PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between LeBron Manhaes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Powers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Powers has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Manhaes
vs
Powers

203 cm
19
250 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

184 cm
24
275 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, LeBron Manhaes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kenny Powers!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manhaes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Manhaes scores with a decent looking hook.
Powers looks to land a combination. Manhaes sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like LeBron Manhaes has been cut.
Kenny Powers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Powers looks gassed!

Powers gets caught flat footed, as Manhaes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Manhaes looking to pass the guard.
Manhaes postures up in Powers's guard and throws a big left but Powers blocks it.
Powers working a defensive guard here.
Manhaes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Powers keeping moving, preventing Manhaes from controlling successfully.
Manhaes is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Powers is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Manhaes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Manhaes is really struggling to control Powers but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Powers throws a low kick but Manhaes moves out of range easily.
Manhaes tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Powers is able to avoid easily.
Powers tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Manhaes is able to avoid easily.
Powers shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A left and a right from Manhaes both land. Nice combination.
Manhaes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Powers sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Manhaes somewhat.
Powers leaves Manhaes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for LeBron Manhaes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A leg kick checked by Manhaes.
Manhaes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Powers tries to avoid it but Manhaes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Powers to the ground. Powers escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Manhaes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Powers circles away.
Manhaes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Manhaes lands a slapping body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhaes has a takedown stuffed.
Manhaes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Powers sprawls well. Powers wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Manhaes gets slowly back to his feet.
Manhaes shoots for a double leg takedown but Powers sprawls well. He's pushed Manhaes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Powers is looking to score with low kicks.
Manhaes connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Powers momentarily.
Powers blocks a head kick by Manhaes.
Manhaes moves out of range of the body kick.
Manhaes keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Manhaes shoots in for a takedown but Powers shows good takedown defense.
Manhaes keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Powers looks to land a right hand but Manhaes moved out of range.
Powers takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Powers throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhaes dives in and grabs Powers's left leg, looking for a takedown. Powers pushes down on Manhaes's head and hops out.
Powers misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Manhaes scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Powers managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Manhaes.

Manhaes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Powers knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Manhaes scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Powers to see if he's OK.
Manhaes throwing shots but missing, from side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Powers can do anything to dispel that myth.
Manhaes content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Manhaes is looking to take a break and control but Powers is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhaes cracks Powers with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Powers taking punishment in the form of punches.
Manhaes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Manhaes fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Manhaes throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Manhaes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Manhaes tries for a kimura but Powers is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Powers avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Manhaes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeBron Manhaes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on LeBron Manhaes's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Powers misses with a head kick.
Powers misses with a body shot.
Manhaes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Powers.
Nice sprawl there from Powers as Manhaes shoots in.
Powers throws a front kick aimed at Manhaes's knee but Manhaes avoids it well.
Manhaes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Powers pinned against the cage. Powers gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Manhaes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for LeBron Manhaes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manhaes defending well as Powers loads up on a big left hand.
Manhaes bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Powers's head.
Powers is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powers displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Manhaes.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Manhaes here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Powers takes one to the chin there.
Powers with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Manhaes to score with a decent uppercut.
Manhaes wants to slow Powers down by chopping away at his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhaes stuns Powers with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Manhaes closes the distance and clinches up with Powers, looking for a takedown. Manhaes pushes Powers against the cage but Powers circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Manhaes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Manhaes changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Powers looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Manhaes working the ground and pound but Powers is defending the strikes.

Manhaes working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Manhaes tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Manhaes fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Powers tries to improve position but can't.
Powers is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Manhaes asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Powers tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Manhaes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Powers is trying to escape the position but Manhaes is controlling the position.

Manhaes decides to stand back up.
Manhaes is looking to land body kicks.
Powers takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Manhaes 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manhaes wants to control from the top but Powers keeps moving.
Manhaes advances position into side control!
Manhaes postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powers tries to bench press Manhaes off him but Manhaes keeps the position.
Manhaes has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Powers!
Manhaes has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Powers's face.
Powers is squirming around, avoiding Manhaes's attempts to control the action.
Manhaes unloading with bombs!
Manhaes avoids the attempt from Powers to control.

Manhaes looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Manhaes putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhaes working the ground and pound effectively.
Manhaes lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Manhaes is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Powers is surviving well by controlling Manhaes's body position as best he can.
Manhaes postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Powers looks a forlorn figure.
Manhaes postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Powers looks a forlorn figure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Manhaes raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Powers tries to lock up and control but Manhaes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Manhaes putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LeBron Manhaes dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on LeBron Manhaes's cut.
That's time! Manhaes'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!

Manhaes shoots for a takedown but Powers saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Manhaes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Powers swivels and escapes.
Manhaes moves away from the strike by Powers.
Manhaes blocks a head kick by Powers.
Powers moves out of range of the body kick from Manhaes.
Manhaes moves out of range as Powers strikes.
Manhaes moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Manhaes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Powers looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Manhaes passes Powers's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Manhaes passes to side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Powers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powers tries to improve position but can't.
Manhaes controlling from side mount.
Manhaes tries to score with some ground and pound. Powers controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Powers is trying to control Manhaes's posture but Manhaes avoids it.
Manhaes moves into full mount!
Manhaes looking to control and managing it successfully.
Powers is bucking up trying to escape but Manhaes cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Manhaes raining down shots from the mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manhaes looking for a guillotine from mount but Powers is having none of it.
Powers wants to hold on but Manhaes pushes him away.
Manhaes landing punches.
Powers taking shots to the head.

Manhaes throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Powers has his hands clasped together but Manhaes breaks the hold and Powers is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Manhaes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). LeBron Manhaes!