PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Oliver Taquses (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor MacManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Oliver Taquses has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Taquses
vs
MacManus

175 cm
20
158 lbs
3 - 1 - 1

178 cm
21
156 lbs
8 - 1 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

NUTROID

MayheM sportswear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Oliver Taquses!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Connor MacManus!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Viktor Lagutenko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taquses throws a shot from downtown. MacManus moves away and avoids it.
MacManus feints a counter leg kick.
MacManus throws a body kick that misses.
Taquses thuds a left hand into MacManus's body.
MacManus has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
MacManus throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Taquses misses with a straight right.
MacManus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taquses.

Taquses closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Taquses lands in his opponent's guard.

MacManus manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by MacManus.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
MacManus drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Taquses throws a blind hook that connects with the side of MacManuss head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taquses manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Taquses looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
MacManus wants to control from the top but Taquses keeps moving.
Taquses controls MacManus momentarily but MacManus frees himself.

Taquses is looking for a triangle but MacManus pushes his legs off easily.
Taquses controls MacManus momentarily but MacManus frees himself.
MacManus wants to control from the top but Taquses keeps moving.
MacManus is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taquses has an active guard here but MacManus has managed to pass into half guard.
MacManus seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Taquses does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Taquses is looking for a sweep. MacManus is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
MacManus has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Taquses really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Taquses tries to lock up and control but MacManus gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacManus lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Taquses hang on?
MacManus postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Taquses looks a forlorn figure.
Taquses can't escape the position.
MacManus takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MacManus with a couple of short strikes.
MacManus is landing with some decent strikes but Taquses is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Taquses is squirming around, avoiding MacManus's attempts to control the action.
Taquses gets back to half guard.
MacManus performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Taquses is looking for a sweep. MacManus is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacManus trying to control from half guard but Taquses is working away.
Taquses moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
MacManus sitting in guard here, content to control.
Taquses keeping full guard, as MacManus tries to pass.

Taquses is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
MacManus trying to control but Taquses is working from the bottom.
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.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Taquses decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Taquses is looking to advance position but MacManus won't allow it.
Taquses perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taquses works his way into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
MacManus manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taquses is staying active underneath MacManus, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Taquses is looking for a sweep. MacManus is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
MacManus wants to stand up but Taquses is controlling the position.
Taquses works his way to full guard. Good work.

Taquses is looking for a triangle but MacManus pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
MacManus tries to free his leg and advance position but Taquses is retaining full guard.
MacManus throwing strikes from guard but Taquses blocks nicely.
MacManus makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
MacManus trying to control the position from guard on top but Taquses is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Taquses working for submissions but it's allowed MacManus to get to half guard.

MacManus seems to be looking for submissions.
Taquses preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacManus performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
MacManus working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Taquses trying to control but MacManus postures up.
MacManus lands with a punch from half guard.
Taquses wants to get back to full guard.
MacManus is nestled in close to Taquses, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
MacManus thows a huge punch but Taquses dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. MacManus connects with a nice short shot to Taquses's temple.
Taquses wants to improve his position but MacManus is controlling well.
MacManus throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
MacManus is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Taquses is staying active underneath MacManus, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Taquses wants to improve his position but MacManus is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
MacManus passes to full mount!

MacManus is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Taquses can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor MacManus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Taquses throws a hook but MacManus blocks it.
MacManus wants to counter with a clinch but Taquses pushes him away.
MacManus misses with a head kick.
A quick step to the side and Taquses tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Connor MacManus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
MacManus goes for a double leg but Taquses avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Taquses continues to drive forward.
Taquses misses with a wild body shot.

Taquses closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. MacManus quickly recovers to half guard.
MacManus is trying to escape back to his feet but Taquses uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Taquses thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
MacManus struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacManus might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Taquses haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacManus tries to improve position but can't.

Taquses goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, MacManus rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Taquses's guard! Nice work there by MacManus!
MacManus trying to control but Taquses is working from the bottom.

Taquses working for a triangle but MacManus defends it easily.

Taquses looking for a guillotine here but MacManus defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taquses trying to control the position.

Taquses is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and MacManus defends well.
Taquses not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
MacManus loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Taquses working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because MacManus has passed into half guard!
MacManus thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Taquses's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taquses blocking the ground and pound attempt from MacManus.

Taquses actively working from the bottom here.
Taquses moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
MacManus is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
MacManus postures up.

Taquses has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. MacManus doesn't defend quickly enough and Taquses has managed to lock this one up! Can MacManus escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Taquses on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Oliver Taquses!
Oliver Taquses retains his featherweight title!
A less than humble Oliver Taquses misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.