PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Isiah Mansfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and mitsi fili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mansfield comes to the cage accompanied by Ain't I by Yung LA ft. Young Dro & T.I.. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mansfield
vs
fili

179 cm
21
137 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

180 cm
24
140 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Beast Body
Ka-POW Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Isiah Mansfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, mitsi fili!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
fili swings widly with a right hand
and Mansfield counters with a stiff right hand.

fili closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

fili breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
mitsi fili seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mansfield closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Mansfield successfully pulls guard.
Mansfield has a closed guard, preventing fili from standing up.
Mansfield is adopting a defensive guard.
Mansfield is trying to keep fili in close.
Mansfield wants to sweep here but fili controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mansfield looking to control but fili passes into half guard.
Mansfield really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mansfield is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

fili postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Mansfield to stand up.

fili has taken the fight to the clinch.
fili wants to get back to striking at distance but Mansfield won't allow it.
Mansfield prevents fili from breaking the clinch.
Still in the clinch, fili scores with a nice short uppercut.
fili is trying to push Mansfield away but Mansfield has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
fili misses with some punches.
Mansfield can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
fili blocks an elbow strike.
fili lands with a left to the head.
Mansfield throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but fili blocks it with crossed arms.
fili taking a breather.
fili tries to break the clinch but Mansfield is controlling the position.
Mansfield is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. fili is defending well for now.
Mansfield connects with a nasty looking knee right to fili's face.
Mansfield tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

fili breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mansfield avoids the body shot from fili.
Mansfield shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. fili defends it nicely.
fili pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
fili lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
fili lands a jab to the head.
fili throws a good cross that connects.
Mansfield lands with a nice body kick.
fili lands a jab to the nose.
fili just misses with a punch to the body.
Mansfield fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isiah Mansfield. That's going to take a lot out of him.
fili throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mansfield counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mansfield avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A left and a right from Mansfield both land. Nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
fili throws out a powerful jab.
Mansfield shoots in for a double leg but fili sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mansfield moves out of range as fili strikes.
fili moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
fili cracks Mansfield with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mansfield shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts fili as he jumps to the side.
Mansfield tries to score a power double leg takedown but fili sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mansfield somewhat.
Mansfield is breathing heavily.
fili connects with a good right hand that stumbles Mansfield. Mansfield circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Nice jab there from fili.
fili might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A big left from fili misses.
fili dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mansfield tries for a takedown but fili sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
fili bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Mansfield shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts fili as he jumps to the side.
fili lands a lovely overhand right.

fili clinches up with Mansfield and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

fili breaks the clinch.
Mansfield slips a jab from fili.
fili cracks Mansfield with a good jab.
fili lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Mansfield avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
fili throws a right hand that misses

and Mansfield holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
fili has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

fili breaks from the clinch.
fili throws a lazy uppercut

and Mansfield counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Mansfield 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.
fili regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mansfield wanted to stand there but fili had control of the position.
fili keeping full guard, as Mansfield tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
fili pulls Mansfield in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

mitsi fili dominated that round.
That's time! Mansfield's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

fili jabbing away but nothing is landing.
fili leaves Mansfield with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A shot to the body from fili misses

and Mansfield holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mansfield tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. fili just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mansfield with an attempt at a knee that misses.
fili manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
fili tries to break the clinch but Mansfield is controlling the position.
Mansfield with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A nice left hand lands by fili.
fili blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Mansfield fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isiah Mansfield. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mansfield tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

fili breaks the clinch.
Mansfield will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice body punch from fili.
fili throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nice shot lands for fili.
fili throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
fili lands a jab to the nose.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mansfield walks into a left hand.
fili smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
fili misses the jab.
fili throws a good cross that connects.

Mansfield rushes fili and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

fili pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
fili throws a right hand that misses
and Mansfield counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mansfield takes one to the side of the head.
fili misses with a hook

and Mansfield counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for fili!
Mansfield throws a wild left hand from mount and fili manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.

Mansfield is trying to work for a kimura but fili is defending well.
fili regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mansfield with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mansfield throws and elbow that misses. fili uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mansfield's guard. Nice move by fili!
fili prevents Mansfield from getting back to his feet.

fili decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
fili lands a jab to Mansfield's midsection.
No luck for Mansfield with that takedown attempt.
fili tries to clinch up

and Mansfield counters with a single leg into guard. fili didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
fili wants to stand up but Mansfield is controlling him.
fili trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mansfield stands up from fili's guard - Mansfield perhaps looking for a knockout.
fili jabs Mansfield to the body, keeping him at a distance.
fili misses with a combination

and Mansfield moves into the clinch.
fili lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mansfield backwards.
Mansfield tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mansfield tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. fili just stands there and leans against the cage.
fili is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mansfield is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Mansfield drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mansfield fails to pull guard.
fili lands with a short shot to the head.
Mansfield with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
fili managing to block the knees to the body from Mansfield.
fili is stalling here.
fili working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
fili has had enough of the clinch but Mansfield keeps him there for the moment.

fili breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
fili cracks Mansfield with a good jab.
Mansfield misses with a takedown attempt - fili sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mansfield takes one on the button.
fili cracks Mansfield with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Donk. fili catches Mansfield right on the button with a cross.
fili digs a good body shot into Mansfield's ribs.
Mansfield misses with a takedown attempt
and Mansfield takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mansfield takes a jab right on the kisser.
Mansfield misses with a takedown attempt - fili sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
fili changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
mitsi fili seems to be getting the better of the standup.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
fili throws a series of strikes that have Mansfield backpedaling.
fili bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Mansfield looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? fili is fending him off so far but Mansfield persists. Nope, fili circles away and we're back to standing.
fili thuds a left hand into Mansfield's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

mitsi fili showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

fili looks to land a combination. Mansfield sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
fili is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

fili closes the distance and clinches.
Mansfield looking to throw knees to the head but fili is blocking nicely.

fili's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice uppercut lands for fili. That snapped Mansfield's head back.
fili fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mansfield manages to avoid it.
fili lands a glancing blow to the side of Mansfield's head.
fili works the jab nicely.
fili smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A looping hook to the body misses from fili. Mansfield does a little dance to reset his feet.
Isiah Mansfield is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
fili throws a right hand that Mansfield ducks under and follows up with a left that Mansfield also avoids with ease.
Mansfield shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The fighters circling - fili throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
fili rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Mansfield counters with a nice double leg into side control. fili won't be happy with that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mansfield working away.

Mansfield looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
fili is trying to get back to his feet.
I wouldn't like to be where fili is right now.
Mansfield in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Mansfield goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, fili has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mansfield but great work by fili.
Mansfield is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

fili decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
fili throws a lazy uppercut

and Mansfield counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for fili!
Mansfield fails to move to back control.
fili avoids a strike by Mansfield and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Mansfield's guard! Fantastic escape!
fili wanted to stand there but Mansfield had control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
fili controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

fili got a little sloppy there for a moment and Mansfield has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, fili has managed to get both his arms back between Mansfield's legs - danger averted.
fili trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mansfield's guard.
Mansfield looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but fili puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
fili tries to stand but can't do so whilst Mansfield controls his leg.
Isiah Mansfield overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
fili is trying to control. Mansfield wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mansfield is trying to stand up here but fili is controlling him well.
Mansfield tries to roll over but fili keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Isiah Mansfield.
I think fili 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... mitsi fili!