PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Isiah Mansfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justina Vanovcan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mansfield comes to the cage accompanied by Ain't I by Yung LA ft. Young Dro & T.I.. Vanovcan comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Moskau kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Isiah Mansfield has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Mansfield
vs
Vanovcan

179 cm
26
137 lbs
15 - 11 - 2

153 cm
31
130 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Good elbows
Good gas tank

Beast Body

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Beast Body

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Isiah Mansfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Justina Vanovcan!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Viktor Lagutenko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vanovcan wants to clinch.
Vanovcan moves in looking to clinch but Mansfield pushes him off.

Vanovcan gets tackled into the cage by Mansfield. Mansfield maintains the clinch.
Vanovcan misses with an elbow strike.

Mansfield works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mansfield tries to free his leg and advance position but Vanovcan is retaining full guard.
Mansfield is working hard here to advance position.
Mansfield trying to control but Vanovcan is working from the bottom.

Mansfield stands and steps away. Vanovcan gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Mansfield shoots in but Vanovcan avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Vanovcan rushes Mansfield and presses him up against the cage.

Vanovcan decides to pull guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vanovcan keeping moving, preventing Mansfield from controlling successfully.
Vanovcan trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanovcan keeping full guard, as Mansfield tries to pass.
Vanovcan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mansfield manages to get himself to full guard.
Mansfield is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vanovcan is controlling him.
Vanovcan distracts Mansfield with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vanovcan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mansfield is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Mansfield has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vanovcan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mansfield looking to control.

Mansfield is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vanovcan defends well.

Vanovcan decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mansfield swats away the attempt to clinch by Vanovcan.

Mansfield instigates a clinch.

Vanovcan gets control of Mansfield's arms and successfully pulls guard. Vanovcan will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Vanovcan has his foot on Mansfield's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mansfield works his way back into a safe position though.
Mansfield won't allow Vanovcan to sweep him here.
Mansfield trying to control the position from guard on top but Vanovcan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Vanovcan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mansfield gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vanovcan keeping full guard, as Mansfield tries to pass.
Mansfield forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mansfield is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Vanovcan manages to get to full guard.
Vanovcan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mansfield looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mansfield is staying active underneath Vanovcan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Mansfield pushes Vanovcan off and gets back to his feet.
Vanovcan stuffs the takedown attempt from Mansfield. Mansfield gets slowly back to his feet.
Mansfield really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Vanovcan tries to clinch there but Mansfield circles away.

Mansfield rushes Vanovcan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mansfield is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isiah Mansfield. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mansfield on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vanovcan makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanovcan trying to land knees to the body.
Vanovcan lands a damaging elbow.
Vanovcan misses with an elbow over the top.
Vanovcan tries to throw a body punch but Mansfield avoids it by throwing Vanovcan back against the cage.
Mansfield tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vanovcan smiles and moves away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vanovcan slaps away a takedown attempt from Mansfield, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mansfield fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vanovcan stuffs the takedown attempt from Mansfield. Mansfield gets slowly back to his feet.
Mansfield tries for a takedown but Vanovcan circles away easily
and Vanovcan counters with a nice leg kick.
Mansfield is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mansfield bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Vanovcan manages to get back to half guard.

Vanovcan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
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 Isiah Mansfield will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mansfield moves into range and clinches up with Vanovcan.

Mansfield gets control of Vanovcan's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mansfield will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Vanovcan wants to control from the top but Mansfield keeps moving.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Vanovcan is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mansfield is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mansfield has escaped and now he's on top!
Mansfield sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Vanovcan's guard.
Vanovcan is trying to get back to full guard.
Mansfield is looking to take a break and control but Vanovcan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mansfield will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Mansfield is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mansfield tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Mansfield is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Mansfield is working for a kimura but Vanovcan is defending it quite comfortably.

Vanovcan looking for submissions off his back.
Vanovcan wants to get back to full guard.
Mansfield wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vanovcan keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mansfield prevents Vanovcan from improving his position.
Vanovcan is not content to let Mansfield control the position.

Mansfield seems to be looking for submissions.

Mansfield is trying to work for a kimura but Vanovcan is defending well.

Mansfield is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vanovcan has managed to free his arm - good work.
Vanovcan is trying to get back to full guard.
Vanovcan is not content to let Mansfield control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanovcan moves into full guard.
Vanovcan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Vanovcan trying to control but Mansfield is having none of it.
Vanovcan lands a big shot there that rocks Mansfield but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Vanovcan is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Mansfield is surviving well by controlling Vanovcan's body position as best he can.
Vanovcan landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanovcan lands with some strikes.
Vanovcan lands a big elbow.
Mansfield holds on for dear life.
Mansfield is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vanovcan trying to control but Mansfield is having none of it.
Vanovcan avoids the attempt from Mansfield to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mansfield is working to get back to half guard.
Vanovcan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mansfield is looking to escape.
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 Isiah Mansfield will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Vanovcan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mansfield shoots in for a double leg but Vanovcan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vanovcan moves in looking to clinch but Mansfield pushes him off.
Mansfield changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vanovcan tries to avoid it but Mansfield manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vanovcan to the ground. Vanovcan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mansfield circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vanovcan is looking to clinch.
Vanovcan is looking to clinch but Mansfield is avoiding it.

Mansfield rushes Vanovcan and presses him up against the cage.
Vanovcan throws an elbow but it misses.
Mansfield changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vanovcan fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isiah Mansfield. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vanovcan avoids the head kick by Mansfield.

Vanovcan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mansfield to the mat! Mansfield manages to get full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mansfield is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vanovcan postures up.
Mansfield has a closed guard, preventing Vanovcan from standing up.

Mansfield working for a triangle but Vanovcan defends it easily.
Vanovcan wants to control from the top but Mansfield keeps moving.
Mansfield has Vanovcan pulled in close to control his posture.
Vanovcan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Vanovcan gets to his feet - Mansfield follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mansfield shoots in for a takedown but Vanovcan shows good takedown defense.
Vanovcan wants to clinch but Mansfield slips to the side

and Mansfield counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vanovcan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vanovcan lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mansfield!
Vanovcan scoring with strikes but Mansfield is staying in there.
Mansfield working to try and regain half guard.
Mansfield's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Vanovcan looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Vanovcan is landing with some decent strikes but Mansfield is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Vanovcan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
A nice elbow there by Vanovcan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mansfield wants to hold on but Vanovcan pushes him away.
Mansfield is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Vanovcan content just to control the position here.
Mansfield wants to get back to his feet.
Justina Vanovcan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Isiah Mansfield is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vanovcan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Vanovcan unloads with some shots from mount but Mansfield bucks and avoids them well.
Vanovcan trying to control but Mansfield is having none of it.
Vanovcan unloading with bombs!
Mansfield wants to control but Vanovcan is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mansfield is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mansfield tries to lock up and control but Vanovcan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Vanovcan trying to control but Mansfield is having none of it.
Justina Vanovcan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mansfield wants to control but Vanovcan is having none of it.
Vanovcan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mansfield is in all sorts of trouble here.
Vanovcan thowing shots but they're missing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vanovcan breaks from Mansfield's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vanovcan postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mansfield looks a forlorn figure.
Vanovcan lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justina Vanovcan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mansfield 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Isiah Mansfield!
After winning the bout, Isiah Mansfield thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.