PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Oswald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Oswald has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with John McManus's chin.

McManus
vs
Oswald

179 cm
20
135 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

179 cm
22
134 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John McManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Oswald!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McManus looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mark Oswald seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Oswald misses with a leg kick.
McManus avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McManus throws a series of punches but Oswald moves out of range.
Oswald throws a one two combo.
Oswald fails in his attempt to clinch.
Oswald scores with a crisp jab that stopped McManus in his tracks.
McManus closes the distance but Oswald moves to the side

and Oswald counters by clinching up.

Oswald breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oswald misses with a double jab

and McManus counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McManus.

Oswald uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Oswald throws a combination that misses

and McManus counters with a single leg into guard. Oswald didn't expect that.
McManus really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
McManus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Oswald avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Oswald preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McManus trying to control the position from guard on top but Oswald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Oswald avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McManus 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.
Oswald looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus wants to get up but he can't break Oswald's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Oswald keeping full guard, as McManus tries to pass.
Oswald wants to stand up but McManus is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Oswald wants to clinch.
Oswald throws a combination but it was largely blocked by McManus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oswald throws a half hearted mid kick.
Oswald darts in trying to clinch

and McManus decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Oswald's guard.
Oswald really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McManus. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Oswald is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Oswald keeping moving, preventing McManus from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McManus accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus wants to control from the top but Oswald keeps moving.
McManus is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
McManus stops Oswald from standing up.
Oswald preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McManus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Oswald works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McManus shoots in but Oswald avoids the takedown attempt easily.
McManus shoots in for a takedown but Oswald shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John McManus dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Oswald drives through and clinches with McManus against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Oswald.
Oswald stops a takedown attempt from McManus.
McManus takes a shot to the head.

Oswald breaks the clinch.
McManus shoots in and drives through. Oswald sprawls well.
McManus closes the distance and clinches up with Oswald, looking for a takedown. McManus pushes Oswald against the cage but Oswald circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John McManus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Oswald has taken the fight to the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Oswald scores with a knee to the head.

Oswald manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oswald looks to land a combination. McManus sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Some wild striking there from Oswald.
Oswald is looking to clinch.

Oswald closes the distance and clinches.

Oswald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
John McManus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Oswald closes the distance and clinches.
Oswald prevents McManus from breaking the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oswald keeps control of McManus as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Oswald breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Oswald lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
McManus circles away from the clinch attempt.
Oswald tries to clinch up but McManus circles away and keeps his distance.
McManus changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Oswald tries to avoid it but McManus manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Oswald to the ground. Oswald escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Oswald.
Oswald goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
McManus keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oswald keeps the fight on the outside.
McManus looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Oswald is fending him off so far but McManus persists. Nope, Oswald circles away and we're back to standing.
McManus throws a body kick the misses
enabling Oswald to counter with a crisp jab.
A low kick from McManus is predictable there
and Oswald counters with a series of strikes. McManus will be more careful next time no doubt.
McManus falls off balance throwing a combination

and Oswald counters by clinching up.
A right handed body shot lands from Oswald.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
McManus is trying to break free.
Oswald lands a damaging elbow.
Oswald is leaning against McManus and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Oswald lands an elbow inside that McManus shrugs off.
Oswald misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Oswald breaks from the clinch.

Oswald gets a clinch.
McManus keeps control of Oswald as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McManus is trying to break free.
McManus wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Oswald 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!

McManus slips a straight right by Oswald.
McManus with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Oswald wants to clinch

and McManus counters with a shoot takedown. Oswald fights it but they end up in guard.
McManus is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
McManus looking to pass the guard.
McManus thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oswald keeping full guard, as McManus tries to pass.

Oswald is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The is referee keeping an eye on Oswald - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
McManus wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Oswald has him pressed against the cage.
McManus is working for takedown but Oswald is calmly controlling the position for now.

Oswald manages to break the clinch.
McManus takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McManus shoots in but no luck this time.
McManus closes the distance and clinches up with Oswald, looking for a takedown. McManus pushes Oswald against the cage but Oswald circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John McManus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McManus tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Oswald counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
McManus misses with a takedown attempt

and Oswald counters by clinching up.

Oswald escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McManus wants to clinch
and Oswald counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus wants to clinch
and Oswald counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McManus shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Oswald as he jumps to the side.
Mark Oswald is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Some wild striking there from Oswald.
McManus with a lazy takedown attempt
and Oswald cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Oswald moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Oswald manages to break the clinch.

McManus drives through with a takedown into guard.
McManus trying to control the position from guard on top but Oswald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Oswald has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes McManus off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Some bone on bone action there as Oswald checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A bone on bone clash there as Oswald blocks the leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
John McManus showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McManus has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

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