PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jrock Mandela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fionn mac Cumhail (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jrock Mandela has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Mandela
vs
mac Cumhail

180 cm
23
195 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
195 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

Bushido Clothing
MMA's Best Nutrition

Bushido Clothing
Kitsura Clothing Ltd

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jrock Mandela!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fionn mac Cumhail!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
mac Cumhail will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Mandela moves into the clinch.

Mandela decides to pull guard.
mac Cumhail throws and elbow that misses. Mandela uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in mac Cumhail's guard. Nice move by Mandela!
mac Cumhail keeping moving, preventing Mandela from controlling successfully.
mac Cumhail is trying to keep Mandela in close.
Mandela loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Mandela has gone for a leg lock! mac Cumhail slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mandela's guard.
mac Cumhail missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Mandela had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. mac Cumhail is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Mandela Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take mac Cumhail's back instead.

Mandela is persistently looking for the submission but mac Cumhail is defending it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mandela looking for the choke but no joy.
mac Cumhail tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
mac Cumhail keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
mac Cumhail is squirming around, avoiding Mandela's attempts to control the action.

Mandela goes for an armbar but he's not got it… mac Cumhail turns into him and now he's in Mandela's guard.
Mandela is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
mac Cumhail wants to control from the top but Mandela keeps moving.

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.
mac Cumhail working some strikes from top position.
mac Cumhail works a leg free and moves into half guard.
mac Cumhail lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
mac Cumhail working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

mac Cumhail is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Mandela trying to hold on to mac Cumhail's head to control him but mac Cumhail postures up.
Mandela tries to get to full guard but mac Cumhail has control of the leg.
mac Cumhail throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mandela tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

mac Cumhail decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Mandela shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says mac Cumhail as he avoids it easily.
Mandela is breathing heavily.
Mandela throws a series of punches but mac Cumhail avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandela shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
mac Cumhail misses with a takedown

and Mandela counters with a shoot takedown. mac Cumhail fights it but they end up in guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now mac Cumhail is on top in guard.
mac Cumhail tries to free his leg and advance position but Mandela is retaining full guard.

Mandela has his foot on mac Cumhail's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. mac Cumhail works his way back into a safe position though.
mac Cumhail trying to control but Mandela is working from the bottom.
mac Cumhail throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mandela looking to control.

mac Cumhail decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mandela tries for a takedown but mac Cumhail circles away easily
enabling mac Cumhail to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jrock Mandela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mandela avoids a punch combination nicely.
mac Cumhail tries to clinch there but Mandela circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

mac Cumhail clinches up against the cage.

mac Cumhail is trying to trip Mandela. He has hold of a leg but Mandela is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. mac Cumhail persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mandela is on top in guard.
mac Cumhail tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mandela advances position into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mandela tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mandela has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
mac Cumhail has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mandela wants to control but mac Cumhail is keeping him busy.
mac Cumhail wants to control but Mandela postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
mac Cumhail is looking for a sweep.
mac Cumhail takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Mandela trying to control the action but mac Cumhail is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fionn mac Cumhail will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

mac Cumhail clinches up against the cage.
mac Cumhail gets underhooks to prevent Mandela's takedown attempt.

mac Cumhail has picked Mandela up - he's going for a ride! mac Cumhail dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
mac Cumhail works his way into full mount!
mac Cumhail raining down shots from the mount!
mac Cumhail looking to finish Mandela with some ground and pound. This is bad for Mandela!
Mandela is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mandela squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Mandela slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Mandela trying to control from the bottom.
Mandela moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandela is trying to control the position but mac Cumhail postures up.

Mandela working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. mac Cumhail doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. mac Cumhail manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
mac Cumhail chips away with some ground and pound.
mac Cumhail thows a big elbow that misses.
mac Cumhail postures up in Mandela's guard and throws a big left but Mandela blocks it.
mac Cumhail is in close to Mandela's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mandela keeping full guard, as mac Cumhail tries to pass.

mac Cumhail drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and mac Cumhail jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mandela wants to stand but mac Cumhail is controlling the position.
Mandela avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Mandela shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Mandela looking to control but mac Cumhail is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mandela looking to secure an arm triangle but mac Cumhail defends it well.

Mandela get's back to his feet.
Jrock Mandela is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
mac Cumhail misses the shot to the body.
Mandela closes the distance and clinches up with mac Cumhail, looking for a takedown. Mandela pushes mac Cumhail against the cage but mac Cumhail circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mandela wants to clinch

and mac Cumhail counters with a single leg into guard. Mandela didn't expect that.
Mandela trying to strike off his back.
Mandela is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
mac Cumhail in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
mac Cumhail stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mandela swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandela looking to control.
Mandela wants to sweep but no luck.
Mandela working a defensive guard but mac Cumhail manages to pass into side control anyway.
Fionn mac Cumhail has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mandela is looking to reverse the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
mac Cumhail scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Jrock Mandela has been cut.
Mandela fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jrock Mandela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
mac Cumhail scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
mac Cumhail tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mandela paws at him with a jab and circles away.
mac Cumhail stuffs the takedown attempt from Mandela. Mandela gets slowly back to his feet.
mac Cumhail fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
mac Cumhail moves out of range as Mandela strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mandela gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
mac Cumhail wants to pass the guard but Mandela is keeping the position.
mac Cumhail in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
mac Cumhail preventing the sweep.

Mandela escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. mac Cumhail gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
mac Cumhail passes Mandela's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mandela wants to get back to his feet.
Mandela regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fionn mac Cumhail showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jrock Mandela's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

mac Cumhail takes the fight into the clinch.
mac Cumhail is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mandela gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mandela struggles to land a body shot inside as mac Cumhail controls his hands.
Mandela jumps guard but mac Cumhail stands there with Mandela around his waist. Mandela gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
mac Cumhail fails to pull guard.
Mandela is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mandela is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Mandela tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
mac Cumhail has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mandela avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jrock Mandela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fionn mac Cumhail.

Mandela pulls guard effortlessly.

Mandela pushes mac Cumhail off and scrambles back to his feet.

Mandela shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Mandela was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
mac Cumhail takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandela can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as mac Cumhail is looking to escape.
mac Cumhail tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Mandela working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Mandela controlling the position easily from mount.
mac Cumhail tries to hold on but Mandela postures up.
Mandela can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as mac Cumhail is looking to escape.
Mandela forces the positional change into back control.
mac Cumhail is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
mac Cumhail rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are battling for position here. mac Cumhail manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
mac Cumhail is trying to control the position but Mandela postures up.
Mandela tries to free his leg and advance position but mac Cumhail is retaining full guard.

mac Cumhail has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Mandela should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, mac Cumhail has tightened it up now! Mandela should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Fionn mac Cumhail!
Fionn mac Cumhail is the new middleweight champion!