PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between He Man (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Statham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Statham has chosen Bullet For My Valentine - Hand of Blood as his entrance music. 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.

Man
vs
Statham

210 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
230 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, He Man!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Statham!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Bruno Lombardi and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Statham as Man shoots in.

Statham closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Man to the mat! Man manages to get full guard.
Man trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Man looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Statham puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
It looks like Statham is going to stand back up.
Man is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Statham stands up out of the half guard.
Man shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Man looks for a takedown but Statham sprawls well.
Man swinging wilding here.
Man swats away the attempt to clinch by Statham.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Statham shoots and misses
and Man connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Justin Statham has been cut.
Statham closes this distance looking for a takedown but Man circles away.
Statham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Man closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Man lands in his opponent's guard.

Statham has his foot on Man's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Man works his way back into a safe position though.
Man trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Statham is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Man scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Statham wants to stand up but Man is controlling him.
Man throws and elbow that misses. Statham uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Man's guard. Nice move by Statham!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Man trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Statham stopping the sweep attempt from Man.
Statham looking to pass the guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Statham with a poor takedown
and Man counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
He Man has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Statham.
Statham looks gassed!

Man shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Man is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Man thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Statham is staying active underneath Man, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Statham is trying to maintain the position but Man is very close to passing his half guard.
Statham misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Man is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Man takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Statham looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Statham on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Man looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Man seems to be working for a kimura but Statham defends the submission attempt.
Man thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Statham's head.
Statham is trying to stand back up but Man is controlling him
Man thows a huge punch but Statham dodges it nicely.
Man thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Man missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Statham is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Statham wants to clinch but Man slips to the side

and Man counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Man throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Man working Statham over with strikes.
Man looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Man drops an elbow to the side of Statham's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

He Man dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Justin Statham's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Statham closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Man to the mat! Man manages to get full guard.
Man will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Statham stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Man swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Man wants to sweep but no luck.

Man looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Statham passes into side control.
Man throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Statham is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Man is looking for a sweep.

Statham stands up and beckons Man to his feet.
Statham swings for the body but Man moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Statham with a lazy takedown attempt
and Man counters with a left to the body.
Statham tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Statham tries for a takedown but Man circles away easily
and Man counters with a left to the body.
Statham is breathing heavily.
Statham shoots in and drives through. Man sprawls well.
He Man has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Statham.
Statham avoids the body shot from Man.
The fighters circle momentarily. Man darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Statham is looking to chop away at Man's legs.
Statham takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Man drops Statham with a nice combination! Man dives into Statham's guard, looking to finish!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Man throwing strikes but missing.
Statham wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Statham keeping full guard, as Man tries to pass.
Man lands a couple of digs.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Statham holds on and takes a little breather.
Man throwing strikes but missing.
Man preventing the sweep.
Statham doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Statham escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Man gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Man stopping the sweep attempt from Statham.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Man passes Statham's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Man prevents Statham from improving his position.
Statham regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Man.
Statham utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Man connects with a couple of short punches.
Statham thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Statham working a defensive guard here.
Man pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Statham is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Man is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Statham wants to get back to his feet but Man is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Man with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Man lands a couple of digs.
Statham throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Man is fighting to break Statham's control of his arms but Statham is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Man keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Statham's head.
Man scoring with punches to the head and body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Man is working Statham over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Man working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
He Man overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Statham managing to control the position.
Statham is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

He Man dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Justin Statham's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Statham. No joy for Man on that attempt.
Statham changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Man tries to avoid it but Statham manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Man to the ground. Man escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Statham plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Statham tries to clinch

and Man counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Man lands strikes from half guard.
Statham keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Statham won't allow Man to pass to mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Statham manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Man swings for the body but Statham moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Statham shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Man counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Statham is trying to control but can't.
Man lands strikes from half guard.
Statham taking some punishment here, with Man in his half guard.
Statham is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Man scores with a couple of nice shots.
Man trying to pass the guard but Statham defending well.
Man lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Statham trying to control from the bottom.
Statham keeping control of the position.
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!

Man is trying to work for a kimura but Statham is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Statham wants to improve his position but Man is controlling well.
Man wants to free his trapped foot but Statham is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Man is working hard here to advance position.
Man throwing shots but Statham is blocking nicely.
Man is thwarting Statham's attempts to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Man goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Man fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Statham uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Statham tries to clinch up

and Man counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Statham desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Man is thwarting Statham's attempts to control the position.
Statham tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Man missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Man works his way into full mount!
Man has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Statham's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Man dominating with strikes here.
Man landing strikes, looking to finish!
Statham regains half guard.
Man missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Man throws a strike but Statham avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Statham working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Man.
Statham preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Justin Statham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Man drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Statham dives on top into guard.
Man manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Statham taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
He Man showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Man has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... He Man!