PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Melvin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stevie Tal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stevie Tal is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Manhoef
vs
Tal

177 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

182 cm
18
176 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Melvin Manhoef!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Stevie Tal!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Bruno Hogan and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manhoef digs a good hook to Tal's body.
Manhoef connects with the punch.
Manhoef tries to clinch but Tal moves out of range.

Tal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tal looks winded!
Tal preventing the sweep.
Tal forces his way into half guard.
Manhoef is trying to get back to full guard.
Tal sitting and controlling from the half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manhoef is refusing to be controlled, as Tal sits in half guard.

Tal is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Manhoef sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tal stalling.
Manhoef knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tal on the ground.
Tal trying to control the action but Manhoef is working from the bottom.

Stevie Tal has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Manhoef gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manhoef working a defensive guard here.
Manhoef tries to strike from the bottom.
Manhoef wants to sweep but no luck.
Tal throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tal is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Manhoef is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Manhoef utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Manhoef wants to sweep here but Tal controlling him for the moment.
Tal with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tal won't allow Manhoef to get back to his feet.
Tal stopping the sweep attempt from Manhoef.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Tal drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Tal seems to have locked his on tight now - Manhoef screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Tal, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Stevie Tal!