PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kurt Manningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Krokodil Zelenij (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manningham kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Red Rider - Lunatic Fringe . Zelenij has chosen Eminem - Evil Deeds as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Manningham
vs
Zelenij

188 cm
27
215 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

191 cm
23
219 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

BioPharm Nutrition

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 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kurt Manningham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Krokodil Zelenij!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, John Roberts and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zelenij avoids a kick to the body.
Manningham has his takedown stuffed
and Zelenij cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Manningham closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Manningham is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Zelenij is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Zelenij's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Manningham grinds an elbow into Zelenij's temple.
Zelenij is looking for a sweep.
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!

Manningham thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zelenij manages to work his way to half guard, despite Manningham's best efforts.

Manningham wants to work for an arm triangle but Zelenij is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ground and pound from Manningham.
Manningham wants to pass the guard but Zelenij is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manningham trying to control from half guard but Zelenij is working away.
Manningham 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.
Zelenij is looking for a sweep. Manningham is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Manningham missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Zelenij is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Manningham's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Manningham's back!
Manningham trying to control but not successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manningham tries to escape but Zelenij has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zelenij goes for a risky armbar from back mount and it's not paid off. Manningham escapes and is now in half guard on top.
Manningham is thwarting Zelenij's attempts to control the position.

Zelenij looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Manningham throwing shots but Zelenij is blocking nicely.

Zelenij is defending against the submission attempts here by Manningham.
Manningham trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manningham is working for a submission of some sort.
Zelenij missing with punches from the bottom.
Zelenij is positioning himself well to prevent Manningham advancing to mount.
Zelenij tries to get to full guard but Manningham has control of the leg.
Zelenij slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manningham sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Zelenij's guard.
Manningham drops an elbow to the side of Zelenij's head.
Manningham tries to stand but can't do so whilst Zelenij controls his leg.
Zelenij tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Manningham stands up and beckons Zelenij to join him on the feet.
Zelenij stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zelenij wants it to stay on the feet.
Kurt Manningham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manningham shoots for a takedown but Zelenij saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Manningham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zelenij slips a jab from Manningham.
Manningham swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A leg kick checked by Zelenij.
Manningham does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Manningham getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Manningham closes the distance and clinches up with Zelenij, looking for a takedown. Manningham pushes Zelenij against the cage but Zelenij circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Manningham misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Manningham fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Manningham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manningham closes the distance and clinches up with Zelenij, looking for a takedown. Manningham pushes Zelenij against the cage but Zelenij circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Zelenij uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Manningham.
Manningham tries for a takedown but Zelenij circles away easily

and Zelenij counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Zelenij looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zelenij missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zelenij is trying to control the action in half guard but Manningham is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Manningham wants to improve his position but Zelenij is controlling well.

Zelenij is trying to work for a kimura but Manningham is defending well.
Manningham on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zelenij throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zelenij stalling.
Manningham is looking to control Zelenij's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Manningham avoid being mounted?
Manningham punching from the bottom.
Zelenij is keen to just control but Manningham is a slippery customer.
Zelenij looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Zelenij wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manningham keeps working.

Krokodil Zelenij has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Manningham pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manningham gets the takedown into side control.
Zelenij is looking to regain half guard here but Manningham keeps moving and retains side control.
Zelenij struggling a bit here.
Zelenij manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Zelenij lands with a punch from half guard.
Krokodil Zelenij has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zelenij missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Manningham has a hand on Zelenij's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Zelenij takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Zelenij scoring with strikes but Manningham is staying in there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zelenij looking to control but Manningham is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zelenij lands a big shot there that rocks Manningham but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Zelenij tries to control but Manningham wriggling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zelenij controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Krokodil Zelenij showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Manningham has his takedown stuffed
and Zelenij counters with a right hand to the body.
Manningham tries for a takedown but Zelenij sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Zelenij closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Manningham to the mat! Manningham manages to get full guard.
Zelenij wants to control from the top but Manningham keeps moving.
Zelenij being controlled here momentarily.
Zelenij trying to control but Manningham is working from the bottom.
Zelenij pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Manningham is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Zelenij passes Manningham's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Manningham keeping control of the position.

Zelenij is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Manningham defends it well.
Manningham is trying to get back to full guard.
Manningham is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manningham is refusing to be controlled, as Zelenij sits in half guard.
Manningham is looking for a sweep. Zelenij is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Zelenij is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Zelenij is fighting to break Manningham's control of his arms but Manningham is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Zelenij wants to control from the top but Manningham keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Manningham.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kurt Manningham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zelenij wants to clinch up but Manningham keeps it at a distance.
Manningham fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Zelenij bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Manningham is trying to control Zelenij's posture but Zelenij avoids it.
Manningham dodges the ground and pound from Zelenij.
Zelenij is looking to take a break and control but Manningham is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Manningham manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manningham is trying to control but can't.
Manningham is not content to let Zelenij control the position.

Zelenij is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Manningham is just riding it out for now. Zelenij eventually gives up the hold.

Zelenij is working for a kimura here but Manningham manages to reverse the position and he's now in Zelenij's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Krokodil Zelenij comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zelenij 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Krokodil Zelenij!
After the fight, Krokodil Zelenij was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.