PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Hurt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Mantell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Hurt might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Restless and Wild. The crowd seem to be enjoying Mantell's choice of entrance music: Macho Madness. Robert Hurt has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hurt
vs
Mantell

177 cm
22
216 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
22
215 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

BJJ Purple 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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Robert Hurt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Randy Mantell!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Alyssa Summers and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mantell misses with a jab, cross combination.

Mantell shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hurt is trying to defend but Mantell finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Mantell uses his free foot to push down on Hurt's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hurt.

Mantell working for a guillotine from mount but Hurt is in no mood to give up.
Hurt wants to hold on but Mantell pushes him away.
Mantell controlling the pace for now.
Mantell scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Mantell looking to control but Hurt is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mantell punching from mount but Hurt doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hurt is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hurt slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mantell is looking for a kimura but Hurt is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mantell to get the leverage.
Hurt desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hurt keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hurt moves into full guard.
Mantell trying to control but Hurt is working from the bottom.
Mantell won't allow Hurt to sweep him here.
Mantell trying to control the position from guard on top but Hurt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hurt looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mantell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hurt has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hurt manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mantell manages to get himself to full guard.
Mantell tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Hurt lands a couple of digs.
Hurt is looking to work some ground and pound but Mantell has wrist control.
Hurt pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mantell is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hurt accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Hurt drops back looking for a leg! Mantell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mantell manages to kick Hurt off! Hurt jumps back into Mantell's guard.

Hurt got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mantell has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hurt has managed to get both his arms back between Mantell's legs - danger averted.
Mantell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hurt.
Hurt thows a big elbow that misses.
Mantell is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mantell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hurt misses the shot to the body.
Hurt dives in and grabs Mantell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mantell pushes down on Hurt's head and hops out.
Mantell takes a swing at Hurt's ribcage but misses.
Hurt keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hurt shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mantell defends it nicely.
Hurt gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mantell counters with a series of strikes. Hurt will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Hurt. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mantell fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hurt sprawls well initially but Mantell persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hurt is trying to maintain the position but Mantell is very close to passing his half guard.
Hurt is breathing heavily.
Hurt is trying is best to control the position here.
Hurt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mantell.
Hurt is looking to control Mantell's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hurt avoid being mounted?
Mantell thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mantell trying to control from half guard but Hurt is working away.
Hurt has his hands clasped together around Mantell's back. He's all about the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hurt is trying to maintain the position but Mantell is very close to passing his half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hurt with a poor takedown

and Mantell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hurt is trying to control but can't.
Mantell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hurt's head.
Hurt looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mantell wants to free his trapped foot but Hurt is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mantell in particular looking to stall.
Mantell works his way into full mount!
Hurt tries to hold on but Mantell pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mantell decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hurt might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hurt regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mantell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hurt is keeping the position for now.
Hurt controls Mantell momentarily but Mantell frees himself.
Mantell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hurt wants to stand and escape but Mantell is having none of it.
Mantell looking to pass the guard.
Hurt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hurt is controlling Mantell's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hurt tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hurt scores with a head kick.
Hurt explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hurt swinging wildly here.
Left hook, right uppercut from Mantell.
Mantell throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Mantell clinches.
Hurt fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Mantell ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mantell no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Hurt drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mantell looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mantell looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mantell!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mantell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hurt keeps working.

Mantell working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Mantell fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mantell throws a strike aimed at the side of Hurt's head but Hurt avoids it well.
Hurt prevents Mantell from moving into mount.
Hurt struggling a bit here.
Hurt tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mantell wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Mantell is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hurt has escaped the position, nice work there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mantell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hurt, pushing him back against the cage.
Hurt has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mantell is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mantell wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hurt has him pressed against the cage.
Hurt tries for a takedown but Mantell manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Hurt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hurt wants a takedown but no success here.
Hurt stops a takedown attempt from Mantell.

Hurt jumps guard.

Mantell thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mantell trying to control but Hurt is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hurt controlling Mantell's posture.
Randy Mantell has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hurt tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mantell lands a couple of elbows.
Hurt looking for a sweep. Not yet Hurt, not yet.
Hurt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hurt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A punch combination from Mantell misses.
Hurt has his takedown stuffed

and Mantell counters with a takedown into side control.
Hurt is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mantell's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hurt is trying to get back to full guard.
Mantell is taking a breather. Hurt 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.
Mantell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hurt's head.

Mantell wants to work for an arm triangle but Hurt is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hurt has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mantell is working away from the top position though.
Mantell throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hurt is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mantell's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mantell's back!
Hurt is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Mantell trying to control the hands but Hurt breaks the grip.
Hurt lands an elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Mantell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hurt misses with a takedown

and Mantell counters by moving into the clinch.
Hurt wants a takedown.
Hurt has Mantell pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mantell manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Hurt. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mantell pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mantell lands a nice looking body shot.
Mantell cracks Hurt with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Mantell looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mantell trying to control the position from guard on top but Hurt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hurt pulls Mantell in close to prevent any damage.
Mantell stopping the sweep attempt from Hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mantell 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.
Hurt controlling the position.
Mantell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hurt swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hurt is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mantell looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hurt is looking to advance position but Mantell won't allow it.

Hurt has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Mantell defend it? Hurt steps over the head and cranks it - Mantell is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Robert Hurt!