PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Nero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mihail Mansurov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mansurov has chosen Kreator - Impossible Brutality as his entrance music. Mihail Mansurov has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Nero
vs
Mansurov

186 cm
26
174 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

178 cm
27
195 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
Convicted Trap House

Perkele!

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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raphael Nero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mihail Mansurov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nero avoids the head kick by Mansurov.

Nero drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Nero is looking to take a break and control but Mansurov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mansurov isn't going anywhere.
Nero trying to control the position but Mansurov is working away.
Nero in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mansurov dodges the ground and pound from Nero.
You can see the frustration on Mansurov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Mansurov defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nero tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nero has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Mansurov struggling a bit here.
Sloppy strikes there by Nero.
Nero in the domination position with Mansurov hanging on.
Mansurov wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Nero cracks Mansurov with a big elbow.
Mansurov is looking to regain half guard here but Nero keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nero trying to control the action but Mansurov is working from the bottom.
Mansurov is trying to control Nero's posture but Nero avoids it.

Nero looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Mansurov tries to buck Nero off but Nero is having none of it.
Nero throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Mansurov is not content to let Nero control the position.
Nero working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mansurov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Nero controlling the action here.
Nero looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Nero missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mansurov is trying is best to control the position here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nero in particular looking to stall.
Nero throwing shots but Mansurov is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Nero.
Mansurov tries to roll over but Nero keeps him under control.
Nero seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Mansurov is trying is best to control the position here.
Nero has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mansurov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mansurov is trying to stand back up but Nero is controlling him
Nero is taking a breather. Mansurov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nero seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Mansurov is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Raphael Nero!
A relieved looking Raphael Nero thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.