PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lane Pedersen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Pedersen
vs
Manhoef

180 cm
27
210 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

173 cm
26
205 lbs
10 - 13 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lane Pedersen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Melvin Manhoef!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pedersen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Manhoef makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Pedersen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Manhoef sprawls well. Manhoef wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pedersen gets slowly back to his feet.
Pedersen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pedersen misses with a double jab
and Pedersen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Lane Pedersen has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Manhoef throws a series of punches but Pedersen avoids them all with ease.
Pedersen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Manhoef throws a jab but it's blocked by Pedersen.

Pedersen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Manhoef managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Pedersen.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pedersen swings around for an armbar but Manhoef sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Pedersen's guard.
Pedersen has Manhoef pulled in close to control his posture.
Manhoef wants to get up but he can't break Pedersen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Manhoef stopping the sweep attempt from Pedersen.
Manhoef stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pedersen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manhoef trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pedersen's guard.
Manhoef must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pedersen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Manhoef accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pedersen looking to control.

Manhoef gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Pedersen tries to clinch but Manhoef moves out of range.
Pedersen works the jab nicely.
Manhoef throws a left and a right that both miss

and Pedersen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Manhoef!
Pedersen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pedersen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Manhoef hang on?
Pedersen cracks Manhoef with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Manhoef is trying to stand.
Pedersen thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Pedersen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Pedersen working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Manhoef slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Manhoef is trying to stand.
Pedersen controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pedersen.
Pedersen is nestled in close to Manhoef, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Pedersen throws a strike but Manhoef avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Pedersen advances to half guard.
Pedersen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pedersen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manhoef keeps working.
Pedersen looks to land a strike but Manhoef avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
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 Lane Pedersen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lane Pedersen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pedersen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pedersen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Manhoef misses with a combination
and Pedersen counters with a left and a right that stings Manhoef.
Manhoef lands with a nice combination. Pedersen backs away looking to recover.
Manhoef throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Melvin Manhoef seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Manhoef falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pedersen counters with a nice body kick.
Manhoef swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pedersen jabs at Manhoef's body.
Pedersen blocks a head kick by Manhoef.
Pedersen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Melvin Manhoef is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pedersen lands a slapping body shot.
Pedersen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Manhoef counters with an outside leg kick.
Manhoef throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pedersen counters with a left and a right that stings Manhoef.
Manhoef is breathing heavily.
Pedersen tries to bum rush Manhoef with a series of wild strikes but Manhoef uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pedersen tests Manhoef's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Manhoef rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pedersen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pedersen lands a jab-cross combination.
A bone on bone clash there as Pedersen blocks the leg kick.
Manhoef ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pedersen moves away.
Some wild striking there from Pedersen.
Manhoef takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Lane Pedersen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pedersen manages to avoid it.
Pedersen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Manhoef paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Pedersen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Manhoef looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pedersen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pedersen working Manhoef over with strikes.
Pedersen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pedersen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Pedersen with the ground and pound but Manhoef uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pedersen.
Pedersen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Manhoef's head.
Pedersen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pedersen looking to sit in guard and control but Manhoef gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pedersen is working an open guard so Manhoef takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Lane Pedersen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pedersen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Manhoef was well out of range. Poor timing from Pedersen.
Pedersen digs a good hook to Manhoef's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pedersen misses with a wild combination.
Pedersen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Manhoef counter with a right hand.
Pedersen avoids the body shot from Manhoef.
Pedersen feints a jab promting Manhoef to slip. Pedersen then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Manhoef slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Pedersen is looking to clinch but Manhoef is avoiding it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pedersen misses with a double jab.
Pedersen looks to score with a jab to the body but Manhoef is just out of range.
Manhoef displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pedersen throws out the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lane Pedersen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lane Pedersen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Pedersen is looking to clinch but Manhoef is avoiding it.
Pedersen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Manhoef counters with a nice leg kick.
Manhoef throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Manhoef throws a combination that misses

so Pedersen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lane Pedersen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pedersen throws a big right hand that misses.
Manhoef wants to stand and escape but Pedersen is having none of it.
Manhoef keeping moving, preventing Pedersen from controlling successfully.
Pedersen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pedersen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pedersen throwing strikes but Manhoef manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Pedersen is looking to regain half guard here but Manhoef keeps moving and retains side control.
Pedersen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Manhoef off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Manhoef manages to escape to a better position under a series of strikes. Pedersen is now in side control.
Pedersen working the head and body with strikes.

Pedersen decides to stand back up. Pedersen steps back and let's Manhoef get back to his feet.
Pedersen throws a combination that misses
and Manhoef counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manhoef connects with a crisp jab.
Pedersen darts in trying to clinch
and Manhoef counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Pedersen misses.
A combination from Pedersen does no damage.
Pedersen misses with a two punch combination.
A bone on bone clash there as Pedersen blocks the leg kick.
Manhoef falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pedersen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Manhoef looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pedersen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Manhoef counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lane Pedersen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Manhoef throws a left and a right that both miss

and Pedersen counters by moving into the clinch.
Pedersen tries to work over Manhoef's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Manhoef breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pedersen tries to close the distance and clinch but Manhoef swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pedersen misses with a combination
and Manhoef counters with a thumping low kick.
Melvin Manhoef has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pedersen lands with a straight right. Manhoef didn't see that one coming.
Pedersen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Manhoef throws a sloppy head kick and Pedersen moves out of range easily.
Manhoef throws a combination that misses
and Pedersen counters with a straight right hand.
Pedersen throws the kick towards the body but Manhoef avoids it.
Pedersen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Good leg kick by Manhoef there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

And that's the end of the fight!
Melvin Manhoef comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pedersen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lane Pedersen!