PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aboubacar Mandiang (ranked 1388 p4p, 3699 weight class) and Aaron Spears (ranked 208 p4p, 481 weight class). Mandiang's entrance music is Oliver Twist. A fine choice. 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.

Mandiang
vs
Spears

190 cm
22
210
6 - 2 - 0

186 cm
23
200
6 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Shadow Warrior Nutrition

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 6 - 2 - 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 6 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aaron Spears!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Eddie Farnsworth and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spears needs to keep his hands up - Mandiang had a free shot at his head there.
Mandiang looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A telegraphed right hand from Spears misses the target.
A chopping leg kick lands by Spears.
Mandiang displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Spears throws out the jab.
Spears is looking to chop away at Mandiang's legs.
Mandiang pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Spears cracks Mandiang with an open hand slap.
Spears closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mandiang circles away.
Spears shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mandiang as he avoids it easily.
Mandiang takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Mandiang steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Spears.
Mandiang moves out of range of the strikes.
Good standup being displayed there by Mandiang as he connects with a hook.
Spears is looking to clinch.
It looked like Mandiang wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Spears closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mandiang throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Spears wants to take the fight to the mat but Mandiang manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Aboubacar Mandiang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Spears.
A right hand to the body from Mandiang.
Mandiang misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandiang scores with a shot to the side of Spears's head.
Spears takes a shot to the head.

Spears breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mandiang is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Spears.
Spears throws an overhand right that lands on Mandiang's shoulder, as Mandiang tries to avoid the shot.
Spears fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mandiang manages to avoid it.
Mandiang bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Spears's head backwards.
Spears lands a lovely overhand right.

Spears closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Spears lands in his opponent's guard.

Mandiang has his feet on Spears's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Spears has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mandiang misses with a series of wild punches.
Mandiang takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Spears tries for a takedown but Mandiang circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Spears there.
Spears misses with an uppercut.
Spears fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Spears lands a leg kick that knocks Mandiang off balance momentarily.
Mandiang doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Spears misses with a hook
and Mandiang counters with a good low kick that Spears was not able to check.
Spears jabs Mandiang right on the nose. Mandiang blinks but takes it well.
Mandiang misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mandiang digs a good body shot into Spears's ribs.
Spears missing with a left hand there. Mandiang was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mandiang swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Spears gets the takedown into side control.

Mandiang explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandiang throws a body punch but Spears moves out of range.
Spears shoots in for a takedown but Mandiang shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Spears scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Spears looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Mandiang manages to work his way to half guard, despite Spears's best efforts.
Mandiang regains full guard. Nicely done.
Spears postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mandiang preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mandiang pulls Spears in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spears accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spears wants to control from the top but Mandiang keeps moving.
Spears stopping the sweep attempt from Mandiang.
Mandiang controlling the position.
Spears wants to control from the top but Mandiang keeps moving.
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 drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mandiang looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mandiang looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mandiang!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Spears prevents Mandiang from moving into mount.
Spears is looking for a sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spears is still trying to improve position.
Mandiang is staying tight to Spears's torso, preventing him from escaping.
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.

That kick from Mandiang tenderised Spears's leg. Spears is trying to keep his angry face on.
Aboubacar Mandiang is winning the standup battle so far.
Mandiang looks to score with a jab to the body but Spears is just out of range.
Mandiang moves out of range of the strikes.
Mandiang slips a jab from Spears.
Mandiang fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Spears manages to avoid it.
A slow jab from Mandiang misses its intended target.
Mandiang circles away from the clinch attempt.
Spears fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Spears misses with a looping left.
Mandiang was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Spears shoots in and gets a takedown into Mandiang's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Spears drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Spears jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mandiang pulls Spears in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spears trying to control but Mandiang is working from the bottom.
Mandiang tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mandiang is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Spears looks to land a left hand but Mandiang moved out of range nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Mandiang on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A telegraphed right hand from Spears misses the target.
Spears throws a leg kick
and Mandiang counters with a body kick.
A jab from Spears misses.
Spears jabs Mandiang right on the nose. Mandiang blinks but takes it well.
Mandiang scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Spears is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mandiang.
Spears misses with an uppercut. Mandiang saw that one coming.
Mandiang swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Spears avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big left from Spears misses.
Spears shoots in for a double leg but Mandiang sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Spears fails with the takedown.
Spears tries for a takedown but Mandiang sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Aboubacar Mandiang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Spears.
Mandiang looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Spears misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mandiang.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandiang moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Spears throws a hook but Mandiang avoids it easily.
Mandiang fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Mandiang scores with a nice strike.
Aaron Spears seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mandiang is looking to slow Spears down with leg kicks.
Mandiang misses with a low kick.
Spears thows a left - swing and a miss!
A jab from Spears misses.
Spears misses with a wild body shot.
Mandiang swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A swing and a miss from Spears.
Mandiang appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Spears scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Spears tries to clinch up but Mandiang circles away and keeps his distance.
Spears fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Spears looks to clinch
letting Mandiang counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Mandiang slams his shin into Spears's torso.
Spears is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mandiang getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Mandiang catches Spears with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Spears is rocked!
Mandiang throws a hook but Spears avoids it easily.
Mandiang smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Spears is still on wobbly legs! Can Mandiang finish him?
Mandiang bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Spears misses the jab.
Mandiang was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Spears seems to have recovered his senses.
Mandiang delivers a nice body kick.
Spears misses with an uppercut.
Mandiang slips a jab from Spears.
Spears has his takedown stuffed
and Mandiang counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mandiang throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mandiang lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Mandiang thuds his right hand into Spears'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.

Aboubacar Mandiang dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Spears throws a looping overhand right but Mandiang ducks down to avoid it.
Nice body punch from Spears.
Mandiang checks the leg kick nicely there.
Spears scores with a crisp jab that stopped Mandiang in his tracks.
Spears cracks Mandiang with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Spears shoots in but no luck this time.
Spears jabbing away but nothing is landing.
An attempted straight right counter from Mandiang misses the target.

Spears gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mandiang lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Mandiang.
Mandiang scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mandiang throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Spearss head.
Mandiang prevents Spears from breaking the clinch.
Spears drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mandiang lands with a right to the head.
Spears takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
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!
Mandiang lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandiang throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Spearss head.
Mandiang lands with a left to the head.
Mandiang lands a shoulder strike.
Mandiang cracks Spears with a nice body shot.
Mandiang cracks Spears with a nice body shot.
Aboubacar Mandiang has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mandiang lands an uppercut.
Mandiang lands a right hand.
Mandiang lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Spears or not.
Mandiang lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Spears backwards.
A short right from Mandiang.
Mandiang scores with a shoulder strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mandiang lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Mandiang lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mandiang lands a right hand.
Mandiang lands an uppercut.
Mandiang lands with a left to the head.
Mandiang lands a left hand.
Mandiang pushes Spears against the cage. Mandiang is working some dirty boxing. Mandiang pushes off with a quick right hook! Spears goes down! Spears tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Mandiang moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aboubacar Mandiang!
Aboubacar Mandiang thanked the fans post fight for their support.