PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bruno Nunes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Nunes
vs
McManus

175 cm
22
130 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

179 cm
23
135 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bruno Nunes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John McManus!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nunes with a body punch. A glancing blow.
McManus connects with a good right hand that stumbles Nunes. Nunes circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nunes looks to land a left hand but McManus moved out of range nicely.
Nice body punch from Nunes.
Nunes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McManus was well out of range. Poor timing from Nunes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nunes is defended easily by McManus.
Nunes lands a jab to McManus's midsection.
McManus misses with a wild combination.
Nunes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McManus tries to avoid it but Nunes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McManus to the ground. McManus escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nunes throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent McManus stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Nunes, as that shot connected.
A right-left combo lands from Nunes.
Nunes lands with a nice body punch.
Nunes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Nunes shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in McManus's guard.
Nunes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Nunes sitting in guard, not really doing much.
McManus wants to sweep here but Nunes controlling him for the moment.
Nunes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McManus tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus has a closed guard, preventing Nunes from standing up.
Nunes postures up.
McManus has control of Nunes's left arm, preventing Nunes from doing any damage.
Nunes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
McManus looks gassed!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nunes thows a body shot but no joy.
McManus with a lazy takedown attempt
and Nunes counters with a stiff right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Nunes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nunes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and McManus counters with a nice leg kick.
Nunes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and McManus counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McManus fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nunes gets back to half guard.
Nunes is trying to get back to full guard.
McManus trying to control the action but Nunes is working from the bottom.
Nunes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

McManus stands up from Nunes's guard - McManus perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nunes blocks a head kick by McManus.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nunes with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Nunes doesn't manage to clinch there - McManus circles away.
A jab from McManus does it's job there.
Bruno Nunes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice jab there from Nunes.
McManus shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
McManus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nunes counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nunes is looking to wear down McManus with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters circle momentarily. Nunes darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nunes has closed the distance and engaged McManus in a clinch.
Nunes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McManus keeps control of Nunes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by McManus.
McManus's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Nunes fails to pull guard.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Nunes.
Nunes has McManus pressed against the cage, preventing McManus from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Nunes jumps guard but McManus stands there with Nunes around his waist. Nunes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

McManus breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McManus tries to keep at a distance but Nunes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nunes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as McManus walks away with a smile on his face. Nunes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruno Nunes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nunes connects with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nunes tries to bum rush McManus with a series of wild strikes but McManus uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
McManus tries for a takedown but Nunes circles away easily
enabling Nunes to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McManus misses with a double jab.
Nunes scores with a shot to the body.
Nunes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and McManus counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nunes!
McManus looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Nunes's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
McManus prevents Nunes from getting the reversal.
McManus connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by McManus.
McManus landing punches.
McManus landing strikes from the mount and Nunes is in trouble!
Nunes looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
The referee is taking a good look at Nunes as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from McManus!
Nunes is in bad spot here.
McManus has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McManus connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Nunes to escape the position.
McManus is not going to allow Nunes to sit and survive in this position.
McManus loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Nunes hold on?
Nunes covers up after that shot from McManus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nunes is keeping busy.
McManus is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
McManus throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

Nunes defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of McManus's arms.
Nunes has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Nunes tries to roll but McManus sticks to his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

McManus looking for the choke but no joy.
Nunes is in bad spot here.
McManus is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Nunes up.

McManus working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nunes just trying to survive but McManus is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John McManus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Nice shot lands for Nunes.
Nunes misses with a series of wild punches.
Nunes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McManus as he avoids it easily.

McManus closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McManus lands in his opponent's guard.
McManus keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nunes's head.
McManus pushing down on Nunes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
McManus is trying to control the action in half guard but Nunes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nunes has hold of McManus's hands but McManus slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus tries to stand and escape but Nunes is controlling the position.
Nunes regains full guard. Nicely done.
McManus lands a couple of digs.
McManus wants to stand and escape but instead Nunes has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
McManus working a defensive guard here.
McManus is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

McManus throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nunes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

McManus working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nunes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nunes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nunes stays in close to McManus's body and controls the position.
Nunes works a leg free and moves into half guard.

McManus actively working from the bottom here.
Nunes is controlling the pace.
Nunes prevents McManus from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nunes looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
McManus controlling the position well.
Nunes controlling the action here.
McManus is trying to get back to full guard.
McManus won't allow Nunes to pass to mount.
Nunes stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
McManus is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Nunes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Nunes's back!
McManus wants to control the position but Nunes frees himself and scrambles - McManus manages to regain control in side control.

McManus tries for a kimura but Nunes is defending well.
McManus trying to control the action but Nunes is working from the bottom.

McManus wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Nunes, who protects the arm well.

And that's the end of the fight!
John McManus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

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