PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dustin Waller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seamus McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Waller
vs
McManus

156 cm
24
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
189 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dustin Waller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Seamus McManus!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Dean Styles and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Waller throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McManus's waist but McManus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Waller off to one side.
McManus fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
McManus uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Waller.
Waller circles away from the clinch attempt.
McManus slaps away a takedown attempt from Waller, before circling back to the center of the mat.

McManus gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Waller to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Waller sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed McManus's guard.
McManus has his hands clasped together around Waller's back. He's all about the action.
Waller trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waller prevents McManus from improving his position.
McManus is trying to maintain the position but Waller is very close to passing his half guard.
McManus tries to get to full guard but Waller has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dustin Waller.
Waller misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dustin Waller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McManus displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Waller.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus goes for a double leg but Waller avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Waller continues to drive forward.
McManus has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Waller after a bit of a struggle.

McManus's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Waller tries to land a leg kick but McManus saw it coming and moves away.
Waller moves in looking to clinch but McManus pushes him off.
Waller shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McManus pinned against the cage. McManus gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
McManus throws a sloppy head kick and Waller moves out of range easily.
McManus shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Waller eats them both and turns towards McManus to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Dustin Waller has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from McManus. No joy for Waller on that attempt.
Waller leaves McManus with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Waller could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Waller stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Waller wants it to stay on the feet.
McManus fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McManus looks winded!
McManus fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Waller avoids it really well and circles away.
McManus doesn't manage to clinch there - Waller circles away.

McManus fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Waller, pushing him back against the cage.
Waller trying to control the position but instead, McManus has worked for underhooks and has pushed Waller into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McManus turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and McManus manages to end up in side control.
Waller can't do much from the bottom here.
Waller is looking to reverse the position.
McManus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Waller keeps working.
Waller tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McManus wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Waller wants to control but McManus postures up.
Waller is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on McManus's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seamus McManus dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dustin Waller's cut.
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.

McManus fails with a takedown attempt.
McManus slaps away a takedown attempt from Waller, before circling back to the center of the mat.

McManus closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Waller did well to prevent McManus getting side control.
Waller looks like he's trying to stand up.
Waller is not content to let McManus control the position.

McManus is working for a kimura but Waller is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waller blocking the ground and pound attempt from McManus.

McManus is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Waller sees it coming and defends easily.
Waller regains full guard. Nicely done.
McManus trying to control but Waller is working from the bottom.
McManus is breathing heavily.

Waller looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus postures up.
McManus is standing up over Waller. Waller looks to escape but McManus dives into side control.
Waller manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Waller missing with punches from the bottom.
McManus keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Waller gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waller wants to sweep here but McManus controlling him for the moment.
Waller keeping moving, preventing McManus from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Seamus McManus was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Waller throws a right and a left that McManus avoids nicely.
Waller wants to clinch but McManus slips to the side

and McManus counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
McManus seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
McManus wants to pass to mount but Waller is defending the position.
Seamus McManus has got the better of the ground game so far.
Waller is controlling McManus's trapped leg to prevent McManus from advancing to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waller is trying to stand.
Waller keeping control of the position.
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!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Waller is trying to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Waller is looking to clinch but McManus is avoiding it.
McManus misses with a takedown attempt
and Waller counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Seamus McManus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dustin Waller's cut.
That's time! Waller's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McManus stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and McManus wants it to stay on the feet.

McManus changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Waller looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
McManus working away.
McManus is looking to take a break and control but Waller is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Waller might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Waller is looking to reverse the position.
Who's going to make the next move?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waller is trying to get back to half guard.
McManus trying to control the action but Waller is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
McManus working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

McManus darts in and clinches Waller up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McManus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Waller thows a left - swing and a miss!
McManus keeps the fight on the outside.

McManus looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Waller wants to control but McManus is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Waller controlling the position well.

McManus stands up out of the half guard.

McManus looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waller tries to kick McManus off but McManus keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Waller has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McManus is working away from the top position though.
McManus with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Waller keeps control of the position for the meantime.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Waller trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Dustin Waller wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

McManus has closed the distance and engaged Waller in a clinch.
McManus can't find room to land a body shot as Waller controls the action.
Waller lands a nice uppercut.
McManus fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Waller is trying to drag McManus to the mat but McManus just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

McManus pulls guard successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

McManus looking for subs off his back but Waller has passed one foot through into half guard.
Dustin Waller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Seamus McManus is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Waller missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seamus McManus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McManus has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seamus McManus!