PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Latham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Latham comes to the cage accompanied by Frontier Psychiatrist - The Avalanches. McManus is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Disturbed-Prayer. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Latham
vs
McManus

185 cm
25
215 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

186 cm
25
205 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ka-POW Clothing

Bushido Clothing
Bushido Clothing

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Latham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan McManus!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Latham pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McManus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Latham.
Latham shoots in for a double leg but McManus sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Latham fails with an attempt to clinch.
Latham shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McManus as he jumps to the side.

Latham drives through with a takedown into guard.
Latham trying to control but McManus is working from the bottom.

Latham drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but McManus manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Latham has McManus in his guard.
Latham tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Latham looking for subs off his back but McManus has passed one foot through into half guard.
Well, if McManus is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
McManus looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Latham with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus controlling the action here.
Latham is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McManus's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McManus's back!
Latham is trying to stick to McManus's back but McManus is turning into Latham. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Latham's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by McManus.

Latham has an active guard here but McManus has managed to pass into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McManus tries to stand and escape but Latham actually recovers to full guard.
McManus wants to pass the guard but Latham is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Latham looking to hit a scissor sweep but McManus is one step ahead there.
Latham looking to control.

Latham has an active guard here but McManus has managed to pass into half guard.
Latham is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.
Latham blocking the ground and pound attempt from McManus.
Latham flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
McManus connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Latham's hands.
Latham moves in looking to clinch but McManus pushes him off.
Latham tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Latham misses with a two punch combination.
McManus throws a shot from downtown. Latham moves away and avoids it.
McManus staying out of range there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Latham misses with an uppercut.
Latham shoots for a takedown but McManus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Latham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McManus checks a low kick from Latham.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan McManus dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Latham looks to land a combination. McManus sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Dan McManus has been cut.
Latham goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Latham digs a good body shot into McManus's ribs.
McManus fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Latham avoids it really well and circles away.
Latham throws a body punch but McManus moves out of range.
Latham misses with a double jab.
Latham with a lazy takedown attempt

and McManus counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Latham is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Latham is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Latham is pressing down on McManus's thigh, looking to free his foot. McManus is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. McManus manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
McManus working a defensive guard here.
McManus is looking to stand up but Latham isn't so interested in that idea.
McManus wants to sweep but no luck.
Latham trying to control but McManus is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Latham throws a strike but McManus rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Latham not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McManus is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Latham throws a sloppy body shot

and McManus counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Latham is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but McManus pulls his head out easily.
McManus takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Latham trying to control here.

McManus decides to return to a standing position.
McManus takes one to the chin there.
A telegraphed right hand from Latham misses the target.
Latham looks to score with a jab to the body but McManus is just out of range.

McManus gets caught flat footed, as Latham shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McManus bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Latham's guard.
McManus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

McManus avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Latham is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
McManus is refusing to be controlled, as Latham sits in half guard.
McManus avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Latham.
McManus preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Latham not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dan McManus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dan McManus's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Latham takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
No joy there for Latham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fighters circling - McManus throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McManus throws a lazy right hand but Latham sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McManus blocks a head kick by Latham.
McManus looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Mark Latham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A shot to the body from Latham misses
enabling McManus to counter with a crisp jab.
Latham lands with a thumping leg kick.
Latham darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Latham missing with a left hand there. McManus was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Latham jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
The fighters circling - Latham throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A lazy left from Latham finds it's target.
McManus throws a head kick but Latham moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus walks into a straight right hand from Latham.
McManus takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Latham looks to land a left hand but McManus moved out of range nicely.
A jab from McManus misses.
A swing and a miss from McManus.
Latham fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McManus manages to avoid it.
Latham waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract McManus.
Latham swats away the attempt to clinch by McManus.
Latham doesn't manage to clinch there - McManus circles away.
Latham throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice defenses there by McManus.
Latham moves in looking to clinch but McManus pushes him off.
Latham connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Latham throws a right and a left that McManus avoids nicely.
Latham works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Latham scores with a jab to the body.
McManus is looking to clinch.
Latham connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Latham loads up on a big right hand but McManus slips the punch.
Mark Latham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Latham tries for a takedown but McManus circles away easily

and McManus counters by moving into the clinch.

Latham has dropped down and is working for a takedown. McManus is trying to keep an underhook but Latham manages to get the takedown into half guard.

McManus is defending against the submission attempts here by Latham.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McManus is trying to stand up here but Latham is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Latham is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, McManus has managed to free his arm - good work.
Latham prevents McManus from standing back up.
Latham is keen to just control but McManus is a slippery customer.
Latham landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Latham tries to pass to full mount but McManus defends it.

Latham is looking for a kimura here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Latham throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McManus trying to control but Latham postures up.

Latham is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Latham throws a strike but McManus avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Latham showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McManus has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan McManus!