zalapdos is looking to get to half guard.

McManus is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Zalapdos has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Zalapdos might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McManus working the ground and pound effectively.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McManus looking to control but Zalapdos is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas McManus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zalapdos closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. McManus quickly recovers to half guard.
McManus manages to get to full guard.
McManus is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

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

McManus kicks Zalapdos off and gets to his feet.
McManus throws a head kick but Zalapdos moves out of range.
McManus looks for a takedown but Zalapdos sprawls well.
McManus takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Zalapdos closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zalapdos tries for a kimura but McManus is defending well.

Zalapdos is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McManus has escaped the position, nice work there.
McManus prevents Zalapdos from moving into mount.
McManus is trying to improve his position.
Zalapdos is looking to take a break and control but McManus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zalapdos is trying to get an arm triangle but McManus is defending well.
McManus is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Zalapdos off and has taken his back!

Zalapdos won't enjoy being in this position. McManus looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Zalapdos is tapping - it's over boys! McManus picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Thomas McManus!