PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between KAI MANA (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yodthanong Photirat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). MANA's entrance music is Raid the Barn. A fine choice. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

MANA
vs
Photirat

179 cm
19
164 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

171 cm
22
157 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Kai Tunda Pro.....

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, KAI MANA!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yodthanong Photirat!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Alexandre Firmino and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Photirat is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

MANA decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Photirat pushes MANA off looking to stand but MANA dives back in and keeps control.

Photirat pushes MANA off and gets back to his feet.
Photirat misses with a head kick.
MANA looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
MANA circles away from the clinch attempt.
Photirat feints and then cracks MANA's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow MANA down.
Photirat stuffs the takedown attempt from MANA. MANA gets slowly back to his feet.
Photirat throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A punch combination from Photirat misses.
Photirat tries to close the distance and clinch up but MANA swats him away and circles back towards the center.
MANA tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Photirat swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for KAI MANA. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Photirat is looking to clinch but MANA is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Photirat tries to close the distance and clinch up but MANA swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Photirat tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Yodthanong Photirat is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
MANA pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Photirat tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
MANA shoots in looking for a takedown. Photirat tries to sprawl out of it but MANA keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Photirat manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yodthanong Photirat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Photirat tries to close the distance and clinch but MANA swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Photirat looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Photirat wants to clinch.
Photirat throws a right and a left that MANA avoids nicely.
Photirat throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Photirat swinging wilding here.
Photirat misses with a series of wild punches.

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.
MANA shoots for a takedown but Photirat saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Photirat misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Photirat wants to clinch.
MANA avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Photirat looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
MANA throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Photirat's waist but Photirat gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing MANA off to one side.
MANA throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Photirat's waist but Photirat gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing MANA off to one side.
MANA looks to score with a jab to the body but Photirat is just out of range.
Photirat lands a nice looking body kick.
Photirat throws a one two combo.
MANA avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Photirat wants to clinch up but MANA keeps it at a distance.
Photirat is looking to clinch but MANA is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MANA tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Photirat swivels and escapes.
Photirat is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
MANA swats away the attempt to clinch by Photirat.
Photirat is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
MANA looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Photirat is fending him off so far but MANA persists. Nope, Photirat circles away and we're back to standing.
MANA is breathing heavily.
Photirat throws a sloppy head kick

and MANA counters with a takedown into side control.
MANA in side control, just content to control the action for now.
MANA trying to control the position but Photirat is working away.
Photirat is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but MANA has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Photirat is trying to escape the position but MANA is controlling the position.
Photirat is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but MANA has just dragged him back down to the mat.
MANA is staying tight to Photirat's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Photirat is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

MANA feints and as Photirat raises his hands in defense, MANA changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
MANA trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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 KAI MANA will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

MANA shoots in for a takedown but Photirat shows good takedown defense.
Photirat closes the distance looking to clinch

so MANA counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Photirat keeping moving, preventing MANA from controlling successfully.
MANA controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
MANA stops Photirat from standing up.
MANA wants to control from the top but Photirat keeps moving.
Photirat is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst MANA is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

MANA fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Photirat sprawls well initially but MANA persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
MANA wants to free his trapped foot but Photirat is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Photirat wants to get back to his feet.

Photirat kicks MANA off and gets back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Photirat.
MANA shoots in for a takedown but Photirat shows good takedown defense.
Photirat throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Photirat throws a sloppy head kick and MANA moves out of range easily.
MANA fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for KAI MANA. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Photirat tries to clinch

and MANA counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MANA is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
MANA prevents Photirat from standing back up.
Photirat is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
MANA slows the pace down in half guard.
Photirat is not content to let MANA control the position.
MANA trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Photirat is trying to stand back up but MANA is controlling him

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

MANA decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
MANA is keen to just control but Photirat is a slippery customer.
MANA with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
MANA stops Photirat from getting back to his feet.
MANA trying to control the pace.
Photirat wants to get back to his feet.
Well, if MANA is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Photirat is trying to stand.
MANA is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Photirat is trying to stand.
MANA sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Photirat wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

KAI MANA dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

MANA keeps the fight on the outside.
MANA will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Photirat tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and MANA counters with a takedown into side control.
Photirat tries to escape but MANA is in control.
MANA has knee on belly and moves into mount.
MANA wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
MANA tries to control but Photirat wriggling away.
Photirat wants to try and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MANA sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Photirat trying desperately to get to his feet.
MANA sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
KAI MANA overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yodthanong Photirat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Photirat squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
MANA controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Photirat wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MANA wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
MANA looking to control and managing it successfully.
Photirat swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Photirat wants to try and get back to his feet.
MANA content just to control the position here.

The referee stands the fighters back up. KAI MANA just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
MANA keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
MANA fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Photirat tries to clinch

and MANA counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Photirat's guard now.
Photirat keeping moving, preventing MANA from controlling successfully.
Photirat wants to stand up but MANA is controlling him.
MANA controls from within his opponent's guard.

Photirat looking for a guillotine here but MANA defends easily.

Photirat is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
KAI MANA showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for MANA, 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... KAI MANA!