PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manny Gambroni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marvin Mantis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Gambroni
vs
Mantis

190 cm
23
200 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

193 cm
22
197 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Manny Gambroni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marvin Mantis!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jorge Garcia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gambroni shoots in and bounces Mantis off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Gambroni trying to control but Mantis is working from the bottom.
Gambroni is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Mantis really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gambroni. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mantis is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mantis seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantis looking for a sweep. Not yet Mantis, not yet.

Manny Gambroni has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gambroni avoids a punch combination nicely.
A jab from Mantis does it's job there.
Gambroni fails with the takedown
and Gambroni takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gambroni shoots in for a takedown but Mantis shows good takedown defense.
Gambroni shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mantis as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Gambroni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gambroni looks for a takedown but Mantis sprawls well.

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.
Gambroni throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mantis throws a head kick that misses.
Mantis throws a chopping leg kick but Gambroni manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A big left from Gambroni misses.
Gambroni tries for a takedown but Mantis circles away easily
and Mantis counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mantis throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mantis feints and then cracks Gambroni's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gambroni down.
Mantis throws a sloppy head kick

and Gambroni counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gambroni is breathing heavily.
Mantis is looking to get back to is feet but Gambroni passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantis tries to improve position but can't.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mantis can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mantis struggling a bit here.

Gambroni thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Mantis seems a little lost for a moment, as Gambroni dominates the positioning.
Mantis is not content to let Gambroni control the position.

That's four 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.

Gambroni is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Mantis has escaped the position, nice work there.
Mantis is trying to get back to half guard.
Mantis defending against the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Gambroni dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mantis throws a hook but Gambroni avoids it easily.
Gambroni misses with a kick to the body.
Mantis waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gambroni.
A telegraphed right hand from Mantis misses the target.
Mantis misses with the body kick
and Gambroni counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Gambroni tries for a takedown but Mantis circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Gambroni avoids the body shot from Mantis.
Gambroni misses with a takedown attempt
and Mantis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gambroni throws out a powerful jab.
Mantis fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantis misses with a wild body shot.
Mantis cracks the inside of Gambroni's front leg.
Mantis cracks the inside of Gambroni's front leg.
Gambroni has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Mantis.
Mantis fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gambroni has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Marvin Mantis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gambroni has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Mantis.
Mantis cracks Gambroni with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Gambroni swings for the body but Mantis moves out of range.
Gambroni has his takedown stuffed
and Mantis makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Gambroni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mantis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mantis wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gambroni.
Gambroni controlling the position from side mount.
Mantis is trying to control Gambroni's posture but Gambroni avoids it.
Mantis gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Mantis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantis is looking to stand up but Gambroni isn't so interested in that idea.

Gambroni gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Manny Gambroni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mantis looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Gambroni shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mantis sprawls well. Mantis wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gambroni gets slowly back to his feet.
Gambroni misses with a hook to the body
and Mantis counters with a nice uppercut.
No luck for Gambroni with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gambroni throws a head kick that half lands.
Mantis leaves Gambroni with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mantis thumps Gambroni with a low kick.
Gambroni fails with a takedown attempt.
Gambroni blocks a head kick by Mantis.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mantis scores with a kick to the midsection.
A head kick misses from Mantis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marvin Mantis will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mantis fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mantis throws a leg kick but Gambroni moved away.
Gambroni fails with the takedown
and Mantis counters with a thumping low kick.
Mantis lands a body shot.
Gambroni changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mantis tries to avoid it but Gambroni manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mantis to the ground. Mantis escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mantis scores with a jab to the head.
Mantis looks to land a combination. Gambroni sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Gambroni takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Gambroni is rocked!
Mantis throws a pinpoint strike between Gambroni's hands that connects right on the jaw and sends Gambroni crashing to the floor! He's out before he even hits the mat and Mantis scores a great knockout victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Marvin Mantis!