PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yoshi Manza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Nieweglowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Manza
vs
Nieweglowski

190 cm
25
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yoshi Manza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mario Nieweglowski!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Manza or perhaps it was just good defense by Nieweglowski which made him look bad.
No luck for Manza with that takedown attempt.
Nieweglowski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nieweglowski swats away the attempt to clinch by Manza.
Manza stuffs the takedown attempt from Nieweglowski. Nieweglowski gets slowly back to his feet.
Manza fails with the takedown

and Nieweglowski counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoshi Manza. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nieweglowski controlling the position.
Manza prevents Nieweglowski from moving into mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieweglowski wants to stand but Manza has his arm trapped.

Nieweglowski decides to stand back up. Nieweglowski steps back and let's Manza get back to his feet.
Manza takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Manza closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nieweglowski to the mat! Nieweglowski manages to get full guard.
Manza really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Manza trying to control but Nieweglowski is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nieweglowski can do anything to dispel that myth.
Manza is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nieweglowski is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Nieweglowski being controlled here, momentarily.
Manza slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nieweglowski is trying to get back to full guard.
Manza is looking to take a break and control but Nieweglowski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Manza will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nieweglowski wants to get back to his feet.
Nieweglowski is looking to improve his position.

Manza seems to be working for a kimura but Nieweglowski defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manza sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nieweglowski defending well though.
Manza slows the pace down in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Manza blocks a head kick by Nieweglowski.
Nieweglowski looks gassed!
Nieweglowski tries for a takedown but Manza circles away easily

and Manza counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nieweglowski's guard now.
Nieweglowski being controlled here, momentarily.
Manza trying to control but Nieweglowski is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manza advances to half guard.
Manza is keen to just control but Nieweglowski is a slippery customer.
Manza stops Nieweglowski from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manza not doing much here.

Manza is looking for a kimura here.
Nieweglowski trying to control here.
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 Yoshi Manza will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Manza clinches with his opponent.

Manza breaks the clinch.
Nieweglowski misses with a takedown

and Manza counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Manza.
Manza wants to pass the guard but Nieweglowski is keeping the position.
Nieweglowski striking off his back but it's not causing Manza any problems.
Manza showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Manza tries to free his leg and advance position but Nieweglowski is retaining full guard.
Nieweglowski is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nieweglowski is wriggling around but Manza manages to pass to half guard.
Manza is keen to just control but Nieweglowski is a slippery customer.
Manza trying to control the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Yoshi Manza just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Manza has his takedown stuffed

and Nieweglowski counters with a takedown into side control.
Nieweglowski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Manza. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nieweglowski tries to advance to mount but Manza denies him.
Manza gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manza gets full guard.
Nieweglowski must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nieweglowski tries to free his leg and advance position but Manza is retaining full guard.
Manza keeping moving, preventing Nieweglowski from controlling successfully.
Nieweglowski has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Manza is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manza is pulling down on Nieweglowski's head to control his posture.
Nieweglowski tries to free his leg and advance position but Manza is retaining full guard.
Manza wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

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.
Nieweglowski looking to sit in guard and control but Manza gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Manza postures up.
Manza tries to free his leg and advance position but Nieweglowski is retaining full guard.
Manza wants to control from the top but Nieweglowski keeps moving.
Manza stays in close to Nieweglowski's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoshi Manza dominated that second round.
That's time! Manza's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Manza tries for a takedown but Nieweglowski circles away easily

and Nieweglowski counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nieweglowski is working for a kimura here but Manza manages to reverse the position and he's now in Nieweglowski's guard.
Manza wants to control from the top but Nieweglowski keeps moving.
Nieweglowski can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Manza controls the pace.
Nieweglowski is trying to control the position but Manza postures up.
Yoshi Manza overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Manza won't allow Nieweglowski to sweep him here.
Manza postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Manza gets to his feet - Nieweglowski follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manza with a poor takedown

and Nieweglowski decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Manza's guard.
Nieweglowski wants to control from the top but Manza keeps moving.
Nieweglowski throws and elbow that misses. Manza uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nieweglowski's guard. Nice move by Manza!

Manza drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Manza as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Nieweglowski screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Manza! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Yoshi Manza!