PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Darken Rahl (ranked 706 p4p, 1279 weight class) and Graham Mantle (ranked 85 p4p, 152 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Rahl
vs
Mantle

168 cm
27
150
8 - 1 - 0

169 cm
21
145
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Darken Rahl!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Graham Mantle!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rahl shoots for a takedown but Mantle saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rahl fails with a takedown attempt.

Mantle gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Rahl to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Rahl with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mantle avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rahl definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Mantle looking for a sweep. Not yet Mantle, not yet.
Mantle utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rahl working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rahl preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahl stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mantle swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mantle is pulling down on Rahl's head. It's preventing any offense from Rahl, at least for the moment.
Rahl working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mantle is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mantle takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Rahl is trying to get back to full guard.
Rahl wants to control but Mantle is keeping busy.
Mantle tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rahl knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Mantle working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Rahl is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mantle thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rahl is looking to improve his position.
Mantle keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rahl is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mantle passes to full mount!
Rahl wants to control but Mantle is having none of it.
Mantle controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Mantle has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Rahl can't escape the position.
Rahl sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Mantle sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rahl defending well though.
Mantle is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rahl wants to get back to his feet.
Rahl is holding on to half guard well.
Rahl has hold of Mantle's hands but Mantle slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mantle prevents Rahl from improving his position.
Mantle controlling the action here.
Mantle's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mantle throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rahl tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mantle swivels and escapes.
Mantle catches Rahl with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Mantle closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rahl quickly recovers to half guard.
Graham Mantle has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rahl is looking for a sweep. Mantle is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mantle is controlling the pace.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Mantle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mantle thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rahl's head.
Mantle working Rahl over with strikes.
Rahl works his way to full guard. Good work.
Mantle showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahl trying to control the position.
Rahl wants to sweep here but Mantle controlling him for the moment.
Rahl is working hard here to advance position.
Mantle with a nice head shot there.
Rahl can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mantle controls the pace.
Mantle throwing strikes from guard but Rahl blocks nicely.
Mantle trying to control but Rahl is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Rahl wants to sweep but no luck.
Mantle with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mantle scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rahl shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Mantle to counter with a crisp jab.
Mantle tests Rahl's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mantle scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Mantle has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rahl tries for a takedown but Mantle circles away easily
enabling Mantle to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darken Rahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mantle tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rahl half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantle paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Rahl uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mantle.
Mantle lands a glancing blow to the side of Rahl's head.
Rahl goes for a double leg but Mantle avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mantle continues to drive forward.
A left lands for Mantle.
Mantle scores with a nice head shot.
Graham Mantle seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rahl misses with a takedown
letting Mantle counter with a right hand.

Mantle bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mantle moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Mantle cracks Rahl with a big right hand but Rahl just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rahl wants to control but Mantle postures up.
Mantle postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Mantle happy to just control the position for now.
Rahl is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
A lull in the action here.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Rahl is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graham Mantle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mantle closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mantle is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rahl stops a takedown attempt from Mantle.
Rahl is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mantle gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mantle misses with the head strike.
Mantle lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Mantle tightens his grip and picks Rahl up, before dumping him to the ground. Rahl manages to land in guard.
Mantle 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mantle is continuing to stall.
Rahl not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mantle has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahl keeping moving, preventing Mantle from controlling successfully.
Mantle not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rahl is adopting a defensive guard.
Mantle prevents Rahl from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Rahl stuffs the takedown attempt from Mantle. Mantle gets slowly back to his feet.
Darken Rahl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Graham Mantle.

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.
Rahl goes for a double leg but Mantle avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mantle continues to drive forward.
Rahl shoots and misses
and Rahl takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rahl misses with a takedown attempt
and Mantle counters with a nice body shot.
Rahl doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Mantle counters with a straight right hand.
Rahl takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Mantle bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rahl's head backwards.
Mantle connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Mantle might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Rahl looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mantle is fending him off so far but Rahl persists. Nope, Mantle circles away and we're back to standing.
Mantle misses the jab.
Rahl attempts a counter takedown but Mantle avoids it well and moves away.

Mantle gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantle swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mantle lands with a left to the head.
Rahl wants a takedown but no success here.
Rahl blocks an uppercut.
Mantle misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rahl goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mantle prevents it.
Rahl wants a takedown but no success here.
Rahl blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Mantle lands a right hand.
Mantle doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Mantle fails to land.
Mantle tries to work over Rahl's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rahl blocks an uppercut.
Mantle swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rahl blocks an uppercut.
Mantle lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rahl backwards.
Mantle working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mantle fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mantle lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rahl backwards.

Rahl lands a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mantle preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mantle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rahl tries for a takedown but Mantle circles away easily
and Mantle counters with a nice uppercut.
Mantle swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rahl appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rahl fails with the takedown
and Mantle counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rahl looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darken Rahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mantle is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Mantle lands a nice hook to Rahl's body. Rahl takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Mantle lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rahl shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mantle but Mantle pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice straight punches there by Mantle. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Mantle.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rahl.
Mantle connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rahl shoots in and drives through. Mantle sprawls well.

Rahl shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mantle is trying to defend but Rahl finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mantle keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Mantle moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Rahl throws a strike but Mantle rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Mantle sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Mantle postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rahl looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mantle is one step ahead there.
Mantle controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantle trying to control the position from guard on top but Rahl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rahl not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rahl looking for a sweep. Not yet Rahl, not yet.
Rahl is pulling down on Mantle's head. It's preventing any offense from Mantle, at least for the moment.
Rahl tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mantle engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Mantle postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rahl keeping moving, preventing Mantle from controlling successfully.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Mantle content to stall in guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mantle scores with a nice head shot.
Rahl looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Mantle lands with a right hand.
Rahl shoots in looking for a takedown. Mantle tries to sprawl out of it but Rahl keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mantle manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice takedown defense from Mantle. No joy for Rahl on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graham Mantle dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Rahl's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rahl shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mantle as he avoids it easily.
A little jabbing left from Mantle on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rahl shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mantle as he avoids it easily.
Mantle looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rahl shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mantle but Mantle pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darken Rahl. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mantle connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Rahl looking to score a takedown here. Mantle is defending well but Rahl drives through and ends up in Mantle's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mantle has control of Rahl's left arm, preventing Rahl from doing any damage.
Yet more stalling tactics from Mantle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rahl with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rahl in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rahl accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rahl with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rahl loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mantle is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rahl stopping the sweep attempt from Mantle.
Mantle controlling the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rahl postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rahl lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mantle seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Darken Rahl has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rahl throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mantle works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rahl preventing the sweep.
Mantle has Rahl pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Rahl drives through with a takedown into Mantle's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mantle trying to control the position here.
Rahl scoring with some ground and pound.
Mantle looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Rahl throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rahl missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mantle is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rahl trying to hold on to Mantle's head to control him but Mantle postures up.
Mantle landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rahl avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mantle.
Mantle wants to pass the guard but Rahl is defending well.
Rahl is looking to control Mantle's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rahl avoid being mounted?
Rahl tries to get to full guard but Mantle has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mantle content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mantle is thwarting Rahl's attempts to control the position.
Rahl gets full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mantle slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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 Darken Rahl.
Well Mantle has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 46:49
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 46:49
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Graham Mantle!
Graham Mantle is the new featherweight champion!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Graham Mantle waved his t-shirt featuring © Trap House's logo in front of the cameras.