PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Graham Mantle (ranked 718 p4p, 978 weight class) and Hugo Loris (ranked 75 p4p, 102 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mantle
vs
Loris

169 cm
31
145
19 - 8 - 0

170 cm
31
145
10 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Threads
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Shadow Realm Apparel
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Graham Mantle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hugo Loris!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mantle thuds a left hand into Loris's body.
Loris throws a right hand that misses
and Mantle counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Loris. Mantle does a little dance to reset his feet.
Loris is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mantle.
Loris missing with a left hand there. Mantle was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mantle just misses with a punch to the body.
Loris looks to land a right hand but Mantle moved out of range.
Mantle looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mantle just misses with a punch to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Mantle there.
Loris scores with a leg kick.
Mantle throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mantle is defended easily by Loris.

Mantle moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Loris.
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!
Loris's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loris lands a right hand.
Mantle prevents a body shot from Loris.
Loris blocks an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mantle.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Loris tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A hook to the body from Loris.
Loris lands with a left to the head.

Loris breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Loris walks into a straight right hand from Mantle.
Mantle staying out of range there.
Mantle half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hugo Loris seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Loris throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Good shot there by Mantle.
Loris throws a shot from downtown. Mantle moves away and avoids it.
Mantle changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Loris looks to throw the jab but Mantle is out of range.
Loris lands with a cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mantle waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Loris.
Hugo Loris is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mantle keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Loris throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loris connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Loris throws a jab but it's blocked by Mantle.
Mantle lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Loris uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mantle.
Mantle sets himself, and Loris steps forward looking for the clinch! Mantle avoids it this time.
Mantle swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Loris counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mantle!
Loris misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Loris postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Loris fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Mantle managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Loris.
Loris working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Mantle is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loris misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Mantle tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sloppy strikes there by Loris.
Mantle is looking for a sweep.
Mantle taking punishment in the form of punches.
Loris takes a little break here. Mantle wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Mantle tries to bench press Loris off him but Loris keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loris is looking to take a break and control but Mantle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
My spies in Mentor Gym inform me that Loris has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Loris lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
An elbow from Loris crashes against the mat.
Loris throws an elbow but Mantle slips to the side and avoids it well.
Loris is looking to take a break and control but Mantle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Loris is working Mantle over with some ground and pound from side control.
Mantle struggling a bit here.
Mantle is trying to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Loris dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mantle scores with a sloppy right hand. Loris should have avoided that one.
Mantle clobbers Loris with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Jab by Loris.
Mantle chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Loris can pounce on him.
Mantle swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mantle takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Loris misses with a head kick.
Jab by Loris.
Mantle slips under a jab.

Mantle drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mantle got a little sloppy there for a moment and Loris has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mantle has managed to get both his arms back between Loris's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantle postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mantle being controlled here momentarily.
Loris is trying to keep Mantle in close.
Mantle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Loris has control of Mantle's left arm, preventing Mantle from doing any damage.
Mantle postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hugo Loris has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mantle postures up.
Mantle connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mantle is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Loris is controlling Mantle's posture.
Mantle looking to sit in guard and control but Loris gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Loris trying to control the position from guard on top but Mantle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mantle has his hands on Loris's head, controlling the position.
Mantle keeping moving, preventing Loris from controlling successfully.
Mantle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantle bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Loris's guard.

Mantle stopping the sweep attempt from Loris.
Loris is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mantle trying to control the position from guard on top but Loris is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mantle chips away with some ground and pound.
Loris keeping moving, preventing Mantle from controlling successfully.
Loris working a defensive guard but Mantle manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loris is trying to control Mantle's posture but Mantle avoids it.
Mantle working the ground and pound from side control.
Loris wants to control but Mantle postures up.
The strikes coming from Mantle are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Mantle throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Mantle scores with a couple of short elbows.
Loris struggling a bit here.
Loris is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Mantle asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mantle trying to control the action but Loris is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Loris throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mantle checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mantle lands a jab to Loris's midsection.
Loris takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Mantle looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Loris missing with a left hand there. Mantle was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Loris is looking to chop away at Mantle's legs.
Loris slips a straight right by Mantle.
Mantle ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Loris waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mantle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Loris thows a left - swing and a miss!
Loris keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A chopping leg kick lands by Loris.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loris keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A clash of legs there as Mantle blocks the low kick.
Loris dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Loris. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Loris.
Mantle lands a nice looking body shot.
Good work by Mantle as he checks the leg kick.
Loris misses the jab.
Loris misses with a looping left.
Loris changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Mantle gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Mantle looks to score with a jab to the body but Loris is just out of range.
Loris connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Mantle stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hugo Loris seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Loris looks to throw the jab but Mantle is out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mantle scores with a jab to the head.
Loris lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loris lands a slapping body shot.
A shot to the liver by Mantle. Beautiful body shot.
Loris fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mantle.
Mantle misses with a body shot
and Loris counters with an inside leg kick.
Mantle bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Loris throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mantle sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Loris throws a nice inside leg kick.
Loris on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The crowd cheers as Loris lands an impressive looking overhand right. Mantle doesn't seem phased though.
Loris slips a straight right by Mantle.
Loris swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Loris throws a leg kick
and Mantle counters with a one-two to the body.
Loris misses with a straight left.
Mantle was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Loris sizes up Mantle with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Decent striking displayed by Loris there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loris throws a leg kick that misses.
A counter left hand to the body from Mantle misses its target.
Loris throws a lazy right hand but Mantle sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Loris moves out of range of the strikes.
Mantle takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mantle takes one on the button.
Loris digs a good body shot into Mantle's ribs.
Loris misses with a straight right.
Loris throws a body punch but Mantle moves out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Loris.

Mantle closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Loris did well to prevent Mantle getting side control.
Mantle is nestled in close to Loris, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Loris wants to control but Mantle is keeping busy.

Loris looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mantle not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Loris trying to control from the bottom.
Mantle working Loris over with strikes.
Loris is not content to let Mantle control the position.
Mantle controlling the pace.
Mantle is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mantle keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Mantle sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Loris defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugo Loris comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Loris 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugo Loris!
A less than humble Hugo Loris misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.