PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iain Tower (ranked 1660 p4p, 1742 weight class) and Manuel Neuer (ranked 241 p4p, 258 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Tower might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Kanye - Power. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tower
vs
Neuer

210 cm
38
275
40 - 13 - 0

199 cm
33
271
21 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 40 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Iain Tower!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Manuel Neuer!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Eliza Hachem and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tower gets the takedown into side control.

Neuer sneaks out the side door and pushes Tower away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Tower drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Neuer looking for a sweep. Not yet Neuer, not yet.
We've been hearing good reports from Tower's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Neuer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tower passes Neuer's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Tower has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tower throwing strikes here but Neuer is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Neuer wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Tower.
Tower will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Neuer tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Neuer manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neuer gets back to full guard.

Tower drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tower jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Neuer looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tower passes into half guard.
Tower not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Neuer wants to improve his position but Tower is controlling well.
Neuer gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tower won't allow Neuer to sweep him here.
Neuer wants to get back to his feet but Tower is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Tower avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Neuer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tower trying to control the position from guard on top but Neuer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tower engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Tower with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neuer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tower throws a big right hand that misses.
Neuer lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Neuer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tower looking to hit a scissor sweep but Neuer is one step ahead there.
Tower is looking to stand up but Neuer isn't so interested in that idea.
Tower is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Tower escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Neuer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tower controls Neuer momentarily but Neuer frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neuer's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Neuer wants to control from the top but Tower keeps moving.
Neuer tries to free his leg and advance position but Tower is retaining full guard.
Tower controls Neuer momentarily but Neuer frees himself.
Neuer pushing down on Tower's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Tower looking for submissions off his back.
Tower wants to get back to full guard.
Neuer sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Tower slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Manuel Neuer will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tower fails with a takedown attempt.

Tower gets the takedown into side control.
Tower throws a strike aimed at the side of Neuer's head but Neuer avoids it well.
Tower tries to advance to mount but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neuer regains half guard.
Neuer tries to roll over but Tower keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neuer is pressing down on Tower's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Neuer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tower loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tower slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Iain Tower overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tower is looking to take a break and control but Neuer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tower looks up at the clock and then as Neuer takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Tower smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Neuer is looking for a sweep.
Neuer gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Neuer wants to improve his position but Tower is controlling well.

Neuer actively working from the bottom here.
Neuer tries to get to full guard but Tower has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neuer actively working from the bottom here.
Neuer wants to get back to full guard.
Tower wants to control but Neuer is keeping him busy.
Neuer wants to get back to full guard.
Tower passes the guard and advances to mount!
Neuer is trying to escape the mount.

Tower with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neuer is bucking up trying to escape but Tower cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Neuer sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Neuer is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tower pulls his head out easily.
Tower wants to control but Neuer is keeping him busy.
Neuer is looking to improve his position.
Tower wants to free his trapped foot but Neuer is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tower prevents Neuer from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tower is working for a kimura but Neuer is defending it quite comfortably.
Tower is trying to control. Neuer wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tower thows a huge punch but Neuer dodges it nicely.
Tower is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Neuer can do to turn this around?
Neuer makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Neuer.
Tower in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Neuer is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tower defends well.
Tower advances position into side control!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Iain Tower dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tower shoots in looking for a takedown. Neuer tries to sprawl out of it but Tower keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Neuer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tower shoots and misses
and Neuer counters with a two punch combo.
Neuer connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Tower decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Neuer is looking for a sweep. Tower is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tower works his way into side control.
Neuer tries to buck Tower off but Tower is having none of it.
Neuer manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Neuer tries to get to full guard but Tower has control of the leg.
Tower tries to pass to full mount but Neuer defends it.
Neuer wants to improve his position but Tower is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tower tries to pass to full mount but Neuer defends it.
Neuer manages to get to full guard.
Tower won't allow Neuer to sweep him here.
Tower throwing strikes from guard but Neuer blocks nicely.
Tower wants to pass the guard but Neuer is keeping the position.
Tower won't allow Neuer to sweep him here.

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.
Tower trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tower is looking to work some ground and pound but Neuer has wrist control.
Tower trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tower is working Neuer over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Neuer is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Tower postures up in Neuer's guard and throws a big left but Neuer blocks it.
Tower looking to pass the guard.
Tower trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tower works over Neuer with some ground and pound from guard.

Neuer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Neuer throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tower pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Neuer is keeping the position for now.
Tower advances to half guard.
Tower scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Tower is working for a kimura but Neuer is defending it quite comfortably.
Neuer avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tower.
Neuer is pressing down on Tower's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Neuer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tower is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tower makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tower throws a big right hand that misses.

Neuer looking for a guillotine here but Tower defends easily.
Tower trying to control but Neuer is working from the bottom.

Neuer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Neuer looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tower passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iain Tower showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tower has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iain Tower!
An out of breath Iain Tower thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.