PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alka Mangrove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gap Turner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gap Turner struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 157.9lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Mangrove
vs
Turner

173 cm
22
163 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

177 cm
22
174 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Invictus

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alka Mangrove!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gap Turner!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mangrove throws a leg kick but Turner checks it.
Turner fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mangrove tries a low kick but Turner avoids it.
Turner looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mangrove moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Mangrove rushes Turner and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Turner tries a knee to the head but Mangrove blocks it.

Turner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Turner closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Mangrove's guard.
Mangrove trying to control the position.
Turner connects with a couple of short punches.
Mangrove wants to sweep here but Turner controlling him for the moment.
Mangrove lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Turner is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mangrove defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turner keeping moving, preventing Mangrove from controlling successfully.
Turner trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Turner looking for a sweep. Not yet Turner, not yet.
Turner keeping full guard, as Mangrove tries to pass.
Mangrove trying to move into half guard but instead Turner has managed to sweep!

Mangrove escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Turner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mangrove wants to hit a switch here but Turner passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Mangrove there!
Turner trying to control but Mangrove is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mangrove tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mangrove tries to hold on but Turner postures up.
The referee warns Mangrove that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Turner scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Turner pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mangrove is looking to improve his position but Turner isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Turner trying to control but Mangrove is having none of it.
Turner lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Mangrove hang on?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangrove is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Turner lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Mangrove is bucking up trying to escape but Turner cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Turner with the ground and pound from mount.
Turner looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Turner prevents Mangrove from getting the reversal.
Turner looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Turner has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Mangrove's face.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mangrove tries to reverse the position but Turner maintains control.
Turner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Turner is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Turner pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Turner breaks from Mangrove's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Mangrove is rocked!
Turner working the ground and pound effectively.
Oh Mangrove is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Turner lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turner wants to control the pace but Mangrove is squirming around nicely.
Mangrove seems to have got his legs back now.
Mangrove takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Turner pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mangrove tries to hold on but Turner postures up.

Turner is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Mangrove has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Turner is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Mangrove can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Turner with good strikes from the mount here!
Turner tries to control but Mangrove wriggling away.
Turner with shots to the head and body - Mangrove looks very uncomfortable down there.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Turner looking to control but Mangrove is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gap Turner dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mangrove tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Mangrove gets a clinch.
A short uppercut from Turner.
Turner blocks a body shot from Mangrove.
Mangrove looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Mangrove tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Turner's elbow.
Turner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mangrove struggles to land a body shot inside as Turner controls his hands.
With the fighters up against the cage, Turner throws an elbow but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turner looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Turner scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mangrove tries to throw a body punch but Turner avoids it by throwing Mangrove back against the cage.
Turner avoids the elbow strike from Mangrove, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mangrove just misses with a elbow thrown towards Turner's brow.
Mangrove misses with a punch to the body.
Mangrove struggles to land a body shot inside as Turner controls his hands.
Mangrove works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Turner breaks from the clinch.
Mangrove tries to clinch but Turner moves out of range.
Turner throws a push kick but Mangrove slaps the foot to one side.
Mangrove tries to counter by clinching up but Turner breaks away and moves out of range.
Turner misses with a head kick.

Turner shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Turner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mangrove keeps working.
Nice strikes from Turner there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mangrove wants to get back to full guard.
Turner winds up and cracks Mangrove with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mangrove is trying to get back to full guard.
Mangrove is looking to control Turner's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mangrove avoid being mounted?
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Turner lands a nice short elbow.
Turner trying to pass the guard but Mangrove defending well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mangrove is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Turner working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turner trying to control the action but Mangrove is working from the bottom.
Turner seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Turner controlling the action here.
Turner is looking to take a break and control but Mangrove is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mangrove is looking to improve his position.
Gap Turner has got the better of the ground game so far.
Turner scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Turner working the head and body with strikes.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Turner lands a nice short elbow.
Turner prevents Mangrove from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mangrove has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Turner is working away from the top position though.
Mangrove manages to get to full guard.
Turner trying to control the position from guard on top but Mangrove is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mangrove looking for subs off his back but Turner has passed one foot through into half guard.
Turner sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gap Turner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mangrove avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Turner digs a good body shot into Mangrove's ribs.
Mangrove tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Turner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Turner checks a low kick from Mangrove.
Mangrove goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mangrove tries to clinch up
and Turner makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Mangrove really felt that one!
Mangrove swings for the body but Turner moves out of range.
Turner now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Mangrove tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Turner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Turner follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

Mangrove scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turner gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Turner is looking to improve his position.
Turner slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turner throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Turner is looking for a triangle but Mangrove pushes his legs off easily.
Turner throws a couple of heel strikes.
Turner has a closed guard, preventing Mangrove from standing up.

Mangrove thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Mangrove avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Turner is on top in guard.

Turner trying to control but Mangrove is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mangrove wants to sweep but no luck.
Turner is looking to work some ground and pound but Mangrove has wrist control.
Turner scoring with punches to the head and body.
Turner postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
My spies in watch this inform me that Turner has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Mangrove is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Mangrove is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Turner defends well.
Turner is in close to Mangrove's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Turner avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mangrove wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turner stays in close to Mangrove's body and controls the position.
Mangrove is trying to keep Turner in close.
Turner with a flurry of punches that miss.
Turner postures up and lands a big shot to Mangrove's brow.
Turner lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Mangrove has an active guard here but Turner has managed to pass into half guard.
Turner prevents Mangrove from improving his position.
Turner slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mangrove wants to get back to full guard.
Turner lands strikes from half guard.
Mangrove is looking for a sweep. Turner is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mangrove wants to control but Turner is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Turner seems to be working for a kimura but Mangrove defends the submission attempt.
Mangrove wants to get back to full guard.
Turner keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mangrove tries to get to full guard but Turner has control of the leg.
Turner landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gap Turner really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Decent striking displayed by Turner there.

Turner looking to score a takedown here. Mangrove is defending well but Turner drives through and ends up in Mangrove's guard.
Turner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Turner cracks Mangrove with a solid left hand.
Mangrove working a defensive guard here.
Turner wants to control from the top but Mangrove keeps moving.
Turner connects with a couple of short punches.

Turner got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mangrove has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Turner has managed to get both his arms back between Mangrove's legs - danger averted.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turner postures up and lands a big shot to Mangrove's brow.
Mangrove has control of Turner's left arm, preventing Turner from doing any damage.
Mangrove keeping moving, preventing Turner from controlling successfully.
Mangrove seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mangrove wants to sweep but no luck.
Turner lands a couple of elbows.
Mangrove trying to control the position.
Turner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Turner slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Turner lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mangrove tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Turner working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mangrove's head.
Turner wants to control from the top but Mangrove keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turner makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Turner trying to control but Mangrove is working from the bottom.
Mangrove is trying to control the position but Turner postures up.
Turner is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Turner forces his way into half guard.
Mangrove gets back to full guard.

Mangrove working for a triangle but Turner defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turner landing with the ground and pound.
Turner trying to control but Mangrove is working from the bottom.
Mangrove has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Turner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Turner landing some decent shots from guard.
Turner slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Turner in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mangrove seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Mangrove is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Turner is aware though and is defending well.
Mangrove has momentary wrist control but Turner slips an elbow through the middle.
Turner lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Turner wants to control from the top but Mangrove keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Turner is working Mangrove over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Turner trying to control the position from guard on top but Mangrove is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gap Turner dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mangrove tries to close the distance and clinch up but Turner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Turner throws a solid leg kick but Mangrove takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Turner.
Mangrove is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Turner throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Turner tries a head kick but it misses.
Turner takes a swing at Mangrove's ribcage but misses.

Mangrove has closed the distance and engaged Turner in a clinch.
Mangrove tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Turner's elbow.
Mangrove tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turner blocks an elbow strike from Mangrove.
Mangrove tries to throw a body punch but Turner avoids it by throwing Mangrove back against the cage.
Mangrove tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Turner's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turner blocks a body shot from Mangrove.
Mangrove tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Turner's elbow.
Mangrove pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mangrove just misses with a elbow thrown towards Turner's brow.
Turner is trying to break the clinch but Mangrove has him pressed against the cage.

Turner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Turner lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mangrove blocks the body kick.
Mangrove tries to counter by clinching up but Turner breaks away and moves out of range.

Mangrove drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mangrove trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Turner manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Mangrove looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Alka Mangrove has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turner working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mangrove's head.
Turner is in close to Mangrove's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mangrove keeping moving, preventing Turner from controlling successfully.
Turner is working Mangrove over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Mangrove looking to control.
Turner scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mangrove is trying to control the position but Turner postures up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mangrove tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Mangrove has an active guard here but Turner has managed to pass into half guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Turner seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangrove is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mangrove is looking to control Turner's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mangrove avoid being mounted?
Turner is taking a breather. Mangrove says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Mangrove actively working from the bottom here.
Mangrove tries to roll over but Turner keeps him under control.
Turner looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Turner working Mangrove over with strikes.

That's four 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.
Mangrove is pressing down on Turner's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Turner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mangrove trying to keep a closed guard but Turner is proving a slippery customer.
Turner working some strikes from top position.
Turner is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Turner scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Turner is in close to Mangrove's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Turner makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mangrove can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Turner controls the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Turner trying to control the position from guard on top but Mangrove is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gap Turner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Turner winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight for Gap Turner!
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Gap Turner!
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight for Gap Turner!

Gap Turner wins by unanimous decision! Gap Turner retains his lightweight title!