PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marc Manuel (ranked 6914 p4p, 555 weight class) and Maurice Smith (ranked 6705 p4p, 548 weight class). Marc Manuel has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Manuel
vs
Smith

183 cm
24
165 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Condemned

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marc Manuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maurice Smith!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith swats away the attempt to clinch by Manuel.
Smith scores with a punch to the head.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Manuel.
Smith is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Smith struggles to land a body shot inside as Manuel controls his hands.
Manuel has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith pushes Manuel back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Still in the clinch, Smith scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Manuel.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Smith.
Manuel wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Manuel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith effectively controlling the action here.
Smith lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Manuel or not.
Smith content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Manuel's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Manuel wants a takedown.
Smith works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Smith scores with a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Smith - that landed with a thud.
Smith lands a hook to the side of the head.

Manuel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Smith instigates a clinch.
Smith will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Manuel up against the cage.
Smith lands a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel is looking for a takedown.
Smith pushes Manuel back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Smith lands a body shot.
A nice left hand lands by Smith.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Smith creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Smith lands a body punch.
Manuel is breathing heavily.
Smith lands a body punch.
Smith working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Manuel has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Smith avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Smith scores with a shoulder strike.
Smith stalling in the clinch.
Smith lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith scores with a shoulder strike.
A hook to the body from Smith.
Smith pushes Manuel back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Smith throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Smith gets through Manuel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Smith scores with a nice short uppercut.
Smith throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Smith is pressed up against the cage. Manuel has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Smith down to the mat. Smith avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Smith drops Manuel with a beautiful combination! Manuel stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Smith is looking for the KO!

Manuel is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smith dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Oh Manuel is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Smith feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Manuels jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Manuel tries to keep at a distance but Smith has taken the fight into the clinch.
Smith is working Manuel over against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith keeps control of Manuel as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Smith has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Manuel seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Smith can turn it around.
Smith cracks Manuel with a nice body shot.
Smith lands with a left to the head.
A short right from Smith.
Smith lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short left from Smith.
Smith displaying some good clinch control by pressing Manuel up against the cage.
Smith leaning his opponent against the cage.
Manuel seems to have got his legs back now.
Smith scores with a shoulder strike.
Good body shot from Smith.
A body shot lands from Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurice Smith dominated that round.
That's time! Manuel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Smith misses with a two punch combination.
Manuel is looking for a counter combo.
Smith swinging wildly here.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nice body punch from Smith.
Manuel tries for a takedown but Smith circles away easily
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Smith bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Smith throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manuel takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Smith clinches up with Manuel and pushes him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manuel is trying to drag Smith to the mat but Smith just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Smith is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith effectively controlling the action here.
A short left from Smith.
Smith displaying some good clinch control by pressing Manuel up against the cage.
Manuel is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smith is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Manuel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right handed body shot lands from Smith.
Maurice Smith seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Smith stalling.
A nice right hand lands inside from Smith.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Smith as the two fighters clinch.
Smith lands with a short shot to the head.
Smith lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Manuel backwards.
Manuel is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Smith content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Manuel is working for takedown but Smith is calmly controlling the position for now.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Smith.
Smith's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Smith lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a shoulder strike.
A right handed body shot lands from Smith.
Manuel wants a takedown but no success here.
Smith lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smith stalls.
Smith lands with a short shot to the head.
Smith lands a shot to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Smith lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Manuel.
Smith stalls.
Smith slowing the pace effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Maurice Smith.
Smith scores with a jab to the body.
Manuel misses with a takedown attempt - Smith sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Smith moves into the clinch.
A short uppercut from Smith.
Manuel looking for a takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Smith.
A nice left hand lands by Smith.
A right hand to the body from Smith.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maurice Smith 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! And we move into the final round!

Smith clinches up against the cage.
Smith lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Smith working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Smith lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Smith lands with a light punch inside.
A bit of stalling here from Smith.
Smith stalling in the clinch.
Smith continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
A nice left hand lands by Smith.

Manuel jumps into guard, dragging Smith to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Manuel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith is working Manuel over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manuel controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
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.
Smith wants to control from the top but Manuel keeps moving.

Manuel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Smith gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Manuel is keeping the position for now.

Manuel looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Smith not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Manuel has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smith can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Manuel has his foot on Smith's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smith works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Manuel keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
Smith 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Manuel is on top in guard.

Manuel passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Smith is looking to reverse the position.
Manuel wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Manuel working away.
Maurice Smith is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Smith is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Manuel looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Marc Manuel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith is looking to regain half guard here but Manuel keeps moving and retains side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smith wants to control but Manuel postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Maurice Smith.
I've got Smith winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 25:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maurice Smith!