PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Runfor Cover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Mangan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cover is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Runfor Cover has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cover
vs
Mangan

180 cm
22
155 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

174 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Runfor Cover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matthew Mangan!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mangan scores a takedown into full mount!
Cover is breathing heavily.
Mangan punching from mount but Cover doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Cover tries to reverse the position but Mangan maintains control.
Mangan wants to control the pace but Cover is squirming around nicely.
Mangan sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Mangan looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mangan scoring with strikes but Cover is staying in there.
Mangan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mangan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cover is looking to escape.
Mangan content just to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mangan throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Mangan thowing shots but they're missing.
Mangan controlling his opponent.
Mangan unloading with bombs!
Mangan trying to control but Cover is having none of it.
Mangan cracks Cover with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mangan cracks Cover with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
BOOM! Mangan connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Mangan lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Cover hang on?
Mangan is landing with some decent strikes but Cover is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Cover is in a horrible position here. Mangan smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Mangan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mangan controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cover takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mangan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mangan with shots to the head and body - Cover looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mangan controlling from the full mount.
Mangan lands a heavy elbow.
Mangan thowing shots but they're missing.
Mangan controlling from the full mount.
Mangan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cover is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cover taking shots to the head.
Mangan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mangan controlling from the full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mangan breaks from Cover's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mangan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cover is fending him off so far but Mangan persists. Nope, Cover circles away and we're back to standing.
Cover stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cover wants it to stay on the feet.
Mangan shoots in looking for a takedown. Cover tries to sprawl out of it but Mangan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cover manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Runfor Cover has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Mangan.
Mangan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cover pinned against the cage. Cover gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mangan fails with the takedown
and Cover counters with a stiff right hand.
Matthew Mangan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mangan fails with the takedown
and Mangan takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mangan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Cover counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mangan on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Mangan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cover looks to throw the jab but Mangan is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mangan is defended easily by Cover.
A swing and a miss from Cover.
Mangan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Cover throws out the jab.
Mangan shoots in but Cover avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Mangan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
An elbow from Mangan crashes against the mat.
Mangan throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Cover is pushing Mangan's head away, looking to escape. Mangan manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mangan scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Cover to see if he's OK.
Mangan misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Mangan creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Mangan creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Cover sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cover is not content to let Mangan control the position.
Mangan working the ground and pound.
Mangan postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Cover takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Cover prevents Mangan from improving position.
Cover being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangan trying to control the position but Cover is working away.
Matthew Mangan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mangan taking a breather here.
The ground and pound from Mangan seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Mangan in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Mangan is looking to take a break and control but Cover is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matthew Mangan was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Mangan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cover sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mangan somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthew Mangan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mangan shoots in looking for a takedown but Cover manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mangan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mangan misses with a jab to the body
and Cover counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mangan thinking.
Mangan avoids the body shot from Cover.

Mangan shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cover manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Mangan controlling from the top position.
Mangan is pushing down on Cover's leg trying to pass to half guard. Cover is fighting to maintain full guard but Mangan has managed to sneak the leg through.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mangan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Cover is not content to let Mangan control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cover keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mangan lands with a punch from half guard.
Cover tries to get to full guard but Mangan has control of the leg.
Well, if Mangan 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.
Cover blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mangan.
Still in half guard, Mangan seems content to control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Matthew Mangan.
Mangan lands a nice looking body shot.
Mangan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mangan just misses with a punch to the body.
Mangan tries for a takedown but Cover circles away easily
and Cover counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mangan thinking.
Runfor Cover has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Mangan.
Cover ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mangan moves away.
Matthew Mangan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mangan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cover's waist but Cover gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mangan off to one side.
Mangan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cover swivels and escapes.
Cover lands a nice looking body shot.
Mangan takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangan shoots in for a takedown but Cover shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mangan doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cover counters with a straight right hand.
Mangan misses with a takedown attempt
and Cover counters with a right hand to the body.
Cover throws a poor cross that misses
and Mangan counters with a stiff right hand.
Cover fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Mangan on the side of the head.
Cover jabs Mangan right on the nose. Mangan blinks but takes it well.
Mangan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mangan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cover counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mangan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cover cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A jab lands there for Cover.
Matthew Mangan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mangan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Cover counter with a right hand.
Runfor Cover has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mangan tries for a takedown but Cover circles away easily
and Cover counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cover misses with a hook.
Mangan tries for a takedown but Cover circles away easily
enabling Cover to counter with a crisp jab.
Cover misses with a right hand

and Mangan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Cover on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cover tries to get out of the position.
Cover trying to keep a closed guard but Mangan is proving a slippery customer.
Mangan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mangan's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Cover trying to keep a closed guard but Mangan is proving a slippery customer.
Cover can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mangan controls the pace.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Mangan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mangan winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Mangan!