PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Isiah Mansfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valentin The French Pride (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Mansfield
vs
The French Pride

179 cm
19
137 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Beast Body

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Isiah Mansfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Valentin The French Pride!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Fedor Mirinova and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The French Pride connects with a nice looking jab.

It looks like Isiah Mansfield has been cut.
The French Pride misses with a two punch combination.
Mansfield steps to the side to avoid the strikes from The French Pride.

Mansfield feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Mansfield trying to control the position from guard on top but The French Pride is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The French Pride manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mansfield manages to get himself to full guard.
The French Pride tries to free his leg and advance position but Mansfield is retaining full guard.

The French Pride is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mansfield is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mansfield has escaped and now he's on top!
The French Pride tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mansfield missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The French Pride tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mansfield not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
The French Pride looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mansfield is one step ahead there.
Mansfield works over The French Pride with some ground and pound from guard.
Mansfield sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed The French Pride's guard.
The French Pride slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The French Pride looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mansfield is one step ahead there.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
The French Pride bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mansfield's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The French Pride is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mansfield is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mansfield has escaped and now he's on top!
Mansfield trying to control the position from guard on top but The French Pride is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The French Pride has his foot on Mansfield's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mansfield works his way back into a safe position though.
The French Pride keeping moving, preventing Mansfield from controlling successfully.
Mansfield won't allow The French Pride to sweep him here.
Mansfield wants to stand but The French Pride is controlling his posture from full guard.
The French Pride looking for a sweep. Not yet The French Pride, not yet.
Mansfield throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as The French Pride works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mansfield trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mansfield really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mansfield avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mansfield pushes The French Pride up against the ropes in a clinch.
Mansfield landing knees to the body.
The French Pride tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Mansfield's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The French Pride swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Mansfield has managed to clinch.

Mansfield tightens his grip and picks The French Pride up, before dumping him to the ground. The French Pride manages to land in guard.
Mansfield has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mansfield trying to control but The French Pride is working from the bottom.
Mansfield throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mansfield lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mansfield stopping the sweep attempt from The French Pride.
Mansfield trying to control the position from guard on top but The French Pride is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The French Pride is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The French Pride looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mansfield scoring with punches to the head and body.

The French Pride escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mansfield gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mansfield postures up and lands a big shot to The French Pride's brow.
Mansfield connects with a couple of short punches.
The French Pride keeping moving, preventing Mansfield from controlling successfully.
Mansfield won't allow The French Pride to sweep him here.
Mansfield stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. The French Pride swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The French Pride bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mansfield's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Isiah Mansfield dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Isiah Mansfield's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mansfield uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by The French Pride.
The French Pride just misses with a punch to the body.
The French Pride throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The French Pride misses with an uppercut. Mansfield saw that one coming.
Mansfield walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A big right from The French Pride misses.

Mansfield drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The French Pride wants to sweep but no luck.
Mansfield landing some decent shots from guard.
Mansfield wants to control from the top but The French Pride keeps moving.
Mansfield looking to pass the guard.

The French Pride looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Mansfield postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mansfield is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The French Pride looking for a sweep. Not yet The French Pride, not yet.

The French Pride throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The French Pride is breathing heavily.
Mansfield wants to stand but The French Pride has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mansfield wants to control from the top but The French Pride keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now The French Pride is on top in guard.
Isiah Mansfield overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The French Pride pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mansfield is keeping the position for now.

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.
The French Pride stopping the sweep attempt from Mansfield.
The French Pride forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
The French Pride is pressing down on Mansfield's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mansfield is holding on for now.
The French Pride is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Mansfield reverses the position - he's now on top in The French Pride's guard.
Mansfield pushing down on The French Pride's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mansfield passes the guard and advances to mount!
The French Pride really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The French Pride is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Mansfield trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The French Pride takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mansfield prevents The French Pride from getting the reversal.
The French Pride slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Mansfield stands up out of the half guard.
Mansfield keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Some wild striking there from The French Pride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The French Pride tries to keep at a distance but Mansfield has taken the fight into the clinch.

Mansfield has dropped down and is working for a takedown. The French Pride is trying to keep an underhook but Mansfield manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Mansfield not doing much here.
The fighters are battling for position here. The French Pride manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mansfield stopping the sweep attempt from The French Pride.
Mansfield trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mansfield's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The French Pride looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mansfield is one step ahead there.
Mansfield trying to control the position from guard on top but The French Pride is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Isiah Mansfield dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Isiah Mansfield's cut.
That's time! Mansfield's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The French Pride digs a good body shot into Mansfield's ribs.
The French Pride misses with a jab, cross combination.
The French Pride scores with a one two! Mansfield had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The French Pride throws a hook but Mansfield avoids it easily.
Mansfield keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from The French Pride.
Isiah Mansfield is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The French Pride lands a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from The French Pride misses the target.
Mansfield moves out of range of the strikes.

Mansfield clinches up with The French Pride and pushes him back against the ropes.
The French Pride takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mansfield looking to throw knees to the head but The French Pride is blocking nicely.
The French Pride jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mansfield walks away with a smile on his face. The French Pride gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The French Pride lands a nice looking body shot.
The French Pride throws a looping overhand right but Mansfield ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mansfield looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for The French Pride!
Mansfield prevents The French Pride from getting the reversal.
Mansfield lands a big shot there that rocks The French Pride but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Mansfield raining down shots from the mount!
BOOM! Mansfield connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The French Pride is looking to improve his position but Mansfield isn't that keen on the idea.
The French Pride taking shots to the head.
Mansfield landing strikes, looking to finish!
The French Pride really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mansfield unloading with bombs!
Mansfield looking to control but The French Pride is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mansfield is landing with some decent strikes but The French Pride is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The French Pride bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The French Pride advances position into side control!

The French Pride tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Isiah Mansfield is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The French Pride tries to move into full mount but can't pass Mansfield's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mansfield struggling a bit here.
Mansfield prevents The French Pride from improving position.
Mansfield is looking to work his way out of this bad position but The French Pride is controlling him well.
The French Pride advances to mount.

The French Pride goes for an armbar but Mansfield turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Mansfield.

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.
The French Pride looking for a sweep. Not yet The French Pride, not yet.
Valentin The French Pride has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The French Pride is looking for a triangle but Mansfield pushes his legs off easily.

The French Pride is working an open guard so Mansfield takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Mansfield closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The French Pride is refusing to be controlled, as Mansfield sits in half guard.
The French Pride tries to get to full guard but Mansfield has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. The French Pride manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Isiah Mansfield.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mansfield, 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Isiah Mansfield!