PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Briggs Lovejoy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dennis Mandrake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lovejoy
vs
Mandrake

185 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Briggs Lovejoy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dennis Mandrake!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Luis Engracia and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lovejoy tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Mandrake counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Lovejoy's guard now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mandrake trying to control the position from guard on top but Lovejoy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mandrake stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lovejoy swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lovejoy has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mandrake can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mandrake is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Mandrake stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lovejoy swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandrake controls from within his opponent's guard.
Mandrake wants to pass the guard but Lovejoy is keeping the position.
Lovejoy keeping moving, preventing Mandrake from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dennis Mandrake wasn't active enough on the ground.
Mandrake slaps away a takedown attempt from Lovejoy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lovejoy defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mandrake.
Lovejoy tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mandrake looking to score a takedown here. Lovejoy is defending well but Mandrake drives through and ends up in Lovejoy's guard.
Lovejoy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mandrake is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Lovejoy looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Mandrake content to stall in guard here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mandrake lands a jab to Lovejoy's midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lovejoy looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mandrake is fending him off so far but Lovejoy persists. Nope, Mandrake circles away and we're back to standing.
Lovejoy is breathing heavily.
Mandrake is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lovejoy sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Briggs Lovejoy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mandrake stuffs the takedown attempt from Lovejoy. Lovejoy gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Briggs Lovejoy. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lovejoy fails with the takedown
and Mandrake counters with a three punch combo that has Lovejoy backing up. Lovejoy nods at Mandrake to acknowledge the strikes.
Mandrake fails with the takedown.

Mandrake decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mandrake keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mandrake tries to pass to full mount but Lovejoy defends it.
Lovejoy wants to get back to full guard.
Mandrake is controlling the pace.
This has been an exciting period of action!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Mandrake is looking for a kimura but Lovejoy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mandrake to get the leverage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Still in half guard, Mandrake seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lovejoy shoots in but Mandrake avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lovejoy tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mandrake sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lovejoy somewhat.
Lovejoy shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Briggs Lovejoy. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mandrake looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Mandrake pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lovejoy is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mandrake trying to control but Lovejoy is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandrake controls from within his opponent's guard.
Mandrake trying to control but Lovejoy is working from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dennis Mandrake wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lovejoy fails with the takedown.
Lovejoy stuffs the takedown attempt from Mandrake. Mandrake gets slowly back to his feet.

Mandrake looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovejoy moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Mandrake postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Lovejoy is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mandrake, into his guard.

Mandrake working for a triangle but Lovejoy defends it easily.
Mandrake keeping moving, preventing Lovejoy from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandrake manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Lovejoy really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lovejoy is trying to stand.
Mandrake controlling the pace for now.
Mandrake moves to the back.

Mandrake working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Lovejoy defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dennis Mandrake showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Lovejoy shoots in looking for a takedown but Mandrake manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lovejoy's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mandrake fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lovejoy looks for a takedown but Mandrake sprawls well.

Mandrake fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Lovejoy to the ground. Mandrake is now in Lovejoy's guard.
Mandrake is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mandrake trying to control the position from guard on top but Lovejoy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dennis Mandrake has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Lovejoy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mandrake pushing down on Lovejoy's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Mandrake looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Mandrake wants to work for an arm triangle but Lovejoy is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Lovejoy is staying active underneath Mandrake, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lovejoy wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lovejoy is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mandrake seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Mandrake is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mandrake passes to side control.
Lovejoy tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Mandrake easily slips into full mount!
Mandrake moves to the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lovejoy defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Mandrake has managed to slip his arm under Lovejoy's chin. This could be all over... yep, Lovejoy is tapping out! Submission win for Mandrake.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Dennis Mandrake!
During a confident post fight interview, Dennis Mandrake thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.