PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maduabuchi Camara (ranked 1474 p4p, 2079 weight class) and Mandla Ibubesi (ranked 171 p4p, 229 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Mandla Ibubesi was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Camara
vs
Ibubesi

175 cm
20
155
4 - 0 - 0

176 cm
20
165
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Heavy handed

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Maduabuchi Camara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mandla Ibubesi!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ibubesi gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Camara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ibubesi fails with an attempt to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Camara misses the target.
Ibubesi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ibubesi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ibubesi looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Camara waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ibubesi.
Ibubesi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Camara throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ibubesi on the side of the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Camara. Ibubesi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ibubesi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Camara paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ibubesi moves out of range as Camara strikes.
Ibubesi doesn't manage to clinch there - Camara circles away.
Camara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Camara's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ibubesi under the eye.
Ibubesi takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ibubesi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Camara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ibubesi doesn't manage to clinch there - Camara circles away.
It looked like Camara was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Ibubesi.
Ibubesi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Ibubesi closes the distance and pushes Camara back into the cage.
Ibubesi can't find room to land a body shot as Camara controls the action.
Camara working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short body shot lands from Ibubesi as the two fighters clinch.
Camara misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Camara lands with a left to the head.
Camara lands a body punch.
Ibubesi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Camara softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Camara working hard to break the clinch.
Camara misses with a short punch on the inside.

Camara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Camara's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ibubesi under the eye.
Camara looks to throw the jab but Ibubesi is out of range.
A jab from Camara misses.
Ibubesi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ibubesi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Camara lands a slapping body shot.
Camara lands a right hook to the body.
Camara looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ibubesi moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Camara works the jab nicely.
Ibubesi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Camara swats away the attempt to clinch by Ibubesi.
Camara slips under a jab from Ibubesi.
Ibubesi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ibubesi moves into the clinch.
Ibubesi digs a right hand underneath Camara's ribcage. Camara let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Camara can't find room to land a body shot as Ibubesi controls the action.
Camara wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ibubesi has him pressed against the cage.
Camara goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hand to the body from Ibubesi.
Camara is trying to break the clinch but Ibubesi has him pressed against the cage.
Camara misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ibubesi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Camara can't find room to land a body shot as Ibubesi controls the action.
Camara looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Good body shot from Ibubesi.
Camara blocking some punches.
Camara misses with a hook to the ribs.
Camara wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A short right from Camara on the inside.
Ibubesi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Camara is breathing heavily.
Ibubesi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ibubesi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

It looks like Maduabuchi Camara has been cut.
Camara blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Camara lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibubesi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Ibubesi.
Ibubesi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ibubesi misses with the head strike.
Camara blocking some punches.
Ibubesi lands an uppercut.
Ibubesi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ibubesi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ibubesi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ibubesi lands with a short shot to the head.
Ibubesi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Camara is looking to break free of the clinch but Ibubesi has double underhooks.
Camara tries a body shot but Ibubesi blocks it.
Ibubesi lands with a right to the head.
Ibubesi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ibubesi presses Camara against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Camara throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ibubesi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Camara's efforts to push away.
Ibubesi blocking some punches.
Ibubesi lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibubesi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Camara blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Ibubesi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Camara has a couple of punches blocked by Ibubesi.
Ibubesi scores with a shoulder strike.
Ibubesi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Camara.
Ibubesi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ibubesi.
Camara blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ibubesi gets through Camara's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ibubesi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ibubesi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Camara misses with a punch to the body.
Ibubesi tries to throw a body punch but Camara avoids it by throwing Ibubesi back against the cage.
Camara is looking to break free of the clinch but Ibubesi has double underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ibubesi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good body shot from Ibubesi.

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

Ibubesi pushes Camara up against the cage in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Camara.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mandla Ibubesi will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maduabuchi Camara's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice defenses there by Ibubesi.
Camara lands a nice hook to Ibubesi's body. Ibubesi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Camara is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ibubesi.

Ibubesi clinches up with Camara and pushes him back against the cage.
Camara lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Camara struggles to land a body shot inside as Ibubesi controls his hands.
Mandla Ibubesi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ibubesi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ibubesi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Camara.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Camara.
A head punch on the inside from Camara fails to land.
Camara blocks an uppercut.
Ibubesi tries to work over Camara's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ibubesi takes a shot to the head.
Camara struggles to land a body shot inside as Ibubesi controls his hands.
Ibubesi misses with the head strike.
Camara blocks a body shot from Ibubesi.
Camara is trying to push Ibubesi away but Ibubesi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Camara lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ibubesi or not.
Ibubesi misses with a punch on the inside.
Camara blocking some punches.
Ibubesi gets through Camara's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibubesi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ibubesi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ibubesi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Ibubesi swings wildly with an uppercut but Camara uses good head movement to avoid it.
Camara digs a right hand underneath Ibubesi's ribcage. Ibubesi let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ibubesi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ibubesi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ibubesi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice body punch from Ibubesi.
Ibubesi scores with a hook to the body.
Ibubesi lands an uppercut.
A short right from Ibubesi on the inside.
Camara goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Ibubesi in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Ibubesi lands with a light punch inside.
Ibubesi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short body shot lands from Ibubesi as the two fighters clinch.
Ibubesi can't find room to land a body shot as Camara controls the action.
Camara lands a nice uppercut.
Camara tries to throw a body punch but Ibubesi avoids it by throwing Camara back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ibubesi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ibubesi.
Good body shot from Camara.
Ibubesi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Camara.
Ibubesi works on Camara's body with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ibubesi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ibubesi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Camara misses with a hook to the ribs.
Camara lands a shot to the body.
Ibubesi blocking some punches.
Ibubesi is leaning against Camara and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ibubesi misses with a punch to the body.
Ibubesi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Camara backwards.

Camara escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Camara throws a big shot that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Camara. Ibubesi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ibubesi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Camara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Camara lands with an overhand left.
Ibubesi misses with an uppercut. Camara saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Camara waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ibubesi.
Ibubesi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Camara swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Camara gets tackled into the cage by Ibubesi. Ibubesi maintains the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ibubesi.
Camara blocking some punches.
Ibubesi lands with a right to the head.
Camara struggles to land a body shot inside as Ibubesi controls his hands.
Camara tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ibubesi's elbow.
Ibubesi misses with the head strike.
Camara lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ibubesi backwards.
Ibubesi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ibubesi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Camara letting Ibubesi take a breather here.

Camara manages to break the clinch.
Ibubesi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ibubesi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Camara.
Ibubesi wants to counter with a clinch but Camara pushes him away.
Ibubesi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Camara.
Ibubesi moves in looking to clinch but Camara pushes him off.
Ibubesi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Camara lands a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Camara lands a nice shot to the body.
Ibubesi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ibubesi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ibubesi tries to clinch up but Camara circles away and keeps his distance.
A quick step to the side and Camara tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ibubesi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Camara.
Ibubesi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A counter left hand to the body from Camara misses its target.
Ibubesi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Camara connects with a looping right hand.
Ibubesi tries to clinch there but Camara circles away.
Ibubesi tries to clinch there but Camara circles away.
Maduabuchi Camara is winning the standup battle so far.
Ibubesi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Camara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ibubesi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ibubesi rushes Camara and presses him up against the cage.
Camara misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ibubesi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ibubesi scores with a shot to the side of Camara's head.

Camara breaks from the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mandla Ibubesi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Maduabuchi Camara's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ibubesi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ibubesi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Camara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Camara throws a hook to the side of Ibubesi's head but Ibubesi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ibubesi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Camara throws out the jab.
Ibubesi tries to close the distance and clinch but Camara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Camara pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ibubesi tries to clinch up but Camara circles away and keeps his distance.
Ibubesi walks into a stiff left hand from Camara.
Ibubesi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Camara misses with a straight right.
Camara throws a body punch but Ibubesi moves out of range.
Camara lands a really nice looking cross but Ibubesi seems unphased.
Jab from Ibubesi.
Camara misses with a straight left.
Ibubesi wants to clinch up but Camara keeps it at a distance.
Ibubesi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Camara waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ibubesi.
Ibubesi tries to close the distance and clinch but Camara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ibubesi blocks a jab.
Ibubesi tries to clinch but Camara moves out of range.
Ibubesi throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibubesi avoids the body shot from Camara.
Ibubesi throws out a loose jab but Camara uses good head movement to avoid it.
Camara is looking to counter punch.
Ibubesi is looking to clinch but Camara is avoiding it.
Ibubesi misses with a straight left.
Ibubesi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ibubesi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Camara keeps the fight on the outside.
Camara swats away the attempt to clinch by Ibubesi.

Ibubesi moves into the clinch.
Ibubesi throws a punch but it's blocked by Camara.
Ibubesi keeps control of Camara as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Camara tries to throw a body punch but Ibubesi avoids it by throwing Camara back against the cage.
Ibubesi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ibubesi working aggressively here.
Camara lands a right hand.
Ibubesi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Camara lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Maduabuchi Camara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ibubesi.
Camara working hard to break the clinch.
Ibubesi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ibubesi misses with a short punch on the inside.

Camara manages to break the clinch.
A slow jab from Camara misses its intended target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ibubesi takes the fight into the clinch.
Ibubesi has Camara pressed against the cage, preventing Camara from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Camara lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ibubesi has a couple of punches blocked by Camara.
Ibubesi is leaning against Camara and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Camara blocking some punches.
Camara is trying to break the clinch but Ibubesi is controlling him.
Ibubesi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Camara.
Camara stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Camara is working Ibubesi over against the cage.
Ibubesi scores with a shoulder strike.
Camara blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibubesi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ibubesi swings wildly with an uppercut but Camara uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ibubesi pushes Camara back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Camara has a couple of punches blocked by Ibubesi.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Camara throws a punch but it's blocked by Ibubesi.
Camara is trying to push Ibubesi away but Ibubesi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Camara wants to break free but Ibubesi has control.
Ibubesi lands with a right to the head.
Camara misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ibubesi misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Ibubesi.
Ibubesi lands a body punch in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ibubesi misses with some punches.
Ibubesi swings wildly with an uppercut but Camara uses good head movement to avoid it.
Camara wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ibubesi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Ibubesi.
Camara pushes Ibubesi back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Camara blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ibubesi.
Camara tries to work over Ibubesi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Camara is leaning against Ibubesi and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ibubesi.
Camara tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ibubesi's elbow.
Camara's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ibubesi.
Ibubesi prevents a body shot from Camara.
Ibubesi keeps control of Camara as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Camara blocks an uppercut.
Ibubesi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Camara's efforts to push away.
Ibubesi swings wildly with an uppercut but Camara uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ibubesi misses with a punch on the inside.
Mandla Ibubesi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Still in the clinch, Ibubesi scores with a nice short uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mandla Ibubesi.
I've got Ibubesi 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Mandla Ibubesi!
After the fight, Mandla Ibubesi was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.