PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manu Speziale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Lotus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lotus has chosen Eye of the tiger as his entrance music. Tommy Lotus is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Speziale
vs
Lotus

200 cm
18
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
183 lbs
0 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

ENDLESS 152

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Manu Speziale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Tommy Lotus!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Daniel Bishop and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lotus takes a swing at Speziale's ribcage but misses.
Lotus keeps the fight on the outside.

Speziale closes the distance and clinches.
Speziale connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lotus's face.

It looks like Tommy Lotus has been cut.
Speziale looking to throw knees to the head but Lotus is blocking nicely.
A knee to the head by Speziale.
Speziale makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lotus is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lotus wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lotus has had enough of the clinch but Speziale keeps him there for the moment.
Speziale with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Speziale connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lotus's face.
Knees in the clinch landing for Speziale.
Lotus wants to get back to striking at distance but Speziale won't allow it.
Speziale tries a knee to the head but Lotus blocks it.
Speziale connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lotus's face.
Speziale lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A knee to the head by Speziale.
Speziale is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lotus is defending well for now.
A frustrated look appears on Lotus's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lotus is trying to stall.
Speziale connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lotus's face.
Speziale tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lotus avoids it.
Lotus blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lotus can't break the clinch.
Speziale misses with a knee to the head.
Speziale is breathing heavily.
Speziale landing knees to the head.
Speziale keeps control of Lotus as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Speziale connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lotus's face.
Speziale landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Lotus is trying to break the clinch but Speziale is controlling him.
Speziale prevents Lotus from breaking the clinch.
Lotus working hard to break the clinch.
Lotus blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Speziale is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Speziale looking to throw knees to the head but Lotus is blocking nicely.
Speziale misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lotus.
Lotus is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lotus is trying to break the clinch but Speziale has him pressed against the cage.
Lotus has had enough of the clinch but Speziale keeps him there for the moment.
Lotus wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Speziale throws a knee to the head but misses.
Speziale lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Speziale keeps control of Lotus as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two 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.
Lotus takes a knee to the side of the body.
Lotus is trying to break free.
Lotus tries a body shot but Speziale blocks it.
Speziale tries a knee to the head but Lotus blocks it.
Lotus blocks an elbow strike from Speziale.
Lotus is trying to force a seperation but Speziale has the dominant position.
Speziale throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lotus blocks it with crossed arms.
Speziale tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lotus. Speziale does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lotus stuns Speziale with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Lotus throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lotus lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Manu Speziale has been cut.
Lotus stalks Speziale and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Speziale's face. Speziale staggers backwards, shaken.
Lotus lands a nice looking body shot.
Lotus fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lotus looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Speziale moves into the clinch.
Lotus is looking to break free of the clinch but Speziale has double underhooks.
Speziale with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lotus struggles to land a body shot inside as Speziale controls his hands.
Speziale trying to land knees to the body.
Lotus has had enough of the clinch but Speziale keeps him there for the moment.
A frustrated look appears on Lotus's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Speziale using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lotus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lotus has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lotus wants to break the clinch but can't.
Speziale is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lotus is defending well for now.
Speziale with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lotus can't break the clinch.
Speziale has Lotus pressed against the cage, preventing Lotus from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Speziale really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Speziale with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lotus wants to get back to striking at distance but Speziale won't allow it.
Speziale tries to land a knee to the head but Lotus blocks with his arms.
Speziale has Lotus pressed against the cage, preventing Lotus from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lotus is trying to break free.
Speziale keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lotus's efforts to push away.
Speziale landing knees to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lotus wants to break free but Speziale has control.
Lotus tries to break the clinch but Speziale is controlling the position.
Lotus is trying to force a seperation but Speziale has the dominant position.
Speziale landing knees to the body.
Lotus has had enough of the clinch but Speziale keeps him there for the moment.
Speziale prevents a body shot from Lotus.
Speziale prevents Lotus from breaking the clinch.
Speziale is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lotus is defending well for now.
Speziale with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Speziale is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Speziale tries a knee to the head but Lotus blocks it.
Speziale prevents Lotus from breaking the clinch.
Lotus is looking to control Speziale's arms but Speziale gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lotus has his back to the cage.
Lotus is trying to break the clinch but Speziale is controlling him.
Speziale blocking some punches.
Lotus blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lotus wants to break free but Speziale has control.
Lotus is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lotus has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Speziale using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lotus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Speziale misses with a knee to the head.
Lotus looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Manu Speziale will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lotus throws a combination. Speziale tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lotus swats away the attempt to clinch by Speziale.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lotus can't break the clinch.
Lotus is looking to break free of the clinch but Speziale has double underhooks.
Lotus is trying to break the clinch but Speziale has him pressed against the cage.
Speziale connects with a knee to the head.
Lotus blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lotus is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Speziale throws a knee to the head but misses.
Speziale is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lotus is defending well for now.
Speziale with a knee to the head.
Lotus wants to get back to striking at distance but Speziale won't allow it.
Speziale lands a knee to the head.
Speziale tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lotus avoids it.
Lotus looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lotus wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Speziale has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speziale trying to land knees to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Speziale tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lotus is trying to break the clinch but Speziale has him pressed against the cage.
Lotus on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Speziale keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lotus's efforts to push away.
Speziale throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lotus blocks it with crossed arms.
Speziale prevents a body shot from Lotus.
Speziale has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Lotus is trying to break the clinch but Speziale is controlling him.
Lotus is trying to stall.
Lotus is trying to break free.
Speziale with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lotus wants to break free but Speziale has control.
Lotus looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lotus dodges an elbow strike from Speziale.
Speziale has Lotus pressed against the cage, preventing Lotus from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lotus wants to get back to striking at distance but Speziale won't allow it.
Lotus tries a body shot but Speziale blocks it.
A knee to the head by Speziale.
Speziale misses with a knee to the head.
Lotus wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Speziale tries to land a knee to the head but Lotus blocks with his arms.
Lotus trying to control the position but instead, Speziale has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lotus into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Lotus's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Speziale landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Lotus wants to get back to striking at distance but Speziale won't allow it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Speziale tries a knee to the head but Lotus blocks it.
Speziale connects with a knee to the head.
Speziale tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lotus avoids it.
Lotus wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Lotus wants to break free but Speziale has control.
Lotus can't break the clinch.
Lotus has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Speziale landing knees to the head.
Lotus is trying to break the clinch but Speziale is controlling him.
Lotus takes a knee to the side of the body.
Speziale tries a knee to the head but Lotus blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speziale tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Speziale blocks a body shot from Lotus.
A short body shot lands from Lotus as the two fighters clinch.
Lotus wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Speziale has him pressed against the cage.
Lotus is stalling here.
A frustrated look appears on Lotus's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lotus working hard to break the clinch.
Speziale lands a nice knee to the body.
Speziale throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lotus blocks it with crossed arms.
Lotus is trying to force a seperation but Speziale has the dominant position.
Speziale trying to land knees to the body.
Lotus tries to break the clinch but Speziale is controlling the position.
Lotus is looking to break free of the clinch but Speziale has double underhooks.
Speziale trying to land knees to the body.
Lotus wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Speziale keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lotus's efforts to push away.
Lotus wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Speziale blocks a body shot from Lotus.
Speziale lands a good knee to the midsection. Lotus won't want to take too many of those.
Speziale tries a knee to the head but Lotus blocks it.

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.
Speziale keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lotus's efforts to push away.
Lotus wants to break the clinch but can't.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Lotus is trying to force a seperation but Speziale has the dominant position.
Lotus wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Speziale with a knee to the head.
Lotus has had enough of the clinch but Speziale keeps him there for the moment.
Speziale tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Speziale with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Speziale has Lotus pressed against the cage, preventing Lotus from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Speziale tries to land a knee to the head but Lotus blocks with his arms.
Speziale keeps control of Lotus as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lotus wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Speziale using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lotus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Speziale blocking some punches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lotus is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Lotus is trying to break the clinch but Speziale has him pressed against the cage.
Speziale keeps control of Lotus as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Speziale lands a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Speziale dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Speziale tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lotus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lotus scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Lotus connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Lotus swinging wilding here.
Lotus throws a nice looking combination but Speziale bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lotus scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Lotus misses with a two punch combination.
Lotus throws a nice looking combination but Speziale bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Speziale rushes Lotus and presses him up against the cage.
Knees to the body from Speziale.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Speziale with a knee to the head.
Speziale landing knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speziale with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Speziale.
Speziale connects with a knee to the head.
Lotus tries to break free but Speziale pushes him back against the cage.
Speziale looking to throw knees to the head but Lotus is blocking nicely.
Lotus is trying to stall.
Lotus takes a knee to the side of the body.
Lotus tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Speziale prevents Lotus from breaking the clinch.
Speziale with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Lotus on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Speziale tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Lotus avoids it.
Speziale tries a knee to the head but Lotus blocks it.
Lotus is trying to break the clinch but Speziale has him pressed against the cage.
Lotus managing to block the knees to the body from Speziale.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A frustrated look appears on Lotus's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Knees to the body from Speziale.
Lotus wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lotus blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Manu Speziale is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two 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.
Speziale keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lotus's efforts to push away.
Lotus blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lotus blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Lotus has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lotus tries to circle away but Speziale has him pinned against the cage.
Speziale tries to land knees in the clinch but Lotus avoids the damage to the body.
Lotus is trying to break the clinch but Speziale is controlling him.
Lotus tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Speziale's elbow.
Lotus is looking to break free of the clinch but Speziale has double underhooks.
A shot in the inside from Speziale.
Lotus wants to get back to striking at distance but Speziale won't allow it.
Lotus wants to get back to striking at distance but Speziale won't allow it.
Speziale landing knees to the head.
Lotus wants to break free but Speziale has control.
Speziale throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lotus blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lotus wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Speziale connects with a knee to the head.
Speziale scores with a knee to the head.
Speziale connects with a nasty looking knee right to Lotus's face.
Lotus is looking to control Speziale's arms but Speziale gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lotus has his back to the cage.
Lotus is trying to break free.
Speziale lands a hook to the side of the head.
Speziale has Lotus pressed against the cage, preventing Lotus from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lotus is looking to break free of the clinch but Speziale has double underhooks.
Lotus tries a body shot but Speziale blocks it.
Lotus has had enough of the clinch but Speziale keeps him there for the moment.
Speziale lands a knee to the head.
Speziale scores with a knee to the head.
Manu Speziale has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Speziale stalling in the clinch.
Speziale using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

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.
Speziale connects with a knee to the head.
Lotus has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lotus takes a knee right on the jaw!
Speziale connects with a knee to the head.
Lotus is trying to force a seperation but Speziale has the dominant position.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Speziale scores a nice knee to the body.
Lotus takes a knee right on the jaw!
Lotus is looking to break free of the clinch but Speziale has double underhooks.
Speziale utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Speziale unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Speziale using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Speziale.
Tommy Lotus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knees to the body from Speziale.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manu Speziale showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Speziale, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manu Speziale!