PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vitalik Manjos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rusli Fighter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fighter is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Aktsuki. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Manjos
vs
Fighter

190 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vitalik Manjos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rusli Fighter!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fighter tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Manjos counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Manjos turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Fighter is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Fighter struggling a bit here.

Manjos decides to stand up, so the ref orders Fighter to his feet.
Manjos circles away from the clinch attempt

and Manjos counters with a shoot takedown. Fighter fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manjos sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Manjos wants to pass the guard but Fighter is keeping the position.
Manjos seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fighter is on top in guard.
Fighter would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Manjos has his hands on Fighter's head, controlling the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Manjos's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Vitalik Manjos.
Fighter darts in trying to clinch

and Manjos counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Manjos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fighter darts in trying to clinch

and Manjos moves into the clinch.

Manjos breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rusli Fighter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fighter looks to clinch

and Manjos counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Manjos.
Fighter misses with a hook from the clinch.
Manjos blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Fighter misses with some punches.

Manjos tightens his grip and picks Fighter up, before dumping him to the ground. Fighter manages to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manjos seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Manjos stops Fighter from standing up.
Manjos with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fighter is trying to keep Manjos in close.
Fighter lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Manjos!
Manjos keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Fighter wants to stand but Manjos is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Manjos tries to hold on but Fighter postures up.
Fighter is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manjos wants to control but Fighter is having none of it.
Manjos's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Manjos tries to hold on but Fighter pushes him away.
Fighter wants to get back to his feet but Manjos is holding on tight.
Fighter looks winded!
Fighter avoids the attempt from Manjos to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fighter wants to get back to his feet but Manjos is holding on tight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitalik Manjos 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.

Manjos feints and as Fighter raises his hands in defense, Manjos changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fighter wants to stand up but Manjos is controlling him.
Manjos is stalling in the full guard.
Manjos wants to pass the guard but Fighter is keeping the position.
Manjos slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Fighter trying to keep a closed guard but Manjos is proving a slippery customer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Manjos closes the distance and clinches.

Manjos breaks from the clinch.

Manjos gets a double leg takedown into Fighter's guard.
Manjos stops Fighter from standing up.
Fighter is breathing heavily.
Fighter looking to control.
Manjos has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter wants to stand but Manjos is controlling the position.
Manjos advances position into side control!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Fighter stops Manjos from passing to mount.
The referee asks Manjos politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Manjos prefers to stall for the moment though.
Fighter takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Manjos takes a little break here. Fighter wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manjos tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

We're going to have a standup here because Vitalik Manjos wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Fighter moves to clinch but Manjos breaks away

and Manjos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Fighter's 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!
Manjos sitting in guard here, content to control.
Manjos won't allow Fighter to sweep him here.
Manjos controlling from the top position.
Fighter wants to stand and escape but Manjos is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Manjos wants to pass the guard but Fighter is keeping the position.
Manjos slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Vitalik Manjos just wasn't active enough.

Manjos closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Fighter's guard.
Fighter is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fighter wants to stand up but Manjos is controlling him.
Manjos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fighter swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manjos controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Vitalik Manjos just wasn't active enough.

Manjos looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Fighter!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fighter being controlled for a moment.
Vitalik Manjos overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
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!
Fighter taking a bit of punishment here - Manjos scoring with strikes.
You can see the frustration on Fighter's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Manjos is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitalik Manjos dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Manjos shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Manjos showed some decent athleticism there.
Manjos tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fighter knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Manjos stops Fighter from getting back to his feet.
Manjos stalling.
Manjos looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Fighter has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Manjos is working away from the top position though.
Fighter looks like he's trying to stand up.
Manjos stalling.
Manjos lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Manjos is looking to advance position but Fighter won't allow it.
Fighter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Manjos lands a nice short elbow.
Manjos keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Fighter is looking to improve his position.
Manjos is taking a breather. Fighter says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Fighter on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Manjos trying to control the pace.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Vitalik Manjos has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Manjos gets the takedown into side control.
The referee asks Manjos politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Manjos prefers to stall for the moment though.
Fighter tries to buck Manjos off but Manjos is having none of it.
Fighter is trying to escape the position but Manjos is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manjos tries to move to mount but Fighter blocks the move with his legs.
Manjos lands a nice forearm strike.
Manjos moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Manjos is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fighter has escaped the position, nice work there.
A lull in the action here as Manjos stalls from top position.
Fighter pushes Manjos away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Manjos gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Manjos remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Vitalik Manjos wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Manjos circles away from the clinch attempt
and Manjos counters with a series of strikes. Fighter will be more careful next time no doubt.
Fighter looks to clinch

and Manjos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Fighter's guard.
Manjos scoring with some ground and pound.
Manjos sitting in guard, not really doing much.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Manjos lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Manjos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Manjos working some strikes from top position.
Manjos is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Manjos postures up.
Manjos stays in close to Fighter's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Vitalik Manjos wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Manjos feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Manjos trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Manjos sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Manjos seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Fighter for as long as he can get away with.
Rusli Fighter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vitalik Manjos is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Vitalik Manjos just wasn't active enough.
Fighter tries to clinch up

and Manjos counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Manjos.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vitalik Manjos showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Manjos has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight for Vitalik Manjos!
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight for Vitalik Manjos!
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight for Vitalik Manjos!

Vitalik Manjos wins by unanimous decision!