PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steven Mann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Broph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mann comes to the cage accompanied by Lupe Fiasco - Fire. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mann
vs
Broph

185 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Voodoo Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Steven Mann!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Craig Broph!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Broph throws a head kick that misses.
Broph lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Broph throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mann slips a jab and a cross from Broph.
Broph fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mann looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick misses from Mann.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Broph with that takedown attempt.
Broph wants to clinch up but Mann keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Broph throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Broph shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mann pinned against the cage. Mann gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Steven Mann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Broph.
Broph throws a series of punches but Mann avoids them all with ease.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Broph!
Craig Broph seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Broph throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Mann tries to clinch but Broph moves away
and Broph counters with a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mann has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mann there as he acknowledges the shot.
Broph throws a right and a left that both miss.

Mann shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Broph's guard.
Broph pulls Mann in close to prevent any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Broph has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mann is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Broph.
Broph manages to work his way to half guard, despite Mann's best efforts.
Broph has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mann is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mann blocks the strikes from Broph.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Broph missing with punches from the bottom.
Broph tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Broph wants to improve his position but Mann is controlling well.
Broph is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Mann is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Broph is just riding it out for now. Mann eventually gives up the hold.
Broph tries to get to full guard but Mann has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Broph tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mann swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Broph misses with a head kick.
Mann wants to clinch but Broph slips to the side
and Broph counters with a series of strikes. Mann will be more careful next time no doubt.
Broph tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Broph looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mann tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Broph counters with a left and a right that stings Mann.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Broph dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Broph shoots for a takedown but Mann saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Broph will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Broph looks to land a left hand but Mann moved out of range nicely.
Mann misses with a takedown attempt - Broph sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mann with a poor takedown
and Broph counters with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mann darts in and clinches Broph up against the cage.
Mann stops a takedown attempt from Broph.

Broph breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Broph fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mann sprawls well initially but Broph persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Broph. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mann looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Broph is trying to control the action in half guard but Mann is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Broph is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Broph controlling his opponent.
Broph scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Broph wants to finish this one by submission but Mann is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Broph.
Broph landing strikes, looking to finish!
Broph raining down shots from the mount!
Broph is landing with some decent strikes but Mann is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Mann is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Broph content just to control the position here.
Mann reaches up and holds on to Broph to control the position.
Broph looking to control but Mann is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Broph lands a nice shot to the head.
Broph lands a heavy elbow.
Broph landing strikes from the mount and Mann is in trouble!
Broph is landing with some decent strikes but Mann is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Broph tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Broph tries to control but Mann wriggling away.
Broph takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mann is in a horrible position here. Broph smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mann is working to get back to half guard.
Mann takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Broph pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mann in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Broph.
Broph scoring with strikes but Mann is staying in there.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Broph tries to control but Mann wriggling away.
BOOM! Broph connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Broph with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Broph showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Broph swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mann.
Mann circles away from the clinch attempt

and Mann counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mann is pushing down on Broph's leg trying to pass to half guard. Broph is fighting to maintain full guard but Mann has managed to sneak the leg through.
Broph trying to control but Mann postures up.
Mann wants to pass to mount but Broph is defending the position.
Mann wants to take a breather but Broph is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mann blocks the strikes from Broph.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Broph trying to control here.

Mann is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Broph has managed to free his arm - good work.
Broph is pressing down on Mann's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Broph is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Broph darts in and clinches Mann up against the cage.

Broph breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Broph uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mann has time to react.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Broph lands with a shot to the body.
Broph lands a head kick. Mann smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Broph gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Mann counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mann.
Broph wants to break the clinch but can't.

Broph breaks from the clinch.
Broph throws a solid leg kick but Mann takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Broph.
Broph misses with a two punch combination.
Broph shoots in for a double leg but Mann sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Broph scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Broph swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mann.
Broph looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Good work by Mann as he checks the leg kick.
Broph throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Broph throws an overhand right that lands on Mann's shoulder, as Mann tries to avoid the shot.
Steven Mann is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Broph stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Broph throws a series of punches but Mann moves out of range.
Mann avoids a punch combination nicely.
Broph misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mann.
Mann looks to clinch

and Broph counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mann taking punishment in the form of punches.
Broph landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Broph really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mann fails in his attempt to clinch.
Broph throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mann scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Broph throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mann avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Broph fails with the takedown

and Mann counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Broph!
Broph is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mann looking to control but Broph is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Broph stops Mann from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Mann prevents Broph from getting the reversal.
Craig Broph has got the better of the ground game so far.
Broph is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Broph can't escape the position.
Broph flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mann wants to control the pace but Broph is squirming around nicely.
Broph regains half guard.
Broph makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Broph.
Broph is trying to control the position but Mann postures up.
Broph bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mann's guard.
Broph looking to pass the guard.
Mann wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Broph trying to control but Mann is working from the bottom.
Broph slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mann tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Broph wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Broph works to advance to full mount. Mann defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Broph takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Broph is landing with some decent strikes but Mann is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Broph is working for a guillotine from mount but Mann frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Broph putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Broph connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Broph takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Broph landing strikes from the mount.
Mann is trying desperately to improve position.
Mann is in a horrible position here. Broph smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Broph dominating with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Broph dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Mann tries to move into range but Broph moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Broph throws a left and a right that both miss

and Mann counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Broph's guard now.
Broph is trying to keep Mann in close.
Mann trying to control the position from guard on top but Broph is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Broph throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Mann pushes down on Broph's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Broph misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Broph trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Broph punching from the bottom.
Broph wants to control but Mann is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Broph throws a head kick that misses.
A nice combination there by Broph.
Mann avoids the body shot from Broph.
Broph swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mann counters with a single leg into guard. Broph didn't expect that.
Mann chips away with some ground and pound.
Broph tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Mann stands up from Broph's guard - Mann perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mann shoots in for a double leg but Broph sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Broph throws a left and a right that both miss
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Mann uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Broph.

Broph shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Mann looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Broph makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Broph with a nice head shot there.
Broph slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mann utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Broph content to stall in guard here.
Broph stands up over Mann, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Broph keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Mann's head.
Broph content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Broph must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mann keeping moving, preventing Broph from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Broph connects with a couple of short punches.
Broph tries to free his leg and advance position but Mann is retaining full guard.
Broph pushing down on Mann's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Broph perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Broph wants to pass the guard but Mann is defending well.
Steven Mann has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Craig Broph is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Broph is nestled in close to Mann, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Broph not doing much here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Steven Mann.
I think Broph 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge James Ackerman scores the fight for Craig Broph!
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight for Craig Broph!
Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Craig Broph!

Craig Broph wins by unanimous decision!
Craig Broph is the new light heavyweight champion!