PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dan Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julius Manai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Julius Manai has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lee
vs
Manai

155 cm
19
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

177 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 Sydney, Dan Lee!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Julius Manai!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Steve Erwin and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lee moves in looking to clinch but Manai pushes him off.
Manai throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Manai ducks under a wild hook from Lee.
Manai lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Dan Lee has been cut.
Lee tries to clinch there but Manai circles away.
A head kick from Manai lands but Lee takes it in his stride.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch but Manai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A punch combination from Lee misses.
Lee wants to clinch up but Manai keeps it at a distance.
Lee throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Manai.
Lee swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Manai counters with a head kick.

Lee is rocked!
Lee tries to bum rush Manai with a series of wild strikes but Manai uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Manai moves into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Manai jumps guard.
Manai looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lee is one step ahead there.
Manai will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Lee would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Manai looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Manai has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Manai manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lee manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lee swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manai is looking to advance position but Lee has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Lee tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Lee can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Manai is looking to escape.
Manai is looking to improve his position but Lee isn't that keen on the idea.

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.
Lee tries to stand up but Manai grabs his leg and drags him down! Manai is now on top, in side control.

Manai is trying to get an arm triangle but Lee is defending well.
Manai advances to full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manai controlling from mount.
Lee on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lee tries to get out of the position.
Manai thowing shots but they're missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manai takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Manai throws some wild stikes that Lee manages to avoid easily.
Manai controlling from the full mount.

Manai is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Lee to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Lee shrugs it off.

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.
Manai thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Manai has control of Lee's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Lee regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Lee avoids a series of strikes thrown by Manai.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Manai dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dan Lee's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lee swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Manai to counter with a crisp jab.
Manai throws a leg kick which misses Lee's front leg but catches the back leg as Lee tries to avoid it.
Dan Lee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manai goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Lee tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lee is looking to clinch.
Manai shoots in for a double leg but Lee sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

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

Manai is rocked!

It looks like Julius Manai has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lee dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lee misses with a two punch combination.
Manai circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lee looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A low kick from Lee is predictable there
and Manai counters with a nice kick to the body.
Manai blocks a leg kick.
Lee is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Manai shoots in and drives through. Lee sprawls well.
Lee lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Manai circles away quickly and effectively.
Manai is breathing heavily.
Manai throws a body punch but Lee moves out of range.
Lee tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Manai.
Dan Lee has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Julius Manai.
Lee lands with a right hand.
Dan Lee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lee tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lee swinging wildly here.
Manai displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lee throws out the jab.

Manai bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Manai wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lee, who protects the arm well.

Manai tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manai tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Lee pushes Manai away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Manai gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Lee knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Manai on the ground.

Manai is trying to get an arm triangle but Lee is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee stops Manai from passing to mount.
Manai trying to control the position but Lee is working away.
Manai is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Manai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lee manages to avoid it.
Lee takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Manai takes one on the button.

Manai shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Manai prevents Lee from standing back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manai is trying to control the action in half guard but Lee is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Lee dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Manai shoots for a double leg takedown but Lee sprawls well. He's pushed Manai's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Manai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lee tries to clinch but Manai moves away

and Manai moves into the clinch.
Manai prevents Lee from breaking the clinch.
Lee really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...

Manai decides to pull guard.

Manai pushes Lee off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Some wild striking there from Manai.
A slapping body kick lands there for Manai.
Manai looks for a takedown but Lee sprawls well.
Lee throws a hook to the side of Manai's head but Manai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Manai decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Manai takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Manai thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lee's head.
Manai is trying to control. Lee wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee wants to get back to his feet.
Lee keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Manai is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lee has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lee keeps working.
Manai works his way into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Manai working for a guillotine from mount but Lee is in no mood to give up.
Manai looking to control but Lee is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Manai lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Lee hang on?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manai working for a submission but Lee is keeping him at bay.
Lee might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Manai with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Manai trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Manai thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Lee holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Manai tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Manai is working for a guillotine from mount but Lee frees his head quite easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manai looking to finish with strikes here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Julius Manai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Manai 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 John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julius Manai!