PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aboubacar Mandiang (ranked 4073 p4p, 3497 weight class) and Aaron Spears (ranked 498 p4p, 441 weight class). Mandiang comes to the cage accompanied by Oliver Twist. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Mandiang
vs
Spears

190 cm
21
210
2 - 1 - 0

186 cm
21
200
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Shadow Warrior Nutrition
Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aboubacar Mandiang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Spears!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Bruno Lombardi and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spears takes one to the side of the head.
Mandiang lands a nice leg kick that just misses Spears's sensitive parts.
Spears with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Mandiang to score with a decent uppercut.
Decent striking displayed by Mandiang there.
Mandiang bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Spears's head.
Jab, jab by Mandiang - just one landing.

Spears closes the distance and pushes Mandiang back into the cage.
Mandiang misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mandiang lands a nice shot to the body.
Spears changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mandiang fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Spears tries to clinch there but Mandiang circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mandiang swings for the body but Spears moves out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Mandiang.
Mandiang scores with a decent looking hook.

Spears gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spears blocking some punches.
Mandiang fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mandiang throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Spearss head.
Spears tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Spears working hard to break the clinch.
Spears drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mandiang pulls his leg out and moves away.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mandiang. That's going to slow Spears down.
Mandiang defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Spears.
Aboubacar Mandiang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Spears.
A slapping leg kick lands for Mandiang.
Mandiang connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Spears tries to clinch up but Mandiang circles away and keeps his distance.
Mandiang just misses with a punch to the body.
Despite the aggression on Spears's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Spears with that takedown attempt.
Mandiang throws a quick counter kick to the body but Spears avoids it.
Mandiang throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Spears tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mandiang manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mandiang swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Spears throws a wild body kick that Mandiang sees coming a mile off.
Spears throws a head kick but Mandiang moves out of range.
Spears shoots in looking for a takedown. Mandiang tries to sprawl out of it but Spears keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mandiang manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mandiang swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Spears closes the distance and clinches up with Mandiang, looking for a takedown. Spears pushes Mandiang against the cage but Mandiang circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A slow jab from Spears misses its intended target.
Aaron Spears seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mandiang scoring well with a low kick there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spears takes a jab right on the kisser.
Mandiang looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Mandiang stuffs the takedown.
Mandiang fires out a quick counter leg kick but Spears just manages to avoid it.
Crunch! Mandiang slams his shin into Spears's torso.
The fighters circling - Spears throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mandiang is looking to counter with a body kick.
Mandiang scoring well with a low kick there.
Spears on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Mandiang avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Spears tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Spears drops his hands momentarily and Mandiang takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Spears dives in and grabs Mandiang's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mandiang pushes down on Spears's head and hops out.
Spears shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mandiang counters with a thumping low kick.
Mandiang is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mandiang connects with a single shot there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Spears tries a head kick but it misses.
It looked like Mandiang wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mandiang uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Spears shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A little feinted left hand from Mandiang on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Spears shoots in and bounces Mandiang off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mandiang pulls Spears in to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mandiang is on top in guard.

Spears lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Spears won't allow Mandiang to sweep him here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aboubacar Mandiang dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sloppy strikes from Spears. Those never looked like landing.
Mandiang looks to score with a jab to the body but Spears is just out of range.
Mandiang connects with an inside leg kick.
Mandiang checks a leg kick nicely.
Spears shoots in for a takedown but Mandiang shows good takedown defense.
Jab from Mandiang.
Spears shoots in looking for a takedown but Mandiang manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Spears's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Spears has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mandiang finds it's way round the side to connect with Spears's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mandiang circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mandiang was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Mandiang connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Mandiang connects with a single shot there.
Mandiang tries to land a front kick but Spears steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Spears is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandiang misses with an uppercut. Spears saw that one coming.
Mandiang throws a jab but it's blocked by Spears.
Spears is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Aaron Spears is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mandiang displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Spears.
Aboubacar Mandiang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Spears.
Spears throws a sloppy head kick and Mandiang moves out of range easily.
Aboubacar Mandiang is winning the standup battle so far.
Spears fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mandiang misses with an uppercut.
Spears shoots in but Mandiang avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A little feinted left hand from Mandiang on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Mandiang's jab looks to have found its range, popping Spears under the eye.
Spears fails with the takedown.
Mandiang feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spears tries to clinch up.
Mandiang looks to throw the jab but Spears is out of range.

Spears has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mandiang lands an uppercut.
Spears tries for a takedown but Mandiang manages to get underhooks.
Mandiang is pressed up against the cage. Spears has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mandiang down to the mat. Mandiang avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Spears's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Mandiang with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mandiang is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spears can do to turn this around?
Spears is breathing heavily.
Spears misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Mandiang to counter with a crisp jab.
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!
Spears throws a left and a right that both miss
and Mandiang counters with a leg kick.
Spears shoots in looking for a takedown. Mandiang tries to sprawl out of it but Spears keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mandiang manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A counter left hand to the body from Mandiang misses its target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spears tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Spears swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mandiang counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Spears closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Spears lands in his opponent's guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Spears working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Mandiang bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Spears's guard.

Mandiang controlling from the top position.

Spears looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Mandiang passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Spears looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mandiang keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Spears looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Spears looking for submissions off his back.
Mandiang keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aboubacar Mandiang dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mandiang rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Spears counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Spears tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mandiang paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mandiang lands with a straight right. Spears didn't see that one coming.
Mandiang swings for the body but Spears moves out of range.

Spears drives through with a takedown into Mandiang's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Spears working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mandiang is trying to keep Spears in close.
Mandiang lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mandiang not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mandiang stopping the sweep attempt from Spears.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spears is looking for a triangle here but Mandiang uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Mandiang just content to control the position.
Spears sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Spears can do anything to dispel that myth.
Spears wants to improve his position but Mandiang is controlling well.
Mandiang moves nicely into side control.
Mandiang remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mandiang tries to advance to mount but can't.
Spears is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Mandiang passes into side control, despite Spears's attempt to control the position.
Spears is trying to get back to half guard.
Mandiang working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandiang advances nicely into full mount.
Spears is working to get back to half guard.
Mandiang controlling the position easily from mount.
Spears regains half guard.
Spears wants to control the action here but instead Mandiang manages to pass to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mandiang manages to capitalize on a mistake by Spears to take his back!
Spears tries to escape but Mandiang has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Mandiang really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Spears.
Aaron Spears has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
I really don't envy Spears right now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Aboubacar Mandiang is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Good control from Mandiang.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aboubacar Mandiang showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mandiang has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aboubacar Mandiang!
A victorious Aboubacar Mandiang thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.