PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Graham Mantle (ranked 248 p4p, 411 weight class) and Alphonse Fuguego (ranked 27 p4p, 37 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.

Mantle
vs
Fuguego

169 cm
34
145
25 - 12 - 1

165 cm
26
145
12 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

New Standard
Brooklyn Apothecary

Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Graham Mantle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alphonse Fuguego!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Phil Schofield and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mantle misses with a straight right.
Mantle lands a jab to Fuguego's midsection.
We've been hearing reports that Mantle has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Fuguego walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Mantle uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fuguego.
A big right from Fuguego misses.
Fuguego avoids the body shot from Mantle.
Mantle will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Fuguego misses with a few strikes there.
A little feinted left hand from Mantle on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Fuguego dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mantle pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice defenses there by Mantle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mantle ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The fighters circling - Fuguego throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fuguego jabs Mantle to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Fuguego misses with a lunging right hand
and Mantle cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mantle waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fuguego.
Fuguego drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mantle defends it well.
Fuguego jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantle keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Fuguego closes the distance and clinches up with Mantle, looking for a takedown. Fuguego pushes Mantle against the cage but Mantle circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A big left from Mantle misses.
Mantle tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fuguego was well out of range. Poor timing from Mantle.
Mantle throws out a loose jab but Fuguego uses good head movement to avoid it.
A little jabbing left from Fuguego on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mantle keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Fuguego takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Fuguego misses with a low kick as Mantle jumps back.
Fuguego ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mantle moves away.
Mantle lands a slapping body shot.
Fuguego scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mantle doesn't seem bothered though.
Mantle jabs at Fuguego's body.
Mantle keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mantle throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fuguego misses the body punch
and Mantle counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fuguego uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mantle.
Fuguego feints the counter takedown.
Fuguego takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Fuguego buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mantle looks to score with a jab to the body but Fuguego is just out of range.
Mantle throws the left hand but Fuguego avoids the punch easily.
Mantle takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Mantle loads up on a big right hand but Fuguego slips the punch.
Fuguego connects with a body shot.
Fuguego ducks under a wild hook from Mantle.
Fuguego throws a body shot but no joy.
Mantle misses with a wild body shot.
Mantle loads up on a big right hand but Fuguego slips the punch.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Fuguego.
Fuguego is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Mantle rather than just go for the knockout.
Mantle just misses with a punch to the body.
Fuguego avoids the body shot from Mantle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuguego misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mantle catches Fuguego with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Fuguego tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mantle was well out of range. Poor timing from Fuguego.
The fighters circling - Fuguego throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mantle misses with a hook. Fuguego ducked under it nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Fuguego! But no joy.
Mantle stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mantle wants it to stay on the feet.
Graham Mantle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alphonse Fuguego.
Fuguego doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Fuguego misses with a hook
and Fuguego takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mantle slips under a jab.
Nice body punch from Mantle.
Fuguego tries to land a front kick but Mantle steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Fuguego gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Mantle.
Mantle throws a hook but Fuguego avoids it easily.
And Fuguego tries to counter it with a takedown but Mantle pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuguego uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mantle.
Fuguego's corner calls for a 1-2. Fuguego obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fuguego tries to score with a low kick but Mantle moves his leg out of the way.
Fuguego misses with a body punch
and Mantle counters with a straight right hand.
Fuguego fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mantle manages to avoid it.
Fuguego misses with a wild body shot.
Mantle uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Fuguego.

Mantle changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Fuguego looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fuguego prevents Mantle from moving into mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fuguego tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mantle working the ground and pound.
Mantle is looking to take a break and control but Fuguego is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mantle is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fuguego is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Graham Mantle dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fuguego gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Fuguego misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mantle slips under a jab.
Fuguego with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fuguego looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mantle is fending him off so far but Fuguego persists. Nope, Mantle circles away and we're back to standing.
Fuguego takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Mantle drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fuguego struggling a bit here.
Mantle has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mantle working the head with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Fuguego's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mantle staying calm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mantle trying to control the action but Fuguego is working from the bottom.
Fuguego is looking for a sweep.
Fuguego gets back to half guard.
Fuguego trying to get back to full guard but Mantle takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Fuguego wants to hold on but Mantle pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mantle lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Fuguego hang on?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fuguego is bucking up trying to escape but Mantle cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Mantle content just to control the position here.
Mantle postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Fuguego looks a forlorn figure.
Mantle avoids the attempt from Fuguego to control.
Mantle working the ground and pound effectively.
Mantle is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fuguego can do to turn this around?
Fuguego bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Fuguego wants to control from the top but Mantle keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mantle keeping full guard, as Fuguego tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantle is pulling down on Fuguego's head. It's preventing any offense from Fuguego, at least for the moment.
Fuguego working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Fuguego stopping the sweep attempt from Mantle.
Fuguego trying to control but Mantle is working from the bottom.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Fuguego working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Fuguego slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Fuguego stopping the sweep attempt from Mantle.
Mantle keeping full guard, as Fuguego tries to pass.
Mantle lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Mantle with a nice head shot there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Fuguego looking for subs off his back but Mantle has passed one foot through into half guard.
Fuguego trying to control here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Graham Mantle dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Fuguego takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Mantle fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fuguego manages to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Fuguego.
Fuguego throws a body punch but Mantle moves out of range.
Fuguego jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fuguego falls off balance throwing a combination
and Mantle counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A jab from Fuguego misses.
Fuguego throws a jab but it's blocked by Mantle.
Fuguego looks to score with a jab to the body but Mantle is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Mantle misses.
Mantle paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Fuguego takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mantle tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fuguego was well out of range. Poor timing from Mantle.
Mantle scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantle throws a body punch but Fuguego moves out of range.
Mantle throws an overhand right that lands on Fuguego's shoulder, as Fuguego tries to avoid the shot.
Fuguego changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Mantle changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fuguego throws a right and a left that Mantle avoids nicely.
Fuguego throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mantle sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Fuguego displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mantle throws out the jab.
The fighters circling - Fuguego throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fuguego throws an overhand right that lands on Mantle's shoulder, as Mantle tries to avoid the shot.
Mantle was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Fuguego jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fuguego fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mantle.
Fuguego swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mantle scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mantle avoids the body shot from Fuguego.
Mantle's corner calls for a 1-2. Mantle obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Graham Mantle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fuguego is looking to score with low kicks.
A swing and a miss from Mantle.
Mantle has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mantle there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mantle throws a body punch but Fuguego moves out of range.
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!
Mantle clobbers Fuguego with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Mantle swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Fuguego clobbers Mantle with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Mantle misses with a hook.
A slow jab from Fuguego misses its intended target.
Fuguego on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Fuguego closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fuguego lands in his opponent's guard.
Fuguego throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mantle is on top in guard.

Mantle won't allow Fuguego to sweep him here.
Fuguego working a defensive guard here.
Mantle makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mantle trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Graham Mantle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fuguego trying to control the position.
Mantle trying to control but Fuguego is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mantle slips nicely into half guard.
Mantle working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Fuguego is staying active underneath Mantle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mantle controlling the action here.
Fuguego is trying to control but can't.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mantle in particular looking to stall.
Fuguego regains full guard. Nicely done.
Alphonse Fuguego has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Fuguego is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mantle is aware though and is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Graham Mantle showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mantle 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Graham Mantle!
A very excited looking Graham Mantle made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.