PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kolo Bryant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Apache Mankiller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mankiller has chosen Tribal Drums as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Bryant
vs
Mankiller

189 cm
23
180 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

180 cm
21
178 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kolo Bryant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Apache Mankiller!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Jeff Smith and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bryant throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Mankiller works over Bryant's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Kolo Bryant has been cut.
Bryant swats away the attempt to clinch by Mankiller.
Bryant stuns Mankiller with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mankiller lands a head shot.
Bryant is looking to land body kicks.
Mankiller pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mankiller circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bryant tries to clinch there but Mankiller circles away.
Bryant wants to clinch
and Mankiller counters with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mankiller fails to land with a series of punches.
Bryant throws a combination that misses
and Mankiller cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bryant tries to close the distance and clinch but Mankiller swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bryant tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mankiller swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Mankiller's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Mankiller gets caught napping as Bryant dives in and scores a takedown. Mankiller manages to retain guard.

Bryant avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mankiller looking for a sweep. Not yet Mankiller, not yet.
Mankiller is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bryant is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bryant looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mankiller has Bryant pulled in close to control his posture.
Bryant looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

We're going to have a standup here because Kolo Bryant wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Bryant throws a sloppy head kick and Mankiller moves out of range easily.
Mankiller avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bryant shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mankiller defends it nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bryant.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kolo Bryant. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryant shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Mankiller eats them both and turns towards Bryant to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Bryant feints and as Mankiller raises his hands in defense, Bryant changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bryant wants to control from the top but Mankiller keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mankiller holds on and takes a little breather.
Bryant looking to pass the guard.
Mankiller is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kolo Bryant.

Bryant gets tackled into the cage by Mankiller. Mankiller maintains the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mankiller lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Bryant blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mankiller just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bryant's brow.

Mankiller escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck for Bryant with that takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bryant wants to clinch.
Mankiller fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bryant.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mankiller throws a head kick but Bryant moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Apache Mankiller will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kolo Bryant's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bryant bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Mankiller takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Mankiller's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bryant controlling from side mount.
Mankiller is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Bryant wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mankiller keeps working.
Bryant wants to free his trapped foot but Mankiller is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryant content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bryant wants to pass the guard but Mankiller is defending well.
Bryant sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kolo Bryant wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Mankiller tries to sprawl but Bryant drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Mankiller looking for submissions off his back.
Bryant wants to control but Mankiller is keeping him busy.
Kolo Bryant overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bryant 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.
Bryant not doing much here.
Bryant is looking to take a break and control but Mankiller is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mankiller is looking for a sweep. Bryant is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mankiller is trying to control but can't.
Bryant prevents Mankiller from improving his position.
Bryant thows a huge punch but Mankiller dodges it nicely.
Mankiller has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bryant is working away from the top position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mankiller leaves Bryant with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mankiller will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bryant wants to clinch up but Mankiller keeps it at a distance.

Bryant rushes Mankiller and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Mankiller breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant swats away the attempt to clinch by Mankiller.
Bryant shoots in but Mankiller avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bryant will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kolo Bryant. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mankiller slaps away a takedown attempt from Bryant, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bryant blocks a leg kick.
Bryant throws a combination that misses
and Mankiller counters with a leg kick.
Mankiller lands with a kick to the temple. Bryant shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mankiller throws a sloppy head kick and Bryant moves out of range easily.
Bryant misses with a few strikes there.
Bryant is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kolo Bryant dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kolo Bryant's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Good leg kick by Mankiller there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kolo Bryant seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mankiller takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Bryant misses with an uppercut. Mankiller saw that one coming.
Bryant swinging wildly here.
Mankiller is looking to clinch but Bryant is avoiding it.
A head kick misses from Mankiller.
Bryant throws a series of punches but Mankiller moves out of range.
Mankiller swinging wildly here.
Bryant walks into a left hand.
Bryant lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mankiller circles away quickly and effectively.

Bryant darts in and clinches Mankiller up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mankiller cracks Bryant with a nice body shot.
Bryant has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mankiller is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Still in the clinch, Mankiller scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mankiller throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bryant blocks it with crossed arms.
Nice body punch from Mankiller - that landed with a thud.
Mankiller goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mankiller lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bryant backwards.
Bryant avoids a wild elbow strike from Mankiller.
Mankiller displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bryant up against the cage.
Bryant blocks an elbow strike.
Mankiller goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mankiller misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryant blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Mankiller manages to break the clinch.
Mankiller misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bryant looks to land a combination. Mankiller sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Bryant throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Mankiller stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bryant tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mankiller paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Mankiller. No joy for Bryant on that attempt.

Bryant feints and as Mankiller raises his hands in defense, Bryant changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bryant looking to pass the guard.
Mankiller is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bryant wants to control from the top but Mankiller keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mankiller trying to keep a closed guard but Bryant is proving a slippery customer.

Kolo Bryant has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Bryant waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mankiller.

Bryant looking to score a takedown here. Mankiller is defending well but Bryant drives through and ends up in Mankiller's guard.
Bryant trying to control the position from guard on top but Mankiller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mankiller is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mankiller keeping moving, preventing Bryant from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryant showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kolo Bryant just wasn't active enough.

Mankiller clinches up with Bryant and pushes him back against the cage.
Mankiller lands a nice shot to the body.
Mankiller can't find room to land a body shot as Bryant controls the action.
Bryant wants to get back to striking at distance but Mankiller won't allow it.
Mankiller scores with a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bryant is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mankiller is defending well for now.

Mankiller manages to break the clinch.
Mankiller catches Bryant with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

And that's the end of the fight!
Apache Mankiller comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mankiller 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Apache Mankiller!
A relieved looking Apache Mankiller thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.