PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Brinehall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Manilla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manilla is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by The Prodigy, Breathe. Christian Manilla has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Brinehall
vs
Manilla

200 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Jason Brinehall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Christian Manilla!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manilla fails with an attempt to clinch.
Manilla misses with a series of wild punches.
Manilla circles away from the clinch attempt.
Manilla tries to clinch but Brinehall is having none of it.
Manilla tries to clinch there but Brinehall circles away.
Manilla throws a right hand that Brinehall ducks under and follows up with a left that Brinehall also avoids with ease.

Brinehall gets a clinch.

Brinehall jumps into guard, dragging Manilla to the mat.
Brinehall preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Manilla sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Brinehall's guard.
Manilla is looking to take a break and control but Brinehall is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Manilla is taking a breather. Brinehall says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Manilla is nestled in close to Brinehall, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Manilla wants to stand up but Brinehall is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manilla throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Manilla missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Brinehall is staying active underneath Manilla, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Manilla thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Manilla stalling away here and it's allowed Brinehall to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Brinehall uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Manilla misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Brinehall shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Manilla napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Brinehall trying to control the position but Manilla is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manilla wants to get back to his feet.
Brinehall misses with the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Manilla's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Brinehall decides to stand back up.

Brinehall has Manilla up against the cage in a clinch.

Brinehall ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Brinehall no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Brinehall wants to sweep but no luck.
Brinehall is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brinehall can't keep his opponent in guard - Manilla advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Manilla not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Manilla thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Brinehall's head.
Manilla tries to stand but can't do so whilst Brinehall controls his leg.
Manilla content to control rather than advance.
Manilla thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Brinehall's head.
Manilla is keen to just control but Brinehall is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Manilla is nestled in close to Brinehall, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Manilla drops an elbow to the side of Brinehall's head.
Brinehall is looking to control Manilla's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Brinehall avoid being mounted?
Manilla drops an elbow to the side of Brinehall's head.
Brinehall is doing well to control the position and prevent Manilla from advancing to side control.
Brinehall tries to get to full guard but Manilla has control of the leg.
Manilla is trying to control the action in half guard but Brinehall is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
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 Jason Brinehall will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice body kick there by Manilla.
Manilla tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Brinehall holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Manilla tries to break the clinch but Brinehall is controlling the position.

Brinehall manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Manilla wants to get up but he can't break Brinehall's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Manilla wants to control from the top but Brinehall keeps moving.
Manilla postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Manilla is in close to Brinehall's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Manilla throwing strikes from guard but Brinehall blocks nicely.
Brinehall wants to sweep here but Manilla controlling him for the moment.
Manilla is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brinehall working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Manilla.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manilla trying to control but Brinehall is working from the bottom.
Manilla trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Brinehall wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Manilla stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brinehall swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Manilla tries to close the distance and clinch but Brinehall swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Manilla throws a wild body kick that Brinehall sees coming a mile off.

That's two 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.
Brinehall circles away from the clinch attempt.
Brinehall tries to clinch up but Manilla circles away and keeps his distance.

Manilla scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Manilla is looking for a kimura here.
Manilla throws a strike but Brinehall avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Manilla loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Manilla stops Brinehall from standing up.
Manilla trying to control but Brinehall is working from the bottom.
Brinehall will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manilla trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Manilla looking to sit in guard and control but Brinehall gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Brinehall works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Brinehall wants to work for an arm triangle but Manilla is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brinehall stops Manilla from getting back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four 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.
Brinehall trying to pass the guard but Manilla defending well.
Manilla is trying to get back to full guard.
Brinehall slows the pace down in half guard.
Manilla is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Brinehall works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jason Brinehall will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Manilla fails to land with a series of punches.

Brinehall has taken the fight to the clinch.
Manilla looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Manilla looking to stall.
Brinehall will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Manilla up against the cage.
Manilla tries to break free but Brinehall pushes him back against the cage.
Brinehall jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Manilla walks away with a smile on his face. Brinehall gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Brinehall has closed the distance and engaged Manilla in a clinch.

Brinehall jumps into guard, dragging Manilla to the mat.
Brinehall wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Manilla trying to control the position from guard on top but Brinehall is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Brinehall pulls Manilla in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brinehall keeping moving, preventing Manilla from controlling successfully.
Manilla has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Manilla makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Brinehall working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Manilla.
Manilla postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Manilla stands up from Brinehall's guard - Manilla perhaps looking for a knockout.
Manilla misses with a double jab

and Brinehall holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Manilla jumps guard but Brinehall stands there with Manilla around his waist. Manilla gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Manilla swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Manilla.
Manilla takes a knee right on the jaw!
Manilla swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Manilla lands a nice uppercut.
Manilla is looking to break free of the clinch but Brinehall has double underhooks.
Manilla is trying to break the clinch but Brinehall has him pressed against the cage.
Manilla wants to break the clinch but can't.
Manilla is looking to break free of the clinch but Brinehall has double underhooks.
Manilla is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Brinehall just leaning against Manilla, taking a breather.
Manilla is trying to break the clinch but Brinehall has him pressed against the cage.
Brinehall misses with a knee to the head.
Manilla tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Brinehall smiles and moves away.
Brinehall looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Manilla is fending him off so far but Brinehall persists. Nope, Manilla circles away and we're back to standing.
Manilla scores with a jab to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Brinehall throws a knee to the head but misses.
Manilla has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Brinehall is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jason Brinehall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christian Manilla.
Brinehall jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Manilla walks away with a smile on his face. Brinehall gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Manilla misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brinehall swats away the attempt to clinch by Manilla.
Manilla clinches but Brinehall breaks the clinch

and Brinehall counters with a single leg into guard. Manilla didn't expect that.
Manilla keeping moving, preventing Brinehall from controlling successfully.
Brinehall missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Brinehall looking to pass the guard.
Brinehall wants to stand but Manilla has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Manilla trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brinehall won't allow Manilla to get back to his feet.
Brinehall wants to control from the top but Manilla keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Brinehall takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Brinehall shoots for a double leg takedown but Manilla sprawls well. He's pushed Brinehall's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Manilla darts in trying to clinch

and Brinehall holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Brinehall has Manilla pressed against the cage, preventing Manilla from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Manilla tries to circle away but Brinehall has him pinned against the cage.
Christian Manilla has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jason Brinehall is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Brinehall jumps guard and drags Manilla to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Brinehall controls Manilla momentarily but Manilla frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Brinehall showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Brinehall, 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Brinehall!