PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joao Manfla (ranked 4762 p4p, 4819 weight class) and Leo Parker (ranked 543 p4p, 545 weight class). Parker has chosen Only one - Yizzy as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Manfla
vs
Parker

200 cm
25
213
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
21
205
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joao Manfla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leo Parker!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Reed Andrews and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Parker decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Manfla wants to get back to full guard but Parker has passed into side control.
Manfla is trying to get back to half guard.
Manfla avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Parker.
Parker has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Manfla!
Manfla is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manfla is in all sorts of trouble here.
Parker wants to control the pace but Manfla is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manfla has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manfla covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Manfla is trying to get back to his feet but Parker has full control of the position and if anything, Manfla has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Parker is persistently looking for the submission but Manfla is defending it well.
Will Parker go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Manfla is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Parker is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Manfla is defending well though. Parker let's go of the attempt for now.
Manfla takes a big shot to the side of the head.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Parker's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Parker has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Parker looking for the RNC.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Parker thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

Parker patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Parker controlling well, preventing Manfla from escaping the position.
Parker gets his hands free as Manfla looks to control.
Parker controlling well, preventing Manfla from escaping the position.
Parker is riding his opponent, not letting Manfla buck him off.
Parker doesn't have the hooks in and Manfla manages to turn into his guard.
Manfla working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Parker's head.
Manfla has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manfla looking to pass the guard.
Manfla won't allow Parker to sweep him here.
Manfla is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Manfla seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Parker for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Parker drives through with a takedown into guard.
Manfla working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Parker.
Parker working some strikes from top position.
Parker trying to control but Manfla is working from the bottom.
Parker throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Parker trying to control the position from guard on top but Manfla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Parker stops Manfla from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Parker lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Parker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Parker gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Parker throws a head kick but Manfla moves out of range.
Leo Parker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Parker fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Parker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Good shot there by Manfla.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manfla moves out of range of the body kick from Parker.

Parker looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Parker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Manfla keeping moving, preventing Parker from controlling successfully.
Parker is breathing heavily.
Manfla bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Parker's guard.

Manfla forces his way into half guard.
Manfla winds up and cracks Parker with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Parker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Manfla in particular looking to stall.
Parker is trying to maintain the position but Manfla is very close to passing his half guard.
Manfla not doing much here.
Manfla lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Parker tries to get to full guard but Manfla has control of the leg.
Parker is trying to control but can't.

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.
Manfla slows the pace down in half guard.
Manfla stops Parker from getting back to his feet.
Manfla not doing much here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Manfla works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joao Manfla will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Manfla displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Parker.
Parker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Parker takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Parker shoots in but no luck this time.
Parker throws a wild body kick that Manfla sees coming a mile off.

Manfla darts in and clinches Parker up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manfla lands with a left to the head.
Parker tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Manfla just stands there and leans against the cage.
Joao Manfla has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leo Parker.
Parker tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Manfla.
Parker jumps guard but Manfla stands there with Parker around his waist. Parker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Parker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manfla digs a right hand underneath Parker's ribcage. Parker let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Manfla lands with a short shot to the head.
Parker tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Manfla just stands there and leans against the cage.
Manfla is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Parker tries to circle away but Manfla has him pinned against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Manfla.
Manfla tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Manfla lands an uppercut.
Manfla with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Parker is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Parker is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short right from Manfla on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Parker manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Parker working a defensive guard here.
Manfla's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Parker throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Parker can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Manfla controls the pace.
Manfla content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Manfla is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Manfla wants to pass the guard but Parker is keeping the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Parker fails to land the takedown.

Manfla rushes Parker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Manfla throws a knee to the head but misses.

Manfla has Parker pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Manfla pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Parker tumbling to the mat - Manfla dives into Parker's guard.
Manfla 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.
Manfla continues to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Parker is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Manfla stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Parker swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Parker is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Manfla defends well.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Manfla's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Manfla showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Manfla has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joao Manfla!
Leo Parker spoke after the fight, saying 'I need to get back in the gym and see what i need to work on'.