PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Melvin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Wilkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manhoef's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Prodigy - Take Me To The Hospital . Andy Wilkins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Manhoef
vs
Wilkins

184 cm
32
182 lbs
24 - 11 - 0

185 cm
32
195 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

The Big Kabosh

Sex Panther! (160q recovery $149)

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 24 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Melvin Manhoef!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Andy Wilkins!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manhoef tried to score with a low kick but Wilkins checks it.
Wilkins fails with a takedown attempt.
Manhoef takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Manhoef misses with a low kick.
A punch lands to the side of Wilkins 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Wilkins thows a body shot but no joy.
Wilkins takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A chopping leg kick lands by Manhoef.
Wilkins has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Wilkins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Manhoef's waist but Manhoef gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wilkins off to one side.
Manhoef throws a shot from downtown. Wilkins moves away and avoids it.
Manhoef looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Wilkins ducks under a wild hook from Manhoef.
Manhoef misses with a looping right.
Wilkins takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wilkins throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Manhoef tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Wilkins is in Manhoef's guard.
Manhoef keeping moving, preventing Wilkins from controlling successfully.
Manhoef is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Manhoef is really struggling to control Wilkins but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Wilkins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Wilkins postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wilkins throwing strikes from guard but Manhoef blocks nicely.
Wilkins postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins lands a couple of digs.
Wilkins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wilkins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wilkins has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wilkins wants to control from the top but Manhoef keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wilkins being controlled here momentarily.
Wilkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Manhoef is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice straight punches there by Wilkins. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Wilkins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Manhoef misses

and Wilkins counters with a single leg into guard. Manhoef didn't expect that.
Manhoef preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Manhoef has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Wilkins keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Manhoef's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manhoef working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wilkins.
Wilkins trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wilkins throws a big elbow that misses.
Wilkins wants to control from the top but Manhoef keeps moving.
Wilkins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins is looking to work some ground and pound but Manhoef has wrist control.
Wilkins controls from within his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wilkins with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wilkins is working Manhoef over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Manhoef utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Wilkins trying to control but Manhoef is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wilkins is looking to work some ground and pound but Manhoef has wrist control.
Wilkins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Wilkins dominated that round.
That's time! Manhoef's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Wilkins misses the jab.
Wilkins moves out of range of the body kick.
Wilkins throws a body punch but Manhoef moves out of range.
Manhoef misses with a leg kick.
Wilkins misses with a two punch combination.
Manhoef throws a wild body kick that Wilkins sees coming a mile off.
Manhoef just misses with a punch to the body.
Wilkins pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wilkins misses with a looping right.
Manhoef throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Wilkins on the side of the head.
Manhoef throws a lazy right hand but Wilkins sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wilkins misses with a body shot.
Manhoef connects with a leg kick. Wilkins looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Wilkins lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef tries a head kick but it misses.
Manhoef lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Manhoef misses with a body kick.
Manhoef misses with a body shot.
Nice body punch from Manhoef.
Melvin Manhoef is winning the standup battle so far.
Wilkins just misses with a punch to the body.
Manhoef throws a body punch but Wilkins moves out of range.
Manhoef throws a lazy uppercut

and Wilkins counters with a single leg into guard. Manhoef didn't expect that.
Wilkins showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Wilkins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wilkins scoring with punches to the head and body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wilkins postures up in Manhoef's guard and throws a big left but Manhoef blocks it.
Manhoef seems keen to control Wilkins's posture.
Wilkins throws a big elbow that misses.
Wilkins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
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.
Wilkins looking to sit in guard and control but Manhoef gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins wants to control but Manhoef passes easily into half guard.

Wilkins looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Wilkins looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Wilkins manages to get to full guard.
Wilkins is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Manhoef controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Wilkins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Wilkins throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Manhoef stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Manhoef moves away from the strike by Wilkins.
Manhoef blocks a jab.
Manhoef throws the left hand but Wilkins avoids the punch easily.
Manhoef moves out of range of the strikes.
Wilkins takes a swing at Manhoef's ribcage but misses.
Wilkins looks to land a combination but Manhoef avoids it well.
Wilkins lands with an overhand left.
Wilkins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Manhoef pinned against the cage. Manhoef gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wilkins shoots in looking for a takedown but Manhoef manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wilkins's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Melvin Manhoef seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef misses with a low kick.
Manhoef throws a leg kick but Wilkins checks it.
Wilkins swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Manhoef counters with a slapping leg kick.
Wilkins cracks a nice hook into Manhoef's ribs.
Wilkins throws a lazy right hand but Manhoef sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wilkins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Manhoef.
Wilkins paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Wilkins fails with the takedown.
Melvin Manhoef has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy Wilkins.
Nice shot lands for Wilkins.
Manhoef ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Wilkins lands a right hook to the body.
Melvin Manhoef has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Manhoef misses with a head kick.
Wilkins avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Wilkins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Manhoef looks to land a left hand but Wilkins moved out of range nicely.
Manhoef throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Wilkins on the side of the head.
Manhoef clobbers Wilkins with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A looping hook to the body misses from Wilkins. Manhoef does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wilkins scores with the left hand. Manhoef knows he should have avoided that one.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wilkins. Manhoef does a little dance to reset his feet.
Manhoef throws a solid leg kick but Wilkins takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Manhoef.
Manhoef throws a chopping leg kick but Wilkins manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Wilkins is trying hard to land a takedown here. Manhoef sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins walks into a jab.
Wilkins stuns Manhoef with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Manhoef misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Manhoef misses with a right hand

and Wilkins counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Manhoef!

Wilkins thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Wilkins goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Manhoef rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Wilkins's guard! Nice work there by Manhoef!

Wilkins is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Andy Wilkins is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wilkins has his foot on Manhoef's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Manhoef works his way back into a safe position though.
Manhoef is looking to advance position but Wilkins has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Wilkins is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Manhoef to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Manhoef shrugs it off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wilkins raining down hammerfists from mount.
Wilkins lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Wilkins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wilkins winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

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