PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between JT Spirit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabe Manuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spirit's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Nujabes - Feather. Manuel has chosen Violent Femmes- Blister In the Sun as his entrance music. On his way into the cage it seems that JT Spirit has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily JT Spirit seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Spirit
vs
Manuel

164 cm
23
132 lbs
12 - 1 - 0

168 cm
27
145 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, JT Spirit!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gabe Manuel!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manuel misses with a double jab.
Manuel looks to land a body kick but Spirit moved away.
Spirit lands a nice looking body kick.
Manuel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Spirit. That did some damage!
Manuel takes one on the button.
Manuel misses with a body shot.
A slow jab from Manuel misses its intended target.
Spirit misses with a looping left.
Spirit is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Manuel.
Spirit shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Manuel but Manuel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
No luck for Spirit with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spirit misses with a hook.
Spirit throws a lazy right hand but Manuel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Spirit throws a jab but it's blocked by Manuel.
Spirit throws a predictable looking body shot
and Manuel counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel tries to clinch but Spirit is having none of it.
Manuel cracks the inside of Spirit's front leg.
Manuel lands a nice shot to the body.
Spirit loads up on a big right hand but Manuel slips the punch.
Manuel slips under a jab from Spirit.
Spirit throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Manuel counters with a head kick.
Spirit scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Manuel is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Manuel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A shot to the body from Manuel misses
and Spirit counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Spirit throws a hook to the side of Manuel's head but Manuel sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Manuel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Manuel clinches but Spirit breaks the clinch
and Spirit counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spirit on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Manuel. Manuel obviously looking to wear him down.
Gabe Manuel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Manuel closes the distance but Spirit moves to the side
and Spirit counters with a three punch combo that has Manuel backing up. Manuel nods at Spirit to acknowledge the strikes.
An inside leg kick from Manuel misses.
Manuel clinches but Spirit breaks the clinch
and Spirit connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Left hook, right uppercut from Manuel.
Manuel slips a jab from Spirit.
Manuel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Spirit.
Manuel wants to clinch
enabling Spirit to counter with a crisp jab.
Gabe Manuel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spirit lands a body shot.
Spirit doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Spirit checks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spirit cracks the inside of Manuel's front leg.
A head kick by Manuel misses
enabling Spirit to counter with a crisp jab.
Spirit stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Manuel.
Spirit swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Manuel sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A swing and a miss from Spirit.
Spirit takes a swing at Manuel's ribcage but misses.
Manuel cracks Spirit with a right hand to the side of the head.
Manuel throws a body punch but Spirit moves out of range.
Manuel lands a right hook to the body.
Manuel misses with a double jab.
Manuel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Manuel tries a low kick but Spirit avoids it.
Manuel tries to move into range but Spirit moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spirit on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Manuel. Manuel obviously looking to wear him down.
Spirit throws a looping overhand right but Manuel ducks down to avoid it.
Manuel misses with an uppercut.
Good leg kick by Manuel there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Spirit walks into a stiff left hand from Manuel.
Spirit throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Manuel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Spirit thows a body shot but no joy.
A head kick misses from Spirit.
Manuel wants to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Spirit connects with a good right hand that stumbles Manuel. Manuel circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Manuel throws a leg kick
and Spirit makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spirit tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Manuel was well out of range. Poor timing from Spirit.
Manuel tries to score with a low kick but Spirit moves his leg out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT Spirit dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Spirit avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Manuel throws a head kick that misses
and Spirit counters with a nice uppercut.
Spirit bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Manuel's head backwards.
Manuel throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Spirit jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Manuel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Manuel moves away from the strike by Spirit.
Manuel checks the leg kick nicely there.
Spirit misses with a straight left.
Manuel lands a jab to the nose.
Spirit ducks right into an uppercut from Manuel.
Spirit connects with a crisp jab.
Spirit scores with a body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Manuel looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Spirit shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Manuel as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Spirit tries for a takedown but Manuel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Spirit takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Manuel lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Spirit avoids a punch combination nicely.
Manuel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spirit swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Spirit misses with an uppercut.

Spirit scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Manuel trying to control here.

Spirit is working for a kimura but Manuel is defending it quite comfortably.
Spirit is looking to advance position but Manuel won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel trying to control but Spirit postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spirit thows a huge punch but Manuel dodges it nicely.
Manuel moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Spirit in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Manuel slips under a jab.
JT Spirit is winning the standup battle so far.
Spirit avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Spirit throws a low kick, looking for Manuel's leg but Manuel calmly moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spirit missing with a left hand there. Manuel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Spirit shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Spirit has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Spirit trying to advance position but Manuel counters by regaining guard.
Spirit stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Manuel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manuel can't keep his opponent in guard - Spirit advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Spirit looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Manuel is concentrating on defense, preventing Spirit from advancing position.
Manuel wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel is looking to control Spirit's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Manuel avoid being mounted?
Spirit is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Manuel reverses the position - he's now on top in Spirit's guard.
Manuel slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Spirit wants to sweep here but Manuel controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JT Spirit dominated that second 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.

Manuel rushes Spirit and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Manuel taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Spirit lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Manuel tries a body shot but Spirit blocks it.
Spirit working aggressively here.
Manuel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Manuel scores with a hook to the body.
Manuel scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Manuel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Manuel stalling in the clinch but Spirit improves position.
Manuel tries a body shot but Spirit blocks it.
A shot in the inside from Spirit.
Manuel lands a hook to the side of the head.
Spirit misses with a body punch.
Spirit tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Manuel can't find room to land a body shot as Spirit controls the action.
Spirit lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Spirit.
Manuel tries a knee to the head but Spirit blocks it.
Manuel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Manuel softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Manuel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Spirit lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Good body shot from Spirit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit lands a right hand that snaps the head of Manuel backwards.
Manuel will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Spirit up against the cage.
A hook to the body from Spirit.
Spirit working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Manuel is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Spirit is keeping busy.
A right hand to the body from Manuel.
Manuel lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Manuel presses Spirit against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Spirit works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Manuel misses with the head strike.
Manuel lands a body punch in the clinch.
Spirit misses with a body punch.
Spirit misses with some punches.
Manuel's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Spirit swings wildly with an uppercut but Manuel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Spirit lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Manuel tries to work over Spirit's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Manuel crunches a lovely knee into Spirit's ribcage.
A right hook to the body lands for Manuel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Manuel scores with a nice short uppercut.
Manuel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Spirit misses with the head strike.
Spirit lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Manuel has a couple of punches blocked by Spirit.
A short right from Spirit.
Spirit lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Spirit misses with a short punch on the inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Manuel.
Manuel lands a body shot in the clinch.
Manuel lands a left hand.
Manuel stalling the fight.
A nice left hand lands by Spirit.
Nice body punch from Manuel - that landed with a thud.
Manuel misses with some punches.
Manuel blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Manuel blocking some punches.
Spirit misses with a punch to the body.
Manuel works on Spirit's body with a couple of short punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manuel avoiding damage.
Manuel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Spirit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good body shot from Manuel.
Spirit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Spirit working aggressively here.
The referee is keeping an eye on Spirit - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Spirit tries to throw a body punch but Manuel avoids it by throwing Spirit back against the cage.
Spirit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A body shot lands from Spirit.
Spirit taking a breather.
Manuel stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Manuel struggles to land a body shot inside as Spirit controls his hands.
Spirit stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Manuel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Spirit lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Spirit blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short body shot lands from Manuel as the two fighters clinch.
Manuel lands a shot to the body.
Manuel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Manuel is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Spirit is keeping busy.
Manuel lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Spirit is stalling here.
Knees to the body from Manuel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel is working Spirit over against the cage.
Manuel lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Manuel works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Manuel is working Spirit over against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Manuel.
Manuel just leaning against Spirit, taking a breather.
Nice body punch from Manuel.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manuel cracks Spirit with a nice body shot.
Manuel cracks Spirit with a nice body shot.
Spirit takes a knee to the side of the body.
Spirit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Manuel slows down the pace here.
A right hand to the body from Manuel.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manuel scores with a hook to the body.
Spirit misses with the head strike.
Still in the clinch, Manuel scores with a nice short uppercut.
Good body shot from Manuel.
Manuel's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe Manuel really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Manuel throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Spirit.
Manuel misses with a two punch combination.
Manuel wants to clinch.
A shot to the body from Spirit misses
and Manuel counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Manuel misses with a low kick.
Manuel tries to clinch there but Spirit circles away.
Manuel misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good standup being displayed there by Spirit as he connects with a hook.
Spirit avoids the body shot from Manuel.
A head kick misses from Manuel.
Spirit misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel misses with a wild body shot.
Spirit shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Manuel as he jumps to the side.
Manuel looks to score with a jab to the body but Spirit is just out of range.
Nice uppercut lands for Manuel. That snapped Spirit's head back.
Manuel feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Spirit's calf.
Spirit gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Spirit misses the jab.
Manuel lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Manuel is looking to score with low kicks.
Manuel throws an overhand right that lands on Spirit's shoulder, as Spirit tries to avoid the shot.
Manuel fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Spirit is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Manuel.
Manuel misses with an uppercut.
Spirit is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Spirit swinging wildly here.
Spirit avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Spirit throws a body kick that misses.
A good leg kick by Spirit.
Manuel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Spirit moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Manuel tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Spirit was well out of range. Poor timing from Manuel.
Manuel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Spirit takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Manuel is looking to clinch.
Manuel tries to close the distance and clinch but Spirit swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spirit walks into a jab.
Spirit fails with a takedown attempt.
Spirit looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Spirit has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Manuel finds it's way round the side to connect with Spirit's head.
Manuel lands a jab to the head.
Spirit looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Spirit misses with a low kick.

Spirit closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Spirit lands in his opponent's guard.
Manuel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Spirit.
Spirit won't allow Manuel to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel is pulling down on Spirit's head. It's preventing any offense from Spirit, at least for the moment.
Manuel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Spirit is controlling him.
Manuel is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Manuel keeping full guard, as Spirit tries to pass.
Manuel wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Manuel looks to clinch
and Spirit counters with a right hand to the body.
A swing and a miss from Spirit.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manuel tries to clinch but Spirit moves away
and Spirit connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Manuel fails with an attempt to clinch.
Spirit shoots for a double leg takedown but Manuel sprawls well. He's pushed Spirit's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that JT Spirit will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Spirit misses with an uppercut.
Jab, jab by Spirit - just one landing.
Spirit shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Manuel sprawls well. Manuel wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Spirit gets slowly back to his feet.
Manuel loads up on a big right hand but Spirit slips the punch.
Manuel tries to clinch but Spirit moves out of range.
Manuel swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Manuel throws a leg kick which misses Spirit's front leg but catches the back leg as Spirit tries to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Manuel.
Spirit connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Manuel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Spirit drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spirit working the ground and pound from side control.
Spirit cracks Manuel with a big elbow.
Manuel tries to buck Spirit off but Spirit is having none of it.
Spirit misses with the ground and pound.
Manuel is looking to regain half guard here but Spirit keeps moving and retains side control.
Spirit scores with punches from side control.
Manuel manages to get back to half guard.
Manuel is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Spirit passes to full mount!
Manuel is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Manuel tries to hold on but Spirit postures up.
Spirit looking to finish with strikes here!
Gabe Manuel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Manuel is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Manuel is bucking up trying to escape but Spirit cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Manuel is trying desperately to improve position.
Spirit scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Manuel?
Spirit looking to finish with strikes here!
Manuel is working to get back to half guard.
Manuel is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Spirit landing punches.
Manuel tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Spirit working Manuel over with strikes here.
Spirit postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Manuel looks a forlorn figure.
Spirit in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel tries to lock up and control but Spirit gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spirit lands a big elbow.
Spirit throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Spirit thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
JT Spirit is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Manuel can't escape the position.
Manuel is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Spirit takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Spirit with shots to the head and body - Manuel looks very uncomfortable down there.
Spirit looking to control but Manuel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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.
Spirit controlling his opponent.
You get the feeling that Manuel really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Spirit pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Manuel can't escape the position.
Spirit controlling the position easily from mount.
Manuel is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Manuel flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
JT Spirit showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Spirit has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 49:47
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 48:47
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 49:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... JT Spirit!
JT Spirit retains his bantamweight title!