PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Mango (ranked 6433 p4p, 5997 weight class) and Harve Spalding (ranked 257 p4p, 244 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mango
vs
Spalding

160 cm
21
130
1 - 3 - 0

176 cm
19
134
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Johnny Mango!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harve Spalding!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spalding bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Spalding throws a counter combo.
Spalding throws a series of strikes that have Mango backpedaling.
Spalding sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Spalding shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mango but Mango pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Spalding lands a jab to Mango's midsection.

Mango shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Spalding napping and manages to drive through into side control!
A lull in the action here as Mango stalls from top position.
Mango's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mango working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mango moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control 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.
Spalding is trying to control Mango's posture but Mango avoids it.
Spalding is trying to escape the position but Mango is controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mango connects with the punch.
Mango lands a glancing blow to the side of Spalding's head.
Spalding displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mango throws out the jab.

Mango scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Spalding bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mango catches Spalding with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Spalding lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Mango throws the left hand but Spalding avoids the punch easily.
Mango throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Spalding counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mango scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Mango misses the jab.
Spalding looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Spalding ducks under a wild hook from Mango.
Mango tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Spalding defends well and Mango ends up having to push Spalding into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Spalding breaks from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mango connects with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mango looks to score with a jab to the body but Spalding is just out of range.
Mango throws a right hand that misses
and Spalding counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mango misses with a body shot.
Spalding fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnny Mango seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spalding misses with a series of wild punches.
Spalding is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Spalding chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mango can pounce on him.
Mango thuds his right hand into Spalding's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Johnny Mango will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mango throws a one two combo.
Mango staying out of range there.
Mango works the jab nicely.
Spalding misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mango goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mango throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mango throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mango throws a lazy body kick
and Spalding counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mango throws a big shot that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mango lands a nice hook to Spalding's body. Spalding takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jab, jab by Mango - just one landing.
Mango keeps Spalding at a distance using the push kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spalding uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mango.
Spalding is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Mango shoots in looking for a takedown but Spalding manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mango's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Spalding lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Spalding scores with a shot to the body.
Mango takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Mango ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A nice combination there by Spalding.
Spalding keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mango throws a body punch but Spalding moves out of range.
Spalding takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Mango lands a nice leg kick that just misses Spalding's sensitive parts.
Mango connects with a good right hand that stumbles Spalding. Spalding circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Spalding looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Spalding lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mango circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mango fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Spalding uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mango.
Mango slips under a jab from Spalding.
Spalding misses with a jab, cross combination.
Spalding lands a slapping body shot.
Mango misses with a wild combination.
Mango tries to land a front kick but Spalding steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mango scores with a body shot.
Spalding throws a right hand that Mango ducks under and follows up with a left that Mango also avoids with ease.
Mango appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Spalding has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mango goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Spalding is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Mango misses with a body shot.
Spalding moves away from the strike by Mango.
Mango throws an off balance right hand
and Spalding counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mango swings for the body but Spalding moves out of range.
Spalding's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Mango connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Spalding scrambles back to his feet.
Spalding looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mango scores with a jab. Spalding acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Mango.
Mango avoids a kick to the body.
Harve Spalding is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mango throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mango lands a nice looking body kick.
Mango thuds his shin into the meat of Spalding's side.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mango scores with a crisp jab that stopped Spalding in his tracks.
Mango swinging wildly here.
Spalding ducks right into an uppercut from Mango.
Mango swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Spalding counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Spalding takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Mango fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Spalding.
Mango connects with a looping right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Mango dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mango swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mango looks to throw the jab but Spalding is out of range.
Spalding throws a counter combo.
Some wild striking there from Mango.
Spalding is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Mango cracks Spalding with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Spalding avoids the body shot from Mango.
Spalding misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mango looks to score with a jab to the body but Spalding is just out of range.
Mango scores with a leg kick.
Mango throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mango lands the left hand.
Spalding uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mango.
Spalding doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mango will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mango pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Spalding is looking for the big counter here.
Mango throws a looping overhand right but Spalding ducks down to avoid it.
Mango misses with a straight right.
Mango throws a hook to the side of Spalding's head but Spalding sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A nice side step and Spalding releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Mango swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A nice side step and Spalding releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Nice body punch from Mango.
Spalding has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Mango.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spalding lands a two punch combo.
Mango throws a big shot that misses.
Spalding feints the counter takedown.
Spalding blocks the body kick.
Spalding unleashes a big counter combination but Mango bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Mango avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters circle momentarily. Mango darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Mango ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Mango throws an off balance right hand
and Mango takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Johnny Mango is winning the standup battle so far.
Crunch! Mango slams his shin into Spalding's torso.
Good exchange - Mango coming out on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spalding takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Spalding throws a body shot but no joy.
Mango is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Spalding displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mango throws out the jab.
Mango changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Spalding misses with a right hand
and Mango counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Spalding thinking.
Mango smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Spalding takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Spalding has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Jab by Mango.
Mango throws a right hand that Spalding ducks under and follows up with a left that Spalding also avoids with ease.
Spalding has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Mango.
Mango dodges the punch combination from Spalding.
Johnny Mango is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mango is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spalding can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spalding fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mango looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spalding throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mango counters with a straight right hand.
Spalding fails to land with a series of punches.
Spalding lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Spalding.
Spalding takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jab by Mango.
Mango lands a glancing blow to the side of Spalding's head.
Mango scores with a nice body kick.
That kick from Mango tenderised Spalding's leg. Spalding is trying to keep his angry face on.
Harve Spalding has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mango throws a jab but it's blocked by Spalding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Mango showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mango, 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 for Johnny Mango!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Johnny Mango!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Johnny Mango!

Johnny Mango wins by unanimous decision!