PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Scott Gibson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Mann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Gibson
vs
Mann

192 cm
29
280 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

188 cm
27
270 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Scott Gibson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Mann!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gibson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mann counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Gibson jumps into guard, dragging Mann to the mat.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Gibson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mann wants to control from the top but Gibson keeps moving.

Gibson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mann doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mann manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mann stopping the sweep attempt from Gibson.
Mann sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gibson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gibson being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson is pulling down on Mann's head to control his posture.
Mann trying to control but Gibson is working from the bottom.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mark Mann hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Gibson shoots and misses
and Mann connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mann tries to clinch but Gibson moves out of range.
Mann tries to close the distance and clinch but Gibson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Scott Gibson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mann keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Scott Gibson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gibson tries to keep at a distance but Mann has taken the fight into the clinch.
Gibson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Stalling in the clinch from Mann.

Gibson breaks from the clinch.
Mann attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Mann fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mann as he jumps to the side.
Gibson fails with the takedown.
Mann tries to clinch there but Gibson circles away.
Gibson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mann makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mann lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mann swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Gibson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Mann clinches up with Gibson and pushes him back against the cage.
Mann is trying to stall.
Mann displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gibson up against the cage.
Mann trying to stall but Gibson improves his position.
Gibson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mann is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Mann creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Mann tries to stall but Gibson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mark Mann.

Mann gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gibson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mann just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mann keeps control of Gibson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mann can't find room to land a body shot as Gibson controls the action.

Gibson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mann wants to pass the guard but Gibson is keeping the position.
Mann not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gibson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Mann's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gibson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mann trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Mark Mann has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Mann tries to clinch but Gibson is having none of it.
Mark Mann is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Mann darts in and clinches Gibson up against the cage.
Mann lands a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee calls for Mann to work.
A short right from Mann.

It looks like Scott Gibson has been cut.
Gibson tries to pull guard but Mann holds him up against the cage and eventually Gibson drops back down to his feet.
Mann gets underhooks to prevent Gibson's takedown attempt.
Mann keeps control of Gibson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mann looking to slow down the pace here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gibson avoids a wild elbow strike from Mann.
Mann misses with a body punch.
Gibson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Gibson breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Mann dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Scott Gibson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mann misses with a body shot.

Mann moves into the clinch.
Gibson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mann trying to control the position but instead, Gibson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mann into the cage.

Gibson pulls Mann into guard.
Gibson is trying to control the position but Mann postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mann accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mann trying to control the position from guard on top but Gibson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mann sitting in guard here, content to control.

Gibson has his foot on Mann's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mann works his way back into a safe position though.
Mann trying to control but Gibson is working from the bottom.
Gibson being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mark Mann wasn't active enough on the ground.
Gibson lands an overhand right.
Gibson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mann tries to clinch up.
Gibson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mann. Mann obviously looking to wear him down.
Mann moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Gibson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mann's half guard.
Mann wants to control but Gibson is keeping busy.
Gibson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mann wants to get back to full guard.
Mann is staying active underneath Gibson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mann trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibson prevents Mann from improving his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gibson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mann sees it coming and defends easily.
Scott Gibson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mann slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Mann lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gibson!
Gibson wants to control but Mann is having none of it.
Mann wants to control the pace but Gibson is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibson working to try and regain half guard.
Mann controlling the position easily from mount.
Gibson tries to hold on but Mann postures up.
Mann tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mann's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Gibson wants to control but Mann is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibson can't escape the position.
Mann controlling the pace for now.
Gibson is looking to get to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gibson is working hard here to advance position.
Mann looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Mann showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Scott Gibson's cut.
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 hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gibson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mann counters with a nice uppercut.
Gibson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mann makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Mann fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gibson, pushing him back against the cage.
Gibson tries to circle away but Mann has him pinned against the cage.
Gibson is trying to pull guard but Mann turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Scott Gibson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gibson.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Mann throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Gibson blocks it with crossed arms.
Gibson wants to take the fight to the mat but Mann manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gibson can't break the clinch.
Gibson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mann gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mark Mann seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mann avoiding damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mann blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mann misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mann gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mann lands a nice elbow.
Mann pushes Gibson back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A bit of stalling here from Mann.
Mann looking to slow down the pace here.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mann just misses with a elbow thrown towards Gibson's brow.
Mann tries a knee to the head but Gibson blocks it.
Gibson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Mann after a bit of a struggle.
Mann leaning against his opponent.
Gibson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mann prevents it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gibson as Mann tries to tie him up.
Gibson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mann throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mann controlling the action here for a moment.
Gibson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gibson is trying to pull guard but Mann has him pressed against the cage.
Gibson can't get the takedown.
Mann looking to slow down the pace here.
Mann is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mark Mann.
Mann with a hook.
Gibson moves out of range as Mann strikes.
Mann ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gibson moves away.
Mann wants to clinch up but Gibson keeps it at a distance.
Gibson checks a leg kick nicely.
Gibson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Mann tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gibson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mann throws a leg kick but Gibson checks it.
Mann wants to clinch up but Gibson keeps it at a distance.
Scott Gibson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mann tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Mann closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mann tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gibson jumps guard but Mann turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Mann lands a right hand.
Gibson fails to pull guard.
Gibson tries to break the clinch but Mann is controlling the position.
Gibson jumps guard but Mann stands there with Gibson around his waist. Gibson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mann lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gibson backwards.
Gibson jumps guard but Mann stands there with Gibson around his waist. Gibson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gibson fails to pull guard.
Mann is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Mann working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gibson blocks a body shot from Mann.
Gibson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Mann looking to stall.
Gibson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mann misses with a knee to the head.
Mann is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Mann tries to land a knee to the head but Gibson blocks with his arms.
Gibson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mann to keep the fight standing.
Gibson misses with some punches.
Mann lands a nice uppercut.
Gibson tries to pull guard but Mann won't allow it.
Gibson avoiding damage as Mann throws knees to the body.
Mann avoiding damage.
Mann is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gibson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mann smiles and moves away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gibson takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Mann comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mann has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Mann!
Mark Mann seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.