PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steve Rogers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grant Manfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Rogers has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rogers
vs
Manfield

180 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Rogers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Grant Manfield!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Winston Howard and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manfield misses with a head kick.

Rogers drives through and clinches with Manfield against the cage.
Rogers lands a right hand.
Manfield is working for takedown but Rogers is calmly controlling the position for now.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rogers.
Manfield is looking for a takedown.

Rogers has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Manfield clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Rogers keeps control of the position easily here as Manfield tries to buck him off.
Rogers connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Manfield to escape the position.
Rogers not allowing Manfield to control his hands.
Manfield trying to get back to his feet but Rogers is in full control for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Rogers controlling the positon.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manfield rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rogers slows the pace down in half guard.
Rogers missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rogers working the head and body with strikes.
Rogers is nestled in close to Manfield, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Manfield wants to control but Rogers is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manfield is looking for a sweep. Rogers is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rogers wants to take a breather but Manfield is having none of it.
Rogers lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Manfield is not content to let Rogers control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers is nestled in close to Manfield, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rogers seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rogers takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Manfield is controlling Rogers's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ground and pound from Rogers.
Rogers looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Manfield with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rogers in particular looking to stall.
Rogers lands strikes from half guard.
Rogers is thwarting Manfield's attempts to control the position.
Manfield wants to improve his position but Rogers is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rogers looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Manfield with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rogers is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rogers seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Manfield does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Rogers not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rogers is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rogers landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Rogers is looking for a kimura but Manfield is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rogers to get the leverage.
Rogers missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers trying to control from Manfield's half guard. Manfield has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Rogers throws a big elbow that misses.
Manfield being controlled here, momentarily.
Rogers tries to free his leg and advance position but Manfield is retaining full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manfield lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rogers!

Manfield working for a submission but Rogers is keeping him at bay.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rogers is trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Rogers dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Manfield tries for a takedown but Rogers circles away easily

and Rogers decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Manfield's guard.
Rogers postures up.
Manfield can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rogers controls the pace.
Rogers stands up over Manfield, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manfield pulls Rogers in to control the position.

Manfield is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Manfield being controlled here, momentarily.
Manfield avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Manfield looking for a sweep. Not yet Manfield, not yet.
Manfield is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rogers wants to control from the top but Manfield keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rogers's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Steve Rogers wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Rogers rushes Manfield and presses him up against the cage.
Rogers tries to throw a body punch but Manfield avoids it by throwing Rogers back against the cage.
Manfield tries to pull guard but Rogers won't allow it.
Rogers tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rogers content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Rogers gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Manfield regains guard.
Rogers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rogers accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rogers wants to control from the top but Manfield keeps moving.
Manfield is trying to keep Rogers in close.
Rogers stopping the sweep attempt from Manfield.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manfield is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rogers on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rogers tries to get out of the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rogers has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Manfield is working away from the top position though.
Manfield trying to control the action but Rogers is working from the bottom.
Manfield is looking to advance position but Rogers won't allow it.
Manfield trying to control the action but Rogers is working from the bottom.
Steve Rogers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Rogers trying to hold on to Manfield's head to control him but Manfield postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rogers fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A big right from Rogers misses.
Manfield throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rogers's waist but Rogers gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manfield off to one side.
Steve Rogers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grant Manfield.
Manfield with a poor takedown

and Rogers counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Manfield is breathing heavily.
Rogers postures up.
Manfield lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rogers!
Rogers is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rogers tries to lock up and control but Manfield gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rogers tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rogers is working hard here to advance position.
Manfield avoids the attempt from Rogers to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rogers is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Manfield wants to control the pace but Rogers is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Rogers dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Manfield slaps away a takedown attempt from Rogers, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Manfield shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rogers as he jumps to the side.

Rogers darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Rogers winds up and cracks Manfield with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rogers missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Manfield punching from the bottom.
Rogers sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Manfield defending well though.

Manfield kicks off Rogers and gets to his feet.
Manfield on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rogers shoots in for a takedown but Manfield shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manfield tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rogers paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Grant Manfield is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rogers fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Rogers. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manfield fails in his attempt to clinch.
Manfield throws a right and a left that both miss.
Donk. Rogers catches Manfield right on the button with a cross.
Rogers swings for the body but Manfield moves out of range.
Rogers bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Manfield's head backwards.
Manfield shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rogers pinned against the cage. Rogers gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Manfield takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Manfield tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rogers sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Manfield somewhat.

Manfield tries to sprawl but Rogers drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Rogers controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rogers trying to control the action but Manfield is working from the bottom.
Manfield trying to hold on to Rogers's head to control him but Rogers postures up.
Rogers drops an elbow to the side of Manfield's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rogers takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Manfield taking some punishment here, with Rogers in his half guard.
Rogers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Manfield can do to turn this around?
Rogers drops an elbow to the side of Manfield's head.
Rogers winds up and cracks Manfield with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rogers is thwarting Manfield's attempts to control the position.
Rogers seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rogers thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Manfield's head.
Rogers with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Ground and pound from Rogers.
Rogers seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Manfield is not content to let Rogers control the position.
Rogers drops an elbow to the side of Manfield's head.
Rogers scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Manfield keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rogers thows a huge punch but Manfield dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rogers is keen to just control but Manfield is a slippery customer.
Rogers sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Rogers prevents Manfield from improving his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rogers in particular looking to stall.
Grant Manfield has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Steve Rogers has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Manfield shoots for a takedown but Rogers saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rogers ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Manfield moves away.
A shot to the liver by Rogers. Beautiful body shot.

Rogers drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Steve Rogers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rogers happy to just control the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Rogers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rogers has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight for Steve Rogers!
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight for Steve Rogers!
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight for Steve Rogers!

Steve Rogers wins by unanimous decision!