PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Big Mel Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Glover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Mel Manhoef
vs
Glover

188 cm
21
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
19
275 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Big Mel Manhoef!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Glover!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Atkins and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manhoef loads up on a big right hand but Glover slips the punch.
Glover rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Manhoef moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Glover throws a right and a left that both miss.
Manhoef slips a jab and a cross from Glover.
Glover lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Manhoef circles away quickly and effectively.
Glover misses with a two punch combination.
Glover throws a hook but Manhoef avoids it easily.
Some wild striking there from Glover.

Manhoef fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Glover, pushing him back against the cage.
Manhoef crunches a lovely knee into Glover's ribcage.
Glover looks gassed!
A knee to the head by Manhoef.
Manhoef looking to throw knees to the head but Glover is blocking nicely.
Manhoef lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Manhoef landing knees to the head.

It looks like Paul Glover has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manhoef connects with a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Manhoef.
Glover tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Manhoef connects with a nasty looking knee right to Glover's face.
Manhoef connects with a knee to the head.
Manhoef lands a good knee to the midsection. Glover won't want to take too many of those.
Manhoef with a knee to the head.
Manhoef using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Glover has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Glover tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Manhoef just stands there and leans against the cage.
Manhoef with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Manhoef lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Manhoef tries a knee to the head but Glover blocks it.
Manhoef using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Glover has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Glover drops down looking for an ankle pick but Manhoef pulls his leg out and moves away.
Big Mel Manhoef has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Glover.
Manhoef slips a jab and a cross from Glover.
Glover fails to land with a series of punches.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Manhoef lands a nice knee to the body.
Manhoef connects with a nasty looking knee right to Glover's face.
Glover jumps guard but Manhoef stands there with Glover around his waist. Glover gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Manhoef unloads a knee to the mid-section. Glover lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Manhoef tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Manhoef lands a good knee to the midsection. Glover won't want to take too many of those.
Manhoef working Glover over with knees to the body.
Glover fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef lands a knee to the head.
Manhoef throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Glover blocks it with crossed arms.
Manhoef gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Glover.
Glover has Manhoef pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Manhoef manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Glover takes a knee right on the jaw!
Glover is trying to push Manhoef away but Manhoef has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Manhoef using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Glover has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Manhoef tries to land knees in the clinch but Glover avoids the damage to the body.
Glover avoiding damage as Manhoef throws knees to the body.

Glover jumps into guard, dragging Manhoef to the mat.
Manhoef has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Glover looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Manhoef seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Glover is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef controlling from the top position.
Manhoef wants to control from the top but Glover keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Manhoef has managed to clinch.
Manhoef tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Glover takes a knee right on the jaw!
Manhoef with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Manhoef with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Glover blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Glover tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Manhoef gets underhooks to prevent Glover's takedown attempt.
A knee to the head by Manhoef.
Manhoef throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Glover blocks it with crossed arms.

Glover pulls Manhoef into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Glover keeping moving, preventing Manhoef from controlling successfully.
Glover keeping full guard, as Manhoef tries to pass.
Glover controlling the position.
Glover controls Manhoef momentarily but Manhoef frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Manhoef stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Glover swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A slow jab from Glover misses its intended target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Glover lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Big Mel Manhoef has been cut.
A solid leg kick lands there for Manhoef.
Glover rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Manhoef moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big Mel Manhoef dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Glover walks forward, straight into a front kick from Manhoef.

Manhoef instigates a clinch.
Manhoef lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Manhoef using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Manhoef connects with a nasty looking knee right to Glover's face.
Manhoef with a knee to the head.
Manhoef with a knee to the head.
Manhoef connects with a nasty looking knee right to Glover's face.
A frustrated look appears on Glover's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Manhoef is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Glover working hard to break the clinch.
Manhoef tries a knee to the head but Glover blocks it.
Manhoef with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Manhoef tries a knee to the head but Glover blocks it.
Glover is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Manhoef gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Glover takes a knee to the side of the body.

Glover jumps guard and drags Manhoef to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Manhoef controls from within his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Glover is working an open guard so Manhoef takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef defending well as Glover loads up on a big left hand.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Manhoef.

Manhoef forces Glover back against the cage and clinches.
Manhoef putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Glover in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Manhoef looking to throw knees to the head but Glover is blocking nicely.
Manhoef lands a knee to the head.
Glover looking for a takedown.
Glover takes a knee right on the jaw!
Manhoef connects with a nasty looking knee right to Glover's face.
Manhoef lands a knee to the body.

Glover pulls guard successfully.
Manhoef wants to stand and escape but instead Glover has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Glover trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Manhoef keeping moving, preventing Glover from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Glover stands and steps away. Manhoef gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Manhoef lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Glover throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Manhoef throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Glover.

Manhoef gets a clinch.
Manhoef crunches a lovely knee into Glover's ribcage.
Big Mel Manhoef has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Manhoef working Glover over with knees to the body.
Manhoef misses with a knee strike.
Glover is trying to stall.

Glover pulls Manhoef into guard.
Glover not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Manhoef gets to his feet. Glover looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Glover rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Manhoef moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manhoef has Glover up against the cage in a clinch.
Glover takes a knee to the side of the body.
Manhoef using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Glover has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Manhoef misses with a knee strike.
Manhoef tries to land a knee to the head but Glover blocks with his arms.
Manhoef gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Glover.
Big Mel Manhoef has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Glover.
Glover takes a knee right on the jaw!
Manhoef connects with a nasty looking knee right to Glover's face.
Glover pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Glover tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Manhoef with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Glover has Manhoef pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Manhoef manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Manhoef misses with a knee strike.
Manhoef with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Glover tries for a takedown. No joy.
Manhoef unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Manhoef with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Manhoef obliges.
Manhoef misses with a knee to the head.
Glover tries to pull guard but Manhoef holds him up against the cage and eventually Glover drops back down to his feet.
Manhoef tries to land a knee to the head but Glover blocks with his arms.
Glover fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Manhoef connects with a knee to the head.
Manhoef missing with knees to the body.
Manhoef tries a knee to the head but Glover blocks it.
Glover managing to block the knees to the body from Manhoef.
Glover is working for takedown but Manhoef is calmly controlling the position for now.
Manhoef tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Glover is trying to trip Manhoef. He has hold of a leg but Manhoef is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Glover persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Manhoef 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.
Manhoef wants to stand up but Glover is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Glover preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big Mel Manhoef dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Glover throws a right hand that Manhoef ducks under and follows up with a left that Manhoef also avoids with ease.
Manhoef misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Manhoef moves into the clinch successfully.
A knee to the head by Manhoef.
Manhoef putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Glover in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Manhoef unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Manhoef scores with a knee to the head.
Manhoef throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Glover blocks it with crossed arms.
Manhoef crunches a lovely knee into Glover's ribcage.
Glover goes for a takedown attempt but Manhoef pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A combination from Glover does no damage.
Manhoef throws a series of strikes that have Glover backpedaling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manhoef lands a head kick!
Manhoef throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
A combination from Glover does no damage.
Manhoef moves away from the strike by Glover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Manhoef uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Glover.
Manhoef is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Glover can do to turn this around?
Glover throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Manhoef scores with a push kick.
Manhoef lands a head kick. Glover smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Manhoef throws a sloppy head kick and Glover moves out of range easily.

Manhoef has taken the fight to the clinch.
Glover takes a knee to the side of the body.
Manhoef connects with a nasty looking knee right to Glover's face.
Manhoef landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Manhoef lands a nice knee to the body.
Manhoef tries to land a knee to the head but Glover blocks with his arms.
Manhoef missing with knees to the body.
Glover on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Manhoef missing with knees to the body.
Glover is trying to break the clinch but Manhoef has him pressed against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Manhoef obliges.
Glover misses with a short punch on the inside.
Glover has Manhoef pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Manhoef manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Glover tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Big Mel Manhoef has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Glover.
Glover takes a knee right on the jaw!
Manhoef crunches a lovely knee into Glover's ribcage.
Manhoef gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Glover.
Manhoef scores with a knee to the head.
Glover takes a knee to the side of the body.
Manhoef keeps control of Glover as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Manhoef tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Glover avoids it.
Manhoef tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Manhoef using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Glover wants to break free but Manhoef has control.
Glover is trying to break the clinch but Manhoef is controlling him.
Glover tries to break the clinch but Manhoef is controlling the position.
A knee to the head by Manhoef.
Manhoef tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Glover using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Manhoef has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Manhoef landing knees to the body.
Manhoef putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Glover in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Glover tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Manhoef tries to land a knee to the head but Glover blocks with his arms.
Manhoef is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Glover is defending well for now.
Glover is trying to stall.
Manhoef misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Glover.
Manhoef tries to land a knee to the head but Glover blocks with his arms.
Glover is trying to break free.
Manhoef is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Manhoef missing with knees to the body.
Manhoef with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Glover manages to break the clinch.
Manhoef goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Glover works over Manhoef's head and body with a nice combination.
No joy there for Glover, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Glover throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Manhoef counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Glover can't break the clinch.
Manhoef looking to throw knees to the head but Glover is blocking nicely.
Glover is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Manhoef pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Manhoef with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Glover has had enough of the clinch but Manhoef keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef lands a nice knee to the body.
Manhoef tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Glover avoiding damage as Manhoef throws knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Glover.
Glover tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Manhoef's elbow.
Big Mel Manhoef is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Glover tries to pull guard but Manhoef holds him up against the cage and eventually Glover drops back down to his feet.
Manhoef landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Glover fails to pull guard.
Knees to the body from Manhoef.
Manhoef landing knees to the head.
Manhoef lands a nice knee to the body.
Manhoef lands a knee to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Manhoef tries a knee to the head but Glover blocks it.
Manhoef with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Glover tries to land a knee to the head but Manhoef blocks with his arms.
Paul Glover has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manhoef with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Big Mel Manhoef showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Manhoef, 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Big Mel Manhoef!