PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Randy Mardov (ranked 22751 p4p, 4043 weight class) and Matt Manners (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mardov
vs
Manners

199 cm
27
209
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
28
215
8 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Randy Mardov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Manners!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manners ducks right into an uppercut from Mardov.
The fighters circling - Mardov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Matt Manners seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manners shoots in but Mardov avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Manners shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Manners showed some decent athleticism there.
Mardov gets full guard.
Manners looking to sit in guard and control but Mardov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Mardov stays in close to Manners's body and controls the position.

Manners is looking for a triangle but Mardov pushes his legs off easily.

Manners throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mardov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mardov stopping the sweep attempt from Manners.
Manners keeping full guard, as Mardov tries to pass.

Mardov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Manners has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mardov has managed to get both his arms back between Manners's legs - danger averted.
Mardov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two 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.

Manners has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mardov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Manners tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Manners throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mardov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mardov tries to free his leg and advance position but Manners is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manners wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Mardov is now in half guard.

Manners is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mardov pulls his head out easily.

Manners looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Manners has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Mardov escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Mardov!
Manners tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Manners struggling a bit here.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manners is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A lull in the action here.
Manners is looking to reverse the position.
Mardov takes a little break here. Manners wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Manners struggling a bit here.
Manners is being controlled here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Manners tries to bench press Mardov off him but Mardov keeps the position.
Manners is being controlled here.
Manners sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Manners dives in and scores a takedown into Mardov's guard.
Mardov keeping full guard, as Manners tries to pass.
Mardov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Mardov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mardov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Manners is one step ahead there.

Manners postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Mardov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Manners, into his guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mardov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mardov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Manners for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mardov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Manners is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mardov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mardov's back!

Manners is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Mardov trying to control the position but Manners manages to sink in the hooks.

Manners is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Mardov has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Manners avoiding Mardov 's attempts to control his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manners has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Mardov defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Manners's arms.
Manners keeps control of the position as Mardov tries to break free.
Mardov breaks Manners's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Matt Manners has got the better of the ground game so far.

Manners looking for a guillotine here but Mardov defends easily.
Manners can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mardov controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mardov wants to control from the top but Manners keeps moving.
Mardov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Manners is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Manners being controlled here, momentarily.

Manners is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mardov defends well.
Mardov 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.

That's four 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.

Manners throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Mardov escapes and throws Manners's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Manners being controlled for a moment.
Manners is looking for a sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mardov controlling from side mount.
Check out the look on Mardov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matt Manners will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mardov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mardov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Manners as he avoids it easily.
Manners darts in looking for a takedown but Mardov gets double underhooks and turns Manners into the cage.
Manners moves out of range of the strikes.
Manners has a takedown stuffed.
Manners looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Randy Mardov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Manners.
Mardov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mardov wants it to stay on the feet.
Mardov digs a good body shot into Manners's ribs.
Mardov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Manners swivels and escapes.
Manners misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Manners takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mardov swings for the body but Manners moves out of range.
And Manners tries to counter it with a takedown but Mardov pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mardov stuffs the takedown attempt from Manners. Manners gets slowly back to his feet.
Mardov has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mardov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Manners pinned against the cage. Manners gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Manners shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mardov as he jumps to the side.
Manners shoots in but Mardov avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Mardov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Manners quickly recovers to half guard.
Mardov is controlling the pace.

Manners looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mardov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Mardov is thwarting Manners's attempts to control the position.
Mardov is looking to advance position but Manners won't allow it.
Manners tries to roll over but Mardov keeps him under control.
Mardov is controlling the pace.
Manners gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mardov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mardov trying to control but Manners is working from the bottom.
Mardov content to stall in guard here.

Manners is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Mardov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mardov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Manners is keeping the position for now.
Manners tries to strike from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mardov stuffs the takedown attempt from Manners. Manners gets slowly back to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mardov.
Manners prevents Mardov from improving position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mardov slows the pace down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Mardov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mardov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randy Mardov!
During a confident post fight interview, Randy Mardov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.