PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kid Mantuano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jed Masilungan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mantuano kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Fight Night. Masilungan has chosen Return to Strength as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Jed Masilungan is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mantuano
vs
Masilungan

177 cm
24
168 lbs
6 - 2 - 1

178 cm
35
164 lbs
28 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

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 6 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kid Mantuano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jed Masilungan!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mantuano decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Masilungan wants to improve his position but Mantuano is controlling well.
Mantuano trying to advance position but Masilungan counters by regaining guard.
Mantuano stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Masilungan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Masilungan is looking to stand up but Mantuano isn't so interested in that idea.
Mantuano passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Masilungan is trying to buck Mantuano off.
Mantuano advances to full mount.
Masilungan working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Mantuano cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masilungan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mantuano avoids the attempt from Masilungan to control.
Mantuano lands a big elbow.
Mantuano lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Masilungan manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Masilungan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Masilungan trying to keep a closed guard but Mantuano is proving a slippery customer.

Masilungan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mantuano doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mantuano manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Mantuano drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mantuano jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mantuano sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Masilungan's guard.
Masilungan tries to roll over but Mantuano keeps him under control.
Mantuano is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Masilungan has hold of Mantuano's hands but Mantuano slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Mantuano is pressing down on Masilungan's thigh, looking to free his foot. Masilungan is holding on for now.
Mantuano is trying to control. Masilungan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mantuano throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Masilungan trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Masilungan is defending against the submission attempts here by Mantuano.

Mantuano is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Masilungan defends it well.

Masilungan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Masilungan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mantuano.
Masilungan wants to get back to full guard.

Mantuano is working for a kimura but Masilungan is defending it quite comfortably.

Mantuano is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Masilungan defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan is looking to control Mantuano's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Masilungan avoid being mounted?
Masilungan regains full guard. Nicely done.

Masilungan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mantuano defends it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mantuano works over Masilungan with some ground and pound from guard.
Mantuano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Masilungan is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kid Mantuano dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mantuano is defended easily by Masilungan.
Mantuano takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mantuano has his takedown stuffed
and Masilungan counters with a body kick.
Masilungan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kid Mantuano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masilungan swinging wildly here.
Mantuano checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mantuano fails with the takedown
and Masilungan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantuano with a poor takedown
and Masilungan counters with a thumping low kick.
Masilungan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mantuano swivels and escapes.
Mantuano fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Masilungan avoids it really well and circles away.
Masilungan attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Mantuano shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Masilungan pinned against the cage. Masilungan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mantuano goes for a double leg but Masilungan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Masilungan continues to drive forward.
Masilungan lands with a short shot to the head.
Masilungan digs a right hand into Mantuano's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Mantuano's gas tank.
Masilungan tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mantuano wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Masilungan has him pressed against the cage.
Masilungan tries for a takedown but Mantuano manages to get underhooks.

Mantuano has clasped his hands together around Masilungan's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Masilungan tries to buck Mantuano off but Mantuano is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mantuano is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Masilungan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Masilungan tries to improve position but can't.
Check out the look on Mantuano's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Masilungan wants to control but Mantuano postures up.

Mantuano is trying to get an arm triangle but Masilungan is defending well.
Mantuano misses with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantuano lands some shots froms side control.
Masilungan regains half guard.
Mantuano takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Masilungan punching from the bottom.
Masilungan tries to roll over but Mantuano keeps him under control.
Mantuano throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mantuano is looking to advance position but Masilungan won't allow it.
Mantuano missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Mantuano seems to be looking for submissions.

Masilungan manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Masilungan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mantuano circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masilungan uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mantuano.
Mantuano has his takedown stuffed
and Masilungan counters with a two punch combo.
Mantuano blocks a head kick by Masilungan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Masilungan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mantuano circles away quickly and effectively.
Mantuano misses with a right hand
and Masilungan counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mantuano shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Masilungan sprawls well. Masilungan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mantuano gets slowly back to his feet.
Mantuano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Masilungan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mantuano tries for a takedown but Masilungan circles away easily

and Masilungan counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jed Masilungan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Masilungan lands a nice shot that snaps Mantuano's head back.
Mantuano shoots and misses
and Masilungan counters with a straight right hand.
Masilungan with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Mantuano to score with a decent uppercut.
Mantuano shoots in for a double leg but Masilungan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mantuano doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Masilungan counters with a three punch combo that has Mantuano backing up. Mantuano nods at Masilungan to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kid Mantuano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mantuano with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Masilungan to score with a decent uppercut.
Masilungan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mantuano was well out of range. Poor timing from Masilungan.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Masilungan.
Masilungan takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mantuano shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mantuano gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Masilungan counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mantuano!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Masilungan working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Check out the look on Masilungan's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Mantuano 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Masilungan misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Mantuano sneaks back into half guard.
Masilungan passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Mantuano!
Masilungan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Mantuano tries to reverse the position but Masilungan maintains control.
Masilungan raining down hammerfists from mount.
Masilungan prevents Mantuano from getting the reversal.
Masilungan with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Masilungan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Mantuano is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Masilungan working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Mantuano can't escape the position.
Masilungan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Mantuano bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Mantuano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Masilungan is keeping the position for now.
Mantuano makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Masilungan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantuano looking to pass the guard.
Masilungan wants to sweep but no luck.

Masilungan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mantuano defends well.
Mantuano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Masilungan is keeping the position for now.
Mantuano is in close to Masilungan's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mantuano stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Masilungan swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mantuano stopping the sweep attempt from Masilungan.
Mantuano passes Masilungan's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Masilungan tries to roll over but Mantuano keeps him under control.
Mantuano is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Masilungan!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mantuano lands with some strikes.
Masilungan working to try and regain half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jed Masilungan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Masilungan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jed Masilungan!
An out of breath Jed Masilungan thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.