PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Taite Laiveta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Federico Manta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manta is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Ultima Corsa by Mondo Marcio. Taite Laiveta could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Federico Manta's chin.

Laiveta
vs
Manta

190 cm
28
175 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

177 cm
21
168 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Taite Laiveta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Federico Manta!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Laiveta.
Laiveta connects with a leg kick. Manta looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Manta 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.
Manta takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Manta swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Manta walks forward, straight into a front kick from Laiveta.
Manta blocks a head kick by Laiveta.
Manta takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Federico Manta has been cut.
Manta lands with a shot to the body.
Laiveta throws a sloppy head kick and Manta moves out of range easily.
Manta ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Manta misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laiveta.
Manta cracks a nice hook into Laiveta's ribs.
Laiveta takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Manta checks a low kick from Laiveta.
Manta digs a good body shot into Laiveta's ribs.
Manta ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Manta with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manta takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Laiveta on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Laiveta looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Manta blocks a head kick by Laiveta.
Laiveta looks to land a body kick but Manta moved away.
Laiveta throws a lazy head kick

and Manta counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Laiveta on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Laiveta tries to get out of the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Laiveta keeping full guard, as Manta tries to pass.
Manta sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Manta passes Laiveta's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laiveta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manta performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Manta missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Manta sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Manta not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manta seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laiveta keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Manta is taking a breather. Laiveta 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.
Manta frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Manta tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Manta landing strikes, looking to finish!
Manta lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laiveta tries to hold on but Manta postures up.
Manta breaks from Laiveta's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manta has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Laiveta's face.
Manta content just to control the position here.
Manta's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Laiveta is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Federico Manta dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Federico Manta's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Manta swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Manta is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Laiveta rather than just go for the knockout.
Manta loads up on a big right hand but Laiveta slips the punch.
Manta tries to bum rush Laiveta with a series of wild strikes but Laiveta uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Taite Laiveta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laiveta throws a low kick but Manta avoids it.
Laiveta connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Taite Laiveta is winning the standup battle so far.
Laiveta on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Laiveta ducks under a wild hook from Manta.
Manta connects with a right hand. Laiveta shakes it off.
Laiveta pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manta thows a body shot but no joy.
Laiveta throws a wild body kick that Manta sees coming a mile off.
Manta throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Laiveta.
Laiveta motions for Manta to come forward. Laiveta throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nice body kick from Laiveta.
Laiveta throws a solid leg kick but Manta takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Laiveta.
Laiveta misses with a leg kick

and Manta counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Laiveta's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manta landing some decent shots from guard.
Federico Manta has got the better of the ground game so far.
Laiveta utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Manta 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.
Manta trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Laiveta preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Manta content to stall in guard here.
Manta throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manta stays in close to Laiveta's body and controls the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Federico Manta.
Laiveta lands with a nice body kick.
Manta scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manta works Laiveta's body with a nice hook.
Manta throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Laiveta.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Laiveta misses.
Laiveta delivers a nice body kick.
Laiveta tries to score with a low kick but Manta moves his leg out of the way.
Laiveta tries a low kick but Manta avoids it.
Laiveta lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Laiveta throws out a leg kick but Manta moves out of range and Laiveta only half commits.
Manta moves out of range as Laiveta throws a body kick.
Nice jab there from Manta.
Manta on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Manta misses with a hook. Laiveta ducked under it nicely.
Laiveta lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Manta has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Laiveta.
Manta keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Laiveta tries a head kick but it misses.
Manta lands with an overhand left.
Manta scores with a jab. Laiveta acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Manta thows a body shot but no joy.
Manta blocks a head kick by Laiveta.
Laiveta looks for the body kick but Manta saw that one coming.
Manta digs a good hook to Laiveta's body.
An inside leg kick from Laiveta misses.
Manta scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Manta throws a hook but Laiveta avoids it easily.
Laiveta throws a leg kick but Manta sees it coming and moves out of range.
Laiveta is looking to slow Manta down with leg kicks.
Some bone on bone action there as Manta checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Manta scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Laiveta throws a low kick but Manta avoids it.
Manta lands a jab to Laiveta's midsection.
Laiveta pulls out of a head kick attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Federico Manta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Federico Manta's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Manta lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Sloppy strikes from Manta. Those never looked like landing.
Manta misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Laiveta.
Laiveta pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manta swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Manta.
Laiveta throws a head kick that misses.
Manta throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Laiveta on the side of the head.
Laiveta throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Manta swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Laiveta.
Laiveta lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A decent looking cross lands there for Manta.
Laiveta tries to work over Manta's front leg with a kick but Manta checks it.
Manta lands a really nice looking cross but Laiveta seems unphased.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laiveta pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manta ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Laiveta moves away.
Laiveta takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Manta changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Laiveta. Manta shrugs it off though.
Manta fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A low kick from Laiveta is predictable there

and Manta counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Laiveta's guard now.
Manta missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manta's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Manta slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
You can see the frustration on Laiveta's face as Manta controls the position.
Federico Manta is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Manta has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Federico Manta was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A right-left combo lands from Manta.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Manta!
Laiveta takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Laiveta pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Laiveta is looking to land body kicks.
Manta lands a nice looking body shot.
Laiveta looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Manta tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Laiveta was well out of range. Poor timing from Manta.
Laiveta misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Laiveta throws a head kick but Manta moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laiveta does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Laiveta shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A head kick misses from Laiveta.
Laiveta ducks right into an uppercut from Manta.
Laiveta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Manta looks to land a combination. Laiveta sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Manta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Laiveta manages to avoid it.
Taite Laiveta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Laiveta displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Manta throws out the jab.
A low kick from Laiveta misses

and Manta counters with a nice double leg into side control. Laiveta won't be happy with that.
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!
Laiveta tries to control but Manta manages to take his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manta really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Laiveta.

And that's the end of the fight!
Federico Manta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Manta 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Federico Manta!
Federico Manta seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.