PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Konstantin Manison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Christmas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manison comes into the arena with Wherever I May Roam blaring out of the sound system. Christmas has chosen Enea Vollare Mezzo as his entrance music. Konstantin Manison had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Manison
vs
Christmas

185 cm
22
200 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
196 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Good elbows
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160
Bellum Dominum

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 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Konstantin Manison!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Christmas!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manison misses with a few strikes there.
Christmas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manison lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Christmas circles away quickly and effectively.
Manison blocks the body kick.
Manison swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Manison misses with a series of wild punches.
Christmas has a takedown stuffed.
Christmas closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

It looks like John Christmas has been cut.
Manison throws a combination that misses
and Christmas counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Manison misses with a series of wild punches.

Christmas shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Manison is trying to defend but Christmas finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Christmas is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manison wants to get back to full guard.
Manison is not content to let Christmas control the position.
Christmas is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Manison is not content to let Christmas control the position.
Manison trying to control here.
Christmas prevents Manison from standing back up.
Christmas scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Christmas missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Christmas is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Manison is just riding it out for now. Christmas eventually gives up the hold.
Christmas stops Manison from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Christmas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Manison is looking to escape.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Christmas trying to control the action but Manison is working from the bottom.
Manison is trying to stand.
Christmas is trying to control. Manison wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Christmas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Manison defending well though.

Christmas is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manison wants to get back to his feet.
Manison is looking to control Christmas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Manison avoid being mounted?
Manison avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Christmas.
Manison knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Christmas on the ground.
Christmas stops Manison from getting back to his feet.
Manison tries to roll over but Christmas keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manison is working hard here to advance position.
Manison pushes Christmas off but Christmas dives into side control.
Christmas wants to control but Manison is keeping him busy.
Christmas throws a strike aimed at the side of Manison's head but Manison avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christmas working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Christmas working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Christmas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
My spies in Ironfist Athletics inform me that Christmas has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Christmas tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Christmas has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Christmas is looking to take a break and control but Manison is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Manison is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Christmas has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Christmas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Christmas's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Christmas shoots in and drives through. Manison sprawls well.
Christmas misses with a looping right.
No joy there for Manison, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Manison lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Christmas throws a hook to the side of Manison's head but Manison sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Manison misses with a wild combination.
Manison throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Christmas drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Christmas trying to control but Manison is working from the bottom.
Manison manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Christmas regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manison is thwarting Christmas's attempts to control the position.
Christmas moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Christmas throws his legs up looking for a submission but Manison uses it to pass to side control.

Manison has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Christmas lands the left hand.

It looks like Konstantin Manison has been cut.

Christmas forces Manison back against the cage and clinches.
Christmas keeps control of Manison as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Christmas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Christmas drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Manison gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Manison's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manison looks to land a combination but Christmas avoids it well.
Manison will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Manison getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manison misses with a few strikes there.
Christmas takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Manison closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Christmas closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Manison did well to prevent Christmas getting side control.
Christmas wants to control but Manison is keeping him busy.
Christmas has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Christmas stops Manison from getting back to his feet.
Christmas uses his free foot to push down on Manison's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Manison.
Christmas lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christmas trying to control but Manison is having none of it.
Christmas working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Christmas is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Manison can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Christmas avoids the attempt from Manison to control.
Manison is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Christmas controlling the position easily from mount.

Manison bucks Christmas off and manages to get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manison swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Christmas is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Manison's half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Christmas is trying to work for a kimura but Manison is defending well.
Manison looks like he's trying to stand up.
Manison tries to roll over but Christmas keeps him under control.
Christmas working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Christmas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Christmas performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Christmas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Christmas slips a jab and a cross from Manison.
Manison fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Manison misses with the combination.
Manison scores with a crisp jab that stopped Christmas in his tracks.
Manison fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Christmas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Manison misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Manison rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Christmas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Manison lands a head shot.
Christmas doesn't manage to clinch there - Manison circles away.
Christmas swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Manison throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Christmas just misses with a punch to the body.
Manison fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Manison lands a body shot.
Manison looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Christmas dives in for a single leg takedown but Manison sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Christmas tries to pull guard but Manison holds him up against the cage and eventually Christmas drops back down to his feet.
Christmas keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Manison's efforts to push away.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Manison is trying to break the clinch but Christmas is controlling him.

Christmas manages to break the clinch.
Manison will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Manison thows a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manison will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Manison uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Christmas has time to react.
Konstantin Manison is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manison throws a right and a left that both miss.
Manison connects with a good right hand that stumbles Christmas. Christmas circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Konstantin Manison is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A decent looking cross lands there for Manison.
Christmas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Konstantin Manison has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Christmas.
Manison lands with a nice body punch.

Christmas rushes Manison and presses him up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Christmas has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Manison after a bit of a struggle.
Manison wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Christmas has him pressed against the cage.
Manison prevents a takedown attempt there.
Christmas tries to pull guard but Manison holds him up against the cage and eventually Christmas drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manison can't break the clinch.

Manison breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Manison misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Manison.
Manison looks to land a combination but Christmas avoids it well.
Christmas thumps Manison with a low kick.
Christmas on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Manison swinging wildly here.
We've been told by Manison's head coaches at St Petersburg MMA Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manison misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manison throws a right and a left that both miss.
Christmas is looking to score with low kicks.
Manison uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Christmas.
Christmas misses with the combination.
Christmas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Manison.
A telegraphed right hand from Christmas misses the target.
Christmas is looking to clinch.
Christmas is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Manison with a nice cross.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Manison jabs Christmas to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Manison throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Christmas fails with the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Konstantin Manison showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Christmas 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for John Christmas!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for John Christmas!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for John Christmas!

John Christmas wins by unanimous decision!
A victorious John Christmas thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.