PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Freddy Briggs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reina Manuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Briggs
vs
Manuel

213 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Freddy Briggs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Reina Manuel!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manuel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Briggs as he avoids it easily.
Manuel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Briggs counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Briggs.
Manuel goes for a takedown attempt but Briggs pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Freddy Briggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reina Manuel.
Manuel with a lazy takedown attempt

and Briggs counters by clinching up.

Briggs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Manuel pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Manuel changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Briggs tries to avoid it but Manuel manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Briggs to the ground. Briggs escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Manuel misses with a takedown
and Briggs counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Manuel is lucky that one didn't land flush.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Manuel has eaten all the pies!

Briggs moves into the clinch.
Manuel has Briggs pressed against the cage, preventing Briggs from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Manuel tries to circle away but Briggs has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel has Briggs pressed against the cage, preventing Briggs from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Manuel.
Manuel jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Briggs walks away with a smile on his face. Manuel gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Manuel moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Briggs lands a jab to the nose.
Manuel throws a head kick but Briggs moves out of range.
Manuel fails with the takedown.
Manuel looks winded!
Manuel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Briggs manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Briggs displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Manuel.

Briggs gets a takedown into half guard.

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.
Nice strikes from Briggs there.
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!
Briggs tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Briggs missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Briggs looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Briggs stands up and beckons Manuel to join him on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel shoots in looking for a takedown. Briggs tries to sprawl out of it but Manuel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Briggs manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Manuel tries to clinch but Briggs moves away

and Briggs counters by moving into the clinch.
Briggs misses with a short punch on the inside.
Briggs is struggling to control the position.
Manuel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Briggs backwards.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Manuel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Briggs. Those never looked like landing.
Manuel checks a leg kick nicely.
Manuel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Briggs. That did some damage!
Briggs moves to clinch but Manuel breaks away

and Manuel counters by clinching up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manuel is trying to drag Briggs to the mat but Briggs just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A bit of stalling here from Manuel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Freddy Briggs dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Briggs fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Manuel manages to avoid it.
Reina Manuel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Briggs throws a head kick but Manuel moves out of range.
Manuel tries to close the distance and clinch but Briggs swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Manuel shoots in for a double leg but Briggs sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Manuel.
Manuel is looking to clinch but Briggs is avoiding it.
Briggs throws a leg kick that is checked

and Manuel counters by moving into the clinch.
Manuel tries to pull guard but Briggs forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Briggs swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Briggs misses with a punch on the inside.
Briggs looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Briggs stalling the fight.

Manuel pulls Briggs into guard.
Briggs wants to stand but Manuel has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Manuel is working an open guard so Briggs takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Manuel fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Freddy Briggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reina Manuel.
Manuel misses with a takedown
and Briggs counters with an outside leg kick.
Manuel is breathing heavily.

Manuel closes the distance and clinches.
Manuel has Briggs pressed against the cage, preventing Briggs from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Briggs has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Manuel uses from the top position.
Manuel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Manuel stops Briggs from standing up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Briggs is on top in guard.
Briggs tries to stand but Manuel is controlling from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manuel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Manuel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Briggs. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Manuel manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Briggs somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel misses with a takedown attempt

and Briggs counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Briggs.
Manuel fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Manuel is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Briggs breaks from the clinch.
Briggs misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Briggs manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Manuel on his heels. He'll look to pass Manuel's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Briggs postures up.
Manuel pulls Briggs in close to prevent any damage.

Briggs avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel is trying to hold Briggs in close to prevent damage but Briggs has managed to pass into half guard.
Manuel trying to control but Briggs postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Briggs seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Manuel misses with a takedown

and Briggs moves into the clinch.
Come on Manuel - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Manuel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Manuel tries to clinch up

and Briggs counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Manuel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Manuel is trying to pull guard but Briggs turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Freddy Briggs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reina Manuel.
Manuel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel is trying to stall.
Manuel lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Briggs backwards.

Briggs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Manuel closes the distance and clinches.
Manuel is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Briggs is defending well.
Manuel manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Briggs's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Manuel throws a jab when Briggs was well out of range.

Manuel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Briggs, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Briggs misses with some punches.
Freddy Briggs has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Manuel goes for a takedown in the clinch but Briggs prevents it.
Briggs tries to circle away but Manuel has him pinned against the cage.
Briggs wants to break the clinch but can't.
Manuel looking to stall.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Briggs's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Manuel has his takedown stuffed

and Briggs counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Briggs.
A frustrated look appears on Briggs's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Briggs tries to break the clinch but Manuel is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manuel breaks from the clinch.
Manuel throws a chopping leg kick but Briggs manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Manuel wants to clinch up but Briggs keeps it at a distance.

Briggs drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Briggs stands and steps away. Manuel gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Briggs takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Manuel misses with a takedown attempt - Briggs sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Briggs closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Briggs has Manuel pushed against the cage.
Briggs gets underhooks to prevent Manuel's takedown attempt.
Come on Briggs - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Briggs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Manuel wants to clinch.
Manuel has his takedown stuffed

and Briggs counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Reina Manuel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Freddy Briggs is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Manuel swings away with an uppercut that misses.

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 Freddy Briggs.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Briggs, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Freddy Briggs!