PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Brad Manning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Relion Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Manning
vs
Gracie

180 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers standup

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Brad Manning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Relion Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie has his takedown stuffed
and Manning cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Manning fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.

Manning instigates a clinch.
Good body shot from Manning.

Manning escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gracie shoots for a takedown but Manning saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Gracie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gracie controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manning 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.
Gracie seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Manning looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Relion Gracie hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
An inside leg kick lands from Manning.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Brad Manning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Relion Gracie.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Manning counters with a leg kick.

Manning closes the distance and clinches.
Manning stalling against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manning pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Manning is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Manning tries to clinch but Gracie moves out of range.
Brad Manning is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie has a takedown stuffed.

Manning has taken the fight to the clinch.
Manning lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.

Manning manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manning slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracie, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Manning has closed the distance and engaged Gracie in a clinch.
Gracie jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Manning walks away with a smile on his face. Gracie gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Gracie looks winded!
Manning fails with an attempt to clinch.
Manning tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gracie gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Manning counters with an inside leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Manning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manning tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gracie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt
and Manning counters with a leg kick.
Manning scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Manning lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Manning lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Manning scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Gracie swats away the attempt to clinch by Manning.
Gracie circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Manning instigates a clinch.

Manning manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Manning dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Manning scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Manning!
Gracie will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Good leg kick by Manning there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Manning tries to clinch up but Gracie circles away and keeps his distance.
A combination from Manning does no damage.
Manning is looking to clinch but Gracie is avoiding it.
Gracie tries for a takedown but Manning circles away easily
and Manning counters with a nice leg kick.
Gracie tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gracie is breathing heavily.
Manning lands a slapping body shot.

Manning closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Manning holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Brad Manning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Relion Gracie.
Manning pressing his opponent against the cage.
Manning pushes Gracie back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Manning lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.

That's two 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.

Manning breaks the clinch.
Manning fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Manning keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Manning leaves Gracie with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Manning with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Manning moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.
Manning makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manning's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Manning moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Relion Gracie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manning fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gracie has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Manning manages to break the clinch.

Manning rushes Gracie and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Manning moves into range and clinches up with Gracie.
Manning lands a right hand that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.
Manning softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Manning pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Manning scores with a leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gracie keeps the fight on the outside.
Manning lands with a thumping leg kick.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Manning!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brad Manning dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Manning has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gracie jumps guard but Manning stands there with Gracie around his waist. Gracie gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Manning working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Manning manages to break the clinch.
Manning lands with a nice combination. Gracie backs away looking to recover.

Manning clinches up against the cage.
Manning has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gracie's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manning lands a right hand.
Manning is leaning against Gracie and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Manning pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gracie avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gracie doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Manning counters with a nice leg kick.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Brad Manning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Relion Gracie.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Manning connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manning drives through and clinches with Gracie against the cage.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Manning forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Manning lands a hook that snaps the head of Gracie backwards.

Manning breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Brad Manning is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manning feints a jab promting Gracie to slip. Manning then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Gracie slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Manning tries to clinch but Gracie is having none of it.

Manning darts in and clinches Gracie up against the cage.
Manning lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manning taking a breather.
Gracie tries to pull guard but Manning holds him up against the cage and eventually Gracie drops back down to his feet.
Manning lands an uppercut.
Gracie tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Manning smiles and moves away.
Brad Manning is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Manning tries to clinch there but Gracie circles away.

Manning has Gracie up against the cage in a clinch.
Manning lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Manning.
Relion Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gracie tries to pull guard but Manning won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brad Manning showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Manning, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brad Manning!
Brad Manning decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.