PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gary noel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and raizo the mantis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as raizo the mantis enters the cage!

noel
vs
the mantis

170 cm
21
180 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

188 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gary noel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, raizo the mantis!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
noel thows a left - swing and a miss!
noel's corner calls for a 1-2. noel obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

noel bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
noel trying to control the position but the mantis is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
the mantis is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on noel's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are battling for position here. the mantis manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

the mantis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
noel might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
noel with a flurry of punches that miss.
the mantis thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
noel scoring with some ground and pound.
the mantis trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
noel won't allow the mantis to sweep him here.
noel trying to control the position from guard on top but the mantis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

the mantis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
the mantis is trying to keep noel in close.

the mantis working for a triangle but noel defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as noel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
the mantis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. noel manages to get himself to full guard.
noel wants to stand and escape but the mantis is having none of it.
noel is trying to keep the mantis in close.
the mantis being controlled here momentarily.

That's two 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.
the mantis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
the mantis slips nicely into half guard.

the mantis is working for a submission of some sort.
the mantis wants to pass the guard but noel is defending well.
noel keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
noel is staying active underneath the mantis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
the mantis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

noel pushes the mantis off and gets back to his feet.
A shot to de liver by noel. Beautiful body shot.
noel jabbing away but nothing is landing.

noel changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. the mantis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
the mantis is looking to reverse the position.
the mantis struggling a bit here.
noel cracks the mantis with a big right hand but the mantis just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
the mantis prevents noel from improving position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
the mantis is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
the mantis tries to roll over but noel keeps him under control.
noel drops an elbow to the side of the mantis's head.
the mantis makes his way to full guard. A much better position for the mantis.
the mantis is trying to keep noel in close.
noel won't allow the mantis to sweep him here.
noel wants to control from the top but the mantis keeps moving.
noel throws and elbow that misses. the mantis uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in noel's guard. Nice move by the mantis!
noel is breathing heavily.
noel wants to get back to his feet but the mantis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary noel dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

noel keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
noel throws an overhand right that lands on the mantis's shoulder, as the mantis tries to avoid the shot.
Gary noel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
noel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by the mantis.
noel throws a hook but the mantis avoids it easily.

noel gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows the mantis to score an easy takedown into full guard.
the mantis with a flurry of punches that miss.
noel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
the mantis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

the mantis is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
the mantis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. noel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
noel is looking to stand up but the mantis isn't so interested in that idea.
the mantis is standing up over noel. noel looks to escape but the mantis dives into side control.

the mantis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
noel is looking to regain half guard here but the mantis keeps moving and retains side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

the mantis working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

the mantis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

the mantis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
the mantis in side control, throwing shots but noel defends.
raizo the mantis has got the better of the ground game so far.
the mantis is chipping away with strikes.
noel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
the mantis in side control, throwing shots but noel defends.

the mantis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but noel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

the mantis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
the mantis tries to score with some ground and pound. noel controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
noel taking a bit of punishment here - the mantis scoring with strikes.
noel is trying to get back to half guard.
noel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for the mantis on the ground.
the mantis trying to control the position but noel is working away.
noel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if noel tries to get out of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

the mantis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. noel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

raizo the mantis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! noel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

noel throws a chopping leg kick but the mantis manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
noel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but the mantis was well out of range. Poor timing from noel.
A lazy left from noel finds it's target.
the mantis misses with a jab to the body

and noel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by noel.
noel won't allow the mantis to sweep him here.
noel working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
the mantis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
noel scoring with punches to the head and body.

the mantis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. noel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. noel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
noel landing some decent shots from guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
noel working some strikes from top position.
noel tries to free his leg and advance position but the mantis is retaining full guard.
the mantis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
noel stopping the sweep attempt from the mantis.
noel throwing strikes from guard but the mantis blocks nicely.
noel wants to control from the top but the mantis keeps moving.
the mantis managing to control the position.

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.
the mantis is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A telegraphed right hand from noel misses the target.
the mantis shoots in but noel avoids the takedown attempt easily.

the mantis shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
noel tries to reverse the position but the mantis maintains control.

the mantis is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, noel has managed to escape the submission attempt.
noel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
the mantis landing strikes from the mount.
the mantis avoids the attempt from noel to control.
the mantis landing strikes from the mount and noel is in trouble!
the mantis pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
the mantis unloading with bombs!

the mantis is going olschool here, as he tries to force noel to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so noel shrugs it off.
the mantis scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish noel?
noel is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
the mantis has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

noel has left one of his arms exposed and the mantis doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. noel screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). raizo the mantis!