PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rock Pounder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Mann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mann has chosen Lupe Fiasco - Fire as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Pounder
vs
Mann

197 cm
22
197 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Rock Pounder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Steven Mann!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Steven Brown and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pounder tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mann swivels and escapes.
Mann tries to clinch but Pounder is having none of it.
Mann tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pounder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rock Pounder seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pounder fails to land the takedown.

Pounder closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pounder will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pounder taking a breather here.
Pounder is looking to take a break and control but Mann is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mann stops Pounder from passing to mount.
Pounder working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounder taking a break here but Mann is having none of it and regains half guard.

Pounder gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Mann blocks the body kick.
Pounder blocks a head kick by Mann.
Pounder looks for a takedown but Mann sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Pounder. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pounder.
Pounder shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pounder shoots in and drives through. Mann sprawls well.
Pounder fails to land with a series of punches.
Pounder fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Pounder is breathing heavily.
Mann tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pounder paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Mann shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pounder looking for a sweep. Not yet Pounder, not yet.
Mann trying to control the position from guard on top but Pounder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mann drops back looking for a leg! Pounder is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pounder manages to kick Mann off! Mann jumps back into Pounder's guard.
Pounder is trying to control the position but Mann postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mann 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 pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pounder is keeping the position for now.
Pounder is looking to stand up but Mann isn't so interested in that idea.
Mann wants to control from the top but Pounder keeps moving.
Pounder knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mann on the ground.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pounder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Mann shoots in for a double leg but Pounder sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pounder blocks the body kick.

Pounder gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mann keeps control of Pounder as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pounder tries to pull guard but Mann won't allow it.
Mann goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pounder prevents it.
Pounder gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mann.
Mann goes for a takedown attempt but Pounder pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mann clinches but Pounder breaks the clinch

and Pounder holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rock Pounder will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mann tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pounder swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mann avoids the head kick by Pounder.

Pounder rushes Mann and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mann fails to pull guard.
Pounder on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pounder leaning his opponent against the cage.
Pounder is pressed up against the cage. Mann has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pounder down to the mat. Pounder avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rock Pounder is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mann tries to clinch but Pounder moves away

and Pounder counters with a takedown into side control.
Mann is looking to reverse the position.

Pounder decides to stand up, so the ref orders Mann to his feet.
Pounder is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pounder looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pounder changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mann tries to avoid it but Pounder manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mann to the ground. Mann escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pounder throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mann's waist but Mann gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pounder off to one side.
Mann showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pounder.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pounder shoots and misses
and Mann counters with a slapping leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rock Pounder. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pounder misses with a takedown attempt

and Mann counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mann stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mann wants to control but Pounder is keeping him busy.
Mann works his foot free and advances to mount.
Pounder is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mann quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Mann but it's paid off an Pounder is forced to tap! Nice work by Mann.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Steven Mann!