PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chris Sharpe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Manta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sharpe
vs
Manta

180 cm
26
165 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

170 cm
24
167 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Chris Sharpe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leo Manta!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Sharpe.
Sharpe connects with a high kick.
Manta bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Manta blocks a head kick by Sharpe.
Sharpe on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Manta feints and as Sharpe raises his hands in defense, Manta changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Manta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sharpe 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.

Sharpe had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Manta defends it easily.
Manta trying to control but Sharpe is working from the bottom.
Manta looking to pass the guard.
Manta chips away with some ground and pound.
Manta lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Manta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Manta is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Manta postures up and lands a big shot to Sharpe's brow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sharpe is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Manta defends well.
Manta is working Sharpe over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Manta scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Sharpe is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Manta is aware though and is defending well.

Sharpe is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Manta is aware though and is defending well.
Manta postures up.
Manta tries to free his leg and advance position but Sharpe is retaining full guard.
Manta with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sharpe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Manta is one step ahead there.
Sharpe is breathing heavily.
Manta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sharpe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manta scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manta working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sharpe scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Decent striking displayed by Manta there.
Sharpe has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sharpe there as he acknowledges the shot.
Manta avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Manta throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Chris Sharpe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sharpe tries to land a front kick but Manta steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sharpe throws the left hand but Manta avoids the punch easily.
Sharpe tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Manta shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Manta trying to control the position from guard on top but Sharpe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sharpe is trying to keep Manta in close.

Sharpe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Manta keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sharpe's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manta working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Manta connects with a couple of short punches.

Sharpe looking for a guillotine here but Manta defends easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Manta content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Manta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sharpe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manta passes Sharpe's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sharpe is staying active underneath Manta, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Manta thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sharpe's head.
Manta trying to mount his opponent but Sharpe defends it.
Sharpe is looking to improve his position.
Manta stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manta wants to control but Sharpe is keeping him busy.
Manta throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Manta wants to take a breather but Sharpe is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sharpe misses with a head kick.
Manta avoids the head kick by Sharpe.
Manta looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sharpe scores with a crisp jab that stopped Manta in his tracks.
Sharpe walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Manta uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sharpe.
Sharpe throws out a loose jab but Manta uses good head movement to avoid it.
Manta sizes up Sharpe with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sharpe misses with a straight left.
Manta jabs at Sharpe's body.
Manta bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Manta lands with a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Manta 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.

Sharpe has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Sharpe there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sharpe misses the shot to the body.
Sharpe tries a head kick but it misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Manta as he connects with a hook.

Manta looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sharpe keeping moving, preventing Manta from controlling successfully.

Sharpe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Manta tries to free his leg and advance position but Sharpe is retaining full guard.
Sharpe throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Manta throws a big right hand that misses.
Sharpe keeping full guard, as Manta tries to pass.
Sharpe manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Manta manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manta keeping full guard, as Sharpe tries to pass.
Manta manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sharpe manages to get himself to full guard.
Sharpe trying to control the position.
Manta is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Manta postures up and lands a big shot to Sharpe's brow.
Manta trying to control the position from guard on top but Sharpe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manta wants to stand but Sharpe has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Manta is breathing heavily.
Sharpe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Manta is one step ahead there.

Manta 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 two 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.
Manta throwing strikes but missing.

Sharpe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Manta gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Manta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sharpe is keeping the position for now.
Manta scoring with some ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sharpe misses the shot to the body.
Sharpe misses the shot to the body.
Manta throws a series of punches but Sharpe avoids them all with ease.
Manta lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharpe throws a sloppy body shot

and Manta counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Manta.
Sharpe is trying to keep Manta in close.
Manta postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Sharpe looking for a guillotine here but Manta defends easily.

Sharpe looking for a guillotine here but Manta defends easily.
Manta scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manta lands a couple of elbows.
Manta is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Manta trying to control the position from guard on top but Sharpe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manta postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Manta lands a couple of digs.
Manta postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Manta preventing the sweep.
Sharpe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sharpe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Manta is in close to Sharpe's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Manta working some strikes from top position.
Manta passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sharpe is looking for a sweep.
Manta working the body and head with strikes.
Manta scoring with punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Manta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sharpe fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Manta looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sharpe tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Manta throws a head kick that misses.
Chris Sharpe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manta shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sharpe but Sharpe pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sharpe misses with a hook.
Some wild striking there from Sharpe.
Manta dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sharpe tries a head kick but it misses.
Sharpe misses with a two punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Sharpe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Manta scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Manta decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sharpe to his feet.
Manta misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Sharpe counters with a head kick.
Manta works Sharpe's body with a nice hook.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sharpe on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
No joy there for Manta, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Manta avoids the head kick by Sharpe.
Manta lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sharpe at a distance.
A punch combination from Manta misses.
Sharpe misses with a head kick.

Manta shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Manta landing with the ground and pound.
Manta wants to control from the top but Sharpe keeps moving.

Sharpe working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Manta doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Manta manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Manta looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Manta lands a couple of digs.
Leo Manta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sharpe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Manta stopping the sweep attempt from Sharpe.
Manta passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sharpe tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Manta wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Manta controls the position from side control.
Leo Manta has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sharpe is looking to regain half guard here but Manta keeps moving and retains side control.
Manta landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
You can see the frustration on Sharpe's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sharpe is looking for a sweep.
Manta lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Sharpe down.

Manta wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sharpe, who protects the arm well.
Sharpe is looking for a sweep.
Sharpe manages to work his way to half guard, despite Manta's best efforts.
Manta working the head and body with strikes.
Manta not doing much here.

That's four 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.
Manta's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Sharpe looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Manta is nestled in close to Sharpe, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Still in half guard, Manta seems content to control.

Sharpe looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Chris Sharpe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Manta in particular looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leo Manta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Manta winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Manta!