PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justice McManus (ranked 5373 p4p, 6241 weight class) and Darius Frank Jr (ranked 558 p4p, 592 weight class). McManus comes to the cage accompanied by Pat Murphy of the Irish Brigade. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

McManus
vs
Frank Jr

191 cm
21
225
1 - 2 - 0

195 cm
19
214
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Justice McManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Darius Frank Jr!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McManus comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
McManus has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Frank Jr.
Frank Jr tries to clinch but McManus moves out of range.
Darius Frank Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Frank Jr connects with a high kick.
Frank Jr lands a nice looking kick to the body. McManus takes a step back to recover.
McManus defending well as Frank Jr loads up on a big left hand.
McManus jabs at Frank Jr's body.
Frank Jr looks to throw a body kick

so McManus counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
McManus scoring with punches to the head and body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McManus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Frank Jr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Frank Jr is looking to stand up but McManus isn't so interested in that idea.
McManus stopping the sweep attempt from Frank Jr.
McManus makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McManus throws a strike but Frank Jr rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Frank Jr trying to control but McManus is working from the bottom.
Frank Jr looking to pass the guard.
Frank Jr is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
McManus manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Frank Jr manages to get himself to full guard.

Frank Jr bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McManus's guard.

Frank Jr tries to free his leg and advance position but McManus is retaining full guard.
Frank Jr in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McManus utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McManus looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
McManus preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frank Jr passes into half guard.
Frank Jr wants to control but McManus is keeping him busy.

Frank Jr is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Frank Jr scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Frank Jr missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McManus wants to control but Frank Jr is keeping busy.

Frank Jr is looking for a kimura but McManus is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Frank Jr to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus trying to control here.
Frank Jr thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Frank Jr looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
McManus wants to get back to full guard.
McManus preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Frank Jr is controlling the pace.
McManus is pressing down on Frank Jr's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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.
Frank Jr throws a big elbow that misses.
Frank Jr distracts McManus with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Frank Jr wants to pass the guard but McManus is keeping the position.
McManus wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
McManus has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Frank Jr misses with a head kick.
McManus looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Frank Jr throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Frank Jr throws a looping overhand right but McManus ducks down to avoid it.
Frank Jr throws a quick head kick that skims the top of McManus's head.
Frank Jr lands with an uppercut that bounces McManus off the cage and back into range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Darius Frank Jr dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Frank Jr connects with a high kick.
Frank Jr throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McManus.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McManus.

Frank Jr has McManus up against the cage in a clinch.
McManus is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Frank Jr pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Frank Jr has McManus pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A frustrated look appears on McManus's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Frank Jr throws a punch but it's blocked by McManus.
Frank Jr slowing the pace effectively.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus tries to circle away but Frank Jr has him pinned against the cage.
Frank Jr landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Frank Jr leaning his opponent against the cage.
Frank Jr crunches a lovely knee into McManus's ribcage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Frank Jr looking to throw knees to the head but McManus is blocking nicely.
Frank Jr tries to land knees in the clinch but McManus avoids the damage to the body.
Frank Jr scores with a nice hook to the head.
Frank Jr with a knee to the head.
Frank Jr misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Frank Jr stalling in the clinch.
Frank Jr looking to throw knees to the head but McManus is blocking nicely.
Frank Jr utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Frank Jr using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McManus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Frank Jr misses with a knee strike.
Frank Jr tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Frank Jr lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Frank Jr landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus is trying to break free.
Frank Jr scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Justice McManus has been cut.
Frank Jr tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Frank Jr is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Frank Jr using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Frank Jr with a knee to the head.
Frank Jr throws a knee to the head but misses.
Frank Jr lands a good knee to the midsection. McManus won't want to take too many of those.
Frank Jr stalling against the cage.
Frank Jr working McManus over with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Frank Jr lands a big knee to the head and McManus goes down! Frank Jr is looking to finish!

McManus is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Frank Jr controlling the position from side mount.
Oh McManus is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Frank Jr landing a few strikes.
Frank Jr lands a strong strike to the head of McManus. That's dazed him! Frank Jr looking to finish here. McManus is waving his arms around trying to block but he's hurt badly - Frank Jr lands more strikes and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Darius Frank Jr!