PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Max Ford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ludwig Manres (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ford kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Click Click Boom. Manres is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Aqualung - Jethro Tull. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ford
vs
Manres

183 cm
25
185 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

182 cm
34
187 lbs
24 - 24 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Max Ford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ludwig Manres!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Radbod Blank and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manres keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ford misses with a left hand

so Manres counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Manres pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ford is keeping the position for now.
Ford is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Manres tries to free his leg and advance position but Ford is retaining full guard.
Manres is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Manres trying to control but Ford is working from the bottom.
Manres postures up in Ford's guard and throws a big left but Ford blocks it.
Manres trying to control the position from guard on top but Ford is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manres has gone for a leg lock! Ford slips out almost immediately though and dives into Manres's guard.
Ford looking to sit in guard and control but Manres gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Manres lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ford is trying to keep Manres in close.
Manres trying to control but Ford is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manres works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Manres seems to be looking for submissions.
Manres winds up and cracks Ford with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Manres is trying to control the action in half guard but Ford is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Manres has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Manres is looking for a kimura but Ford is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Manres to get the leverage.
Manres throwing shots but Ford is blocking nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manres is looking to stall here but Ford recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manres trying to control but Ford is working from the bottom.
Manres working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Manres throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Manres drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ford looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ford looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ford!
Manres is trying to escape the position but Ford is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ford works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Manres is letting Ford control him for a moment.
Manres gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ford is trying to control. Manres wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
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.

Ludwig Manres dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ford swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Manres decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ford's guard.
Manres wants to control from the top but Ford keeps moving.
Manres postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Manres looking to sit in guard and control but Ford gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ford wants to control from the top but Manres keeps moving.
Manres looking for a sweep. Not yet Manres, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ford wants to control from the top but Manres keeps moving.
Ford is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Max Ford just wasn't active enough.
Nice shot by Ford.
Manres shoots for a double leg takedown but Ford sprawls well. He's pushed Manres's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ford misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manres avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Ford is looking to slow Manres down with leg kicks.

Manres closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ford blocking the ground and pound attempt from Manres.
Ford blocking the ground and pound attempt from Manres.
Ford is trying to control but can't.
Ford is refusing to be controlled, as Manres sits in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ford wants to control but Manres is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ford is trying to get back to full guard.
Manres is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manres is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ford has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ford controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Manres is controlling the pace.
Ford avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Manres.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manres is looking to advance position but Ford won't allow it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Manres shoots in and drives through. Ford sprawls well.
Ford throws a body punch but Manres moves out of range.
Ford throws a low kick but Manres avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ford swings for the body but Manres moves out of range.
Ford throws a front kick aimed at Manres's knee but Manres avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludwig Manres showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ford swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Manres takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ludwig Manres is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ford throws a head kick that misses.
Ford scores with a crisp jab that stopped Manres in his tracks.
Manres tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ford swivels and escapes.
Ford throws a leg kick but Manres sees it coming and moves out of range.
Manres with a poor takedown
and Ford makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ford throws a low kick but Manres moves out of range easily.
Ford shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Manres as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manres manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ford on his heels. He'll look to pass Ford's guard now, I'm sure.
Manres works over Ford with some ground and pound from guard.
Manres preventing the sweep.
Ludwig Manres has got the better of the ground game so far.
Manres works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Manres is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Ford!
Manres wants to control the pace but Ford is squirming around nicely.
BOOM! Manres connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Manres with shots to the head and body - Ford looks very uncomfortable down there.
Max Ford has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Manres unloads with some shots from mount but Ford bucks and avoids them well.
Manres looking to finish Ford with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ford!

Manres is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ford has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ford!
Ford wants to control from the top but Manres keeps moving.

Manres looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ford passes into side control.
We've been hearing that Ford has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ford wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manres keeps working.
Ford is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Manres will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Manres is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ford throwing shots but Manres is blocking nicely.
Ford thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Manres's head.
Ford has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ford scores with a couple of good head shots there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Max Ford.
I think Manres 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ludwig Manres!
In defeat, Max Ford stepped up to the mic, saying 'I guess it was because the guy is significantly better than me at everything.'.