PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Shimabakurou Imai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craig Mantil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Imai
vs
Mantil

165 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

225 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Shimabakurou Imai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Craig Mantil!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Imai misses with a wild combination.

Mantil fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Imai, pushing him back against the cage.
Mantil goes for a takedown attempt but Imai pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mantil throws a jab but it's blocked by Imai.
Mantil misses with a double jab.
A jab from Mantil misses.
Mantil swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Imai counters with a series of strikes. Mantil will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mantil wants to slow Imai down by chopping away at his legs.
Craig Mantil seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Imai fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Imai misses with a few strikes there.

Mantil closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Imai to the mat! Imai manages to get full guard.

Mantil drops back looking for a leg! Imai is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Imai manages to kick Mantil off! Mantil jumps back into Imai's guard.
Mantil loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantil throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Imai works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mantil throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Mantil drops back looking for a leg! Imai is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Imai manages to kick Mantil off! Mantil jumps back into Imai's guard.

Mantil gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two 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.
Mantil shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Imai but Imai pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mantil is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Imai scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Mantil walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Imai checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A punch combination from Imai misses.
Shimabakurou Imai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mantil throws a leg kick but Imai sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Imai as Mantil shoots in.
Shimabakurou Imai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Mantil.
Imai works over Mantil's head and body with a nice combination.
Mantil misses with a combination
and Imai cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mantil looks gassed!
A good leg kick by Mantil.
Imai paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Imai lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mantil circles away quickly and effectively.
Imai throws a right hand that Mantil ducks under and follows up with a left that Mantil also avoids with ease.
Mantil pivots, looking for a leg kick but Imai is out of range and Mantil settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantil misses with a combination
and Imai cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mantil throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Imai throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mantil tries to close the distance and clinch but Imai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Imai scores with a nice strike.
Mantil falls off balance throwing a combination
and Imai cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mantil throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Imai counter with a right hand.
Imai swats away the attempt to clinch by Mantil.
Mantil tries to clinch
and Imai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mantil has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A low kick from Mantil is predictable there
and Imai counters with a two punch combo.
Mantil looks for a takedown but Imai sprawls well.
Imai is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Imai fails to land with a series of punches.
Mantil misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Imai thuds his right hand into Mantil's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Imai is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Imai lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
No luck for Mantil with that takedown attempt.
Imai scores with a jab to the jaw.
Imai tries to bum rush Mantil with a series of wild strikes but Mantil uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mantil throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Imai's waist but Imai gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mantil off to one side.
Imai fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Imai misses with a few strikes there.
Imai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mantil.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Shimabakurou Imai will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mantil gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Imai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Imai misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mantil fails with the takedown.
Mantil showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Imai.
Imai misses with a double jab.
Mantil wants to clinch but Imai slips to the side
and Imai counters with a left and a right that stings Mantil.
Mantil throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Imai counters with a nice body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mantil tries to clinch but Imai moves out of range.
Mantil uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Imai.
Mantil is breathing heavily.
Mantil swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Imai counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Imai misses with a jab, cross combination.
A nice combination there by Imai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imai lands a two punch combo.
Imai ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Imai misses with a jab, cross combination.
Imai closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mantil fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mantil falls off balance throwing a combination
and Imai counters with a right hand to the body.
Imai misses with a wild combination.
Mantil avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mantil throws a solid leg kick but Imai takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Mantil.
Mantil throws a head kick but Imai moves out of range.
Mantil fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

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.
Imai looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Imai is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Mantil throws a head kick that misses.
Imai takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mantil shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Imai pinned against the cage. Imai gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Shimabakurou Imai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Mantil.
Mantil falls off balance throwing a combination
and Imai counters with a three punch combo that has Mantil backing up. Mantil nods at Imai to acknowledge the strikes.
Mantil throws a combination that misses
and Imai counters with a nice uppercut.
Mantil walks into a stiff left hand from Imai.
Imai misses with a wild body shot.
Mantil tries to clinch
and Imai counters with a one-two to the body.
Mantil has his takedown stuffed
and Imai counters with a series of strikes. Mantil will be more careful next time no doubt.
Shimabakurou Imai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some wild striking there from Imai.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imai bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mantil's head.
Imai looks to land a combination but Mantil avoids it well.
Imai will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Imai!
Imai lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Mantil fails with a takedown attempt.
Imai wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Imai looks to land a combination. Mantil sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Imai throws a combination. Mantil tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Mantil misses with an uppercut.
Imai comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

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.
Imai throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mantil throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Imai counters with a one-two to the body.
Mantil showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Imai.
Mantil shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Imai counters with a one-two to the body.
Imai scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Mantil tries to clinch there but Imai circles away.
Imai throws a right hand that Mantil ducks under and follows up with a left that Mantil also avoids with ease.
Mantil is looking to clinch but Imai is avoiding it.
Imai rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mantil moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mantil slips a jab and a cross from Imai.
Imai misses with a combination

and Mantil counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Imai!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Shimabakurou Imai will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Imai!
Mantil has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Imai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mantil.
Imai misses with a series of wild punches.
Mantil shoots in for a double leg but Imai sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mantil throws a leg kick but Imai moved away.
Mantil attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Mantil throws a left and a right that both miss
and Imai counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice defenses there by Mantil.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mantil misses with a double jab.
Imai misses with a wild combination.
Imai moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Imai listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Mantil takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantil dodges the punch combination from Imai.
Mantil throws a head kick but Imai moves out of range.
Good exchange - Imai coming out on top.
Mantil doesn't manage to clinch there - Imai circles away.
Imai takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Imai scores with a three punch combo!
Mantil shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Imai as he jumps to the side.
Imai scores with a one two! Mantil had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
No joy there for Imai, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mantil tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two 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.
Mantil fails with a takedown attempt.
Shimabakurou Imai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Craig Mantil.
Mantil closes the distance and clinches up with Imai, looking for a takedown. Mantil pushes Imai against the cage but Imai circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Imai uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mantil has time to react.
Mantil drops his hands momentarily and Imai takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Imai fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Imai looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Imai throws a good cross that connects.
Mantil is looking to clinch but Imai is avoiding it.
Mantil fails with a takedown attempt.
Imai scores with a one two! Mantil had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Mantil takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imai throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mantil avoids a punch combination nicely.
Imai scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A punch combination from Imai misses.
Mantil shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Imai as he avoids it easily.
Imai throws a series of punches but Mantil avoids them all with ease.
Imai throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mantil.
Imai fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A nice combination there by Imai.
Imai will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mantil shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Imai but Imai pushes him off and we're back to square one.

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.
Nice cross by Imai.
Mantil on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Imai dips to his left and cracks Mantil with an uppercut!
Mantil misses with a body kick.
Imai connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Mantil misses with a combination
and Imai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Imai rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mantil moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Imai throws a nice looking combination but Mantil bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mantil slips a jab and a cross from Imai.
Mantil moves in looking to clinch but Imai pushes him off.
Imai misses with a jab, cross combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shimabakurou Imai showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Imai, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight for Shimabakurou Imai!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Shimabakurou Imai!
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight for Shimabakurou Imai!

Shimabakurou Imai wins by unanimous decision!