PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Mangum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christopher Hero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mangum comes to the ring accompanied by Neutral Milk Hotel. Hero has chosen No shelter - Rage against the machine as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Mangum
vs
Hero

189 cm
23
179 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

177 cm
22
180 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jeff Mangum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Christopher Hero!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mangum throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Hero moves to clinch but Mangum breaks away
and Mangum counters with a big head kick but Hero shrugs it off.
Hero rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mangum moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Hero bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hero working away.
Mangum manages to get back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hero wants to stand up but Mangum has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Hero wants to work for an arm triangle but Mangum is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Hero is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Mangum has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mangum is refusing to be controlled, as Hero sits in half guard.
Mangum is looking for a sweep. Hero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hero is looking for a kimura but Mangum is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hero to get the leverage.
Hero wants to get back to his feet.
Mangum trying to control here.
Hero seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mangum does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mangum pushes Hero off looking to stand but Hero dives back in and keeps control.
Hero trying to control from half guard but Mangum is working away.

Hero is working for a submission of some sort.

Hero is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two 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.
Mangum is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mangum is refusing to be controlled, as Hero sits in half guard.

Hero is working for a submission of some sort.
Hero is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Hero perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hero throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hero is looking for a kimura here.
Mangum avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hero.

Hero is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mangum is just riding it out for now. Hero eventually gives up the hold.
Hero is keen to just control but Mangum is a slippery customer.
Hero wants to stand up but Mangum has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Hero seems to be working for a kimura but Mangum defends the submission attempt.
Mangum is trying to stand up here but Hero is controlling him well.
Mangum is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hero is trying to control. Mangum wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Mangum is defending against the submission attempts here by Hero.
Mangum is staying active underneath Hero, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hero trying to mount his opponent but Mangum defends it.
Hero stops Mangum from getting back to his feet.

Hero is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Hero looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Mangum is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
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 Jeff Mangum will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hero cracks Mangum with an open hand slap.
Mangum avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hero shoots for a double leg takedown but Mangum sprawls well. He's pushed Hero's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Hero looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mangum!

Hero is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Mangum is surviving well by controlling Hero's body position as best he can.

Hero is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Mangum has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Mangum!
Mangum trying to control the position from guard on top but Hero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hero had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mangum defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hero looking for a sweep. Not yet Hero, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hero wriggles free and stands up.
Mangum throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Hero is looking to land body kicks.
A telegraphed right hand from Hero misses the target.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Mangum, right into the meat.
Mangum misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Hero looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Hero is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hero prevents Mangum from standing back up.

Hero is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mangum sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mangum is looking to improve his position.
Hero wants to pass to mount but Mangum is defending the position.
Hero thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Hero is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mangum sees it coming and defends easily.
Mangum works his way to full guard. Good work.

Hero stands up and waves to Mangum to follow him.
Hero swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A lazy body kick from Hero

and Mangum holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hero doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hero has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hero is trying to break the clinch but Mangum has him pressed against the ropes.

Hero manages to break the clinch.
Hero lands with a kick to the temple. Mangum shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hero is defended easily by Mangum.
Jeff Mangum is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mangum lands a high kick!
Hero looks to clinch
and Mangum counters with a nice body kick.
Hero blocks a head kick by Mangum.
Hero will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hero connects with a high kick.
Mangum plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Hero lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mangum circles away quickly and effectively.
Hero tries to clinch up but Mangum circles away and keeps his distance.
Hero takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hero takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hero looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mangum is fending him off so far but Hero persists. Nope, Mangum circles away and we're back to standing.
Jeff Mangum has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Christopher Hero.

Hero closes the distance and pushes Mangum back into the ropes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mangum holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Mangum is trying to stall.
Hero wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hero throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mangum.
Hero blocks a head kick by Mangum.
Mangum walks into a left hand.
Hero fails to land with a series of punches.
Mangum throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hero changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mangum tries to avoid it but Hero manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mangum to the ground. Mangum escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mangum dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hero. That did some damage!
Mangum circles away from the clinch attempt.

Mangum forces Hero back against the ropes and clinches.

Hero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hero fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mangum lands a head kick. Hero smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hero plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Mangum thuds his shin into the meat of Hero's side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christopher Hero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hero misses with a takedown attempt - Mangum sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hero tries to clinch but Mangum is having none of it.
Hero tries to clinch
and Mangum counters with a head kick.
Hero scores with a one two! Mangum had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A big left from Hero misses.
Mangum connects with a body shot that sends Hero's belly button to the back.
Mangum throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Jeff Mangum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fighters circling - Hero throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mangum lands a leg kick that knocks Hero off balance momentarily.
Hero avoids the head kick by Mangum.
Mangum misses with a head kick.
Christopher Hero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hero shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mangum is trying to defend but Hero finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
It looks like Hero is going to stand back up.
Hero prevents Mangum from standing back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mangum is defending against the submission attempts here by Hero.
Mangum wants to control but Hero is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Hero is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hero missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Hero seems to be working for a kimura but Mangum defends the submission attempt.
Hero seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mangum does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Hero seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Mangum has recovered full guard.

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.
Hero trying to control but Mangum is working from the bottom.
Hero in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hero looking to sit in guard and control but Mangum gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Mangum controlling from the top position.
Mangum wants to control from the top but Hero keeps moving.

Hero had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mangum defends it easily.
Mangum wants to control from the top but Hero keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangum won't allow Hero to get back to his feet.
Mangum has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hero has his foot on Mangum's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mangum works his way back into a safe position though.
Mangum not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mangum trying to control the position from guard on top but Hero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hero keeping full guard, as Mangum tries to pass.
Mangum won't allow Hero to get back to his feet.
Christopher Hero has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jeff Mangum just wasn't active enough.
Mangum is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hero takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A right-left combo lands from Hero.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hero swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mangum counters with a head kick.
Mangum checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mangum scores with a head kick. Hero tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Nice cross by Mangum.
Hero misses with a few strikes there.
Mangum scores with a head kick. Hero tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Mangum avoids the head kick by Hero.
Jeff Mangum is winning the standup battle so far.

Mangum moves into the clinch successfully.
Mangum tries to stall but Hero uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A frustrated look appears on Hero's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Hero breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hero moves out of range of the body kick from Mangum.
Hero misses with a few strikes there.
Hero is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mangum sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mangum misses with a few strikes there.
Nice shot by Mangum.
Hero tries to clinch but Mangum is having none of it.
Hero throws a head kick that half lands.
Mangum lands with a kick to the temple. Hero shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Mangum tries to keep at a distance but Hero has taken the fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Christopher Hero.
I think Hero has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Christopher Hero!