PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Toni Manel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harald Friedricksen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manel comes to the cage accompanied by A Portuguesa. Friedricksen has chosen The Pursuit of Vikings by Amon Amarth as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Manel
vs
Friedricksen

190 cm
27
250 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

198 cm
30
275 lbs
20 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Master Lee's One Stop
Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

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 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Toni Manel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Harald Friedricksen!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Alyssa Summers and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Friedricksen scores with a punch to the head.
Friedricksen misses with a body kick.
Manel has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Manel checks a leg kick.
Harald Friedricksen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Friedricksen slaps away a takedown attempt from Manel, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A clash of legs there as Manel blocks the low kick.
Manel needs to keep his hands up - Friedricksen had a free shot at his head there.
Manel blocks a head kick by Friedricksen.

Manel shoots in and gets a takedown into Friedricksen's guard.
Manel throws a big right hand that misses.
Friedricksen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Manel stays in close to Friedricksen's body and controls the position.
Friedricksen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Manel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Manel looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Manel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Friedricksen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friedricksen is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Manel sitting in guard here, content to control.
Manel is working Friedricksen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Manel postures up in Friedricksen's guard and throws a big left but Friedricksen blocks it.
Manel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Manel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Friedricksen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manel trying to control but Friedricksen is working from the bottom.
Friedricksen controlling the position.
Manel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Manel trying to control but Friedricksen is working from the bottom.
Manel is really struggling to control Friedricksen but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Manel has his takedown stuffed
and Friedricksen makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Manel really felt that one!
Manel throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Friedricksen's waist but Friedricksen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manel off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toni Manel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manel ducks under a wild hook from Friedricksen.
Manel shoots for a takedown but Friedricksen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Friedricksen throws a shot from downtown. Manel moves away and avoids it.
Friedricksen misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Manel counters with a takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Friedricksen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Friedricksen sneaks back into half guard.
Manel prevents Friedricksen from improving his position.
Friedricksen gets full guard.
Friedricksen 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.
Manel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Friedricksen is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manel passes into half guard.
Manel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Friedricksen keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Friedricksen is trying to get back to full guard.
Friedricksen gets full guard.
Manel wants to pass the guard but Friedricksen is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Friedricksen controls Manel momentarily but Manel frees himself.
Friedricksen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Manel puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Friedricksen keeps working.
Friedricksen wants to improve his position but Manel is controlling well.
Friedricksen controlling the position for now.
Manel takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Friedricksen keeping hold of Manel's head, controlling as best he can.
Manel has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Manel trying to control the action but Friedricksen is working from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Manel there.
Manel is taking a breather. Friedricksen 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Friedricksen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Manel scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nice strikes from Manel there.
Manel looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toni Manel dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Friedricksen tries to clinch up.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Manel checks a leg kick.

Manel changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Friedricksen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Manel here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Friedricksen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Manel keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Manel regains full guard. Nicely done.
Manel looking to control.
Friedricksen preventing the sweep.
Manel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Friedricksen trying to control but Manel is working from the bottom.
Friedricksen stopping the sweep attempt from Manel.
Manel is pulling down on Friedricksen's head to control his posture.
Friedricksen stopping the sweep attempt from Manel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manel is working hard here to advance position.
Friedricksen controlling from the top position.
Manel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Friedricksen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Manel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manel trying to control the position.
Friedricksen won't allow Manel to sweep him here.
Friedricksen stays in close to Manel's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Manel throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Friedricksen was covering up waiting for the punch and Manel finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friedricksen has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Manel has passed into side control.
Friedricksen tries to buck Manel off but Manel is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Friedricksen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Manel is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Friedricksen can do to turn this around?
Friedricksen is looking to regain half guard here but Manel keeps moving and retains side control.
Friedricksen is still trying to improve position.
Manel landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Manel misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Friedricksen taking punishment in the form of punches.
Friedricksen is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Manel lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Friedricksen is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manel scores with a couple of short elbows.
Manel in side control, throwing shots but Friedricksen defends.
Friedricksen tries to buck Manel off but Manel is having none of it.
Manel scoring with punches and elbows.
Manel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Friedricksen keeps working.
Friedricksen is trying to get back to half guard.
Manel tries to move to mount but Friedricksen blocks the move with his legs.
Manel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Friedricksen keeps working.
Friedricksen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friedricksen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Manel scores with a couple of nice shots.
Friedricksen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Manel is controlling the pace.
Friedricksen wants to improve his position but Manel is controlling well.
Friedricksen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Manel's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Manel's back!
Friedricksen avoiding Manel 's attempts to control his hands.
Manel is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Manel trying to control the position but Friedricksen manages to sink in the hooks.
Manel is keeping busy.
Friedricksen controlling from the back.
Friedricksen is not going to allow Manel to sit and survive in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toni Manel dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Manel dives in and grabs Friedricksen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Friedricksen pushes down on Manel's head and hops out.
Friedricksen misses with the body kick

and Manel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Manel.
Manel is working Friedricksen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Manel postures up.
Toni Manel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Friedricksen looking for a sweep. Not yet Friedricksen, not yet.
Manel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Friedricksen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Friedricksen pulls Manel in close to prevent any damage.
Manel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Friedricksen is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manel stopping the sweep attempt from Friedricksen.
Friedricksen keeping moving, preventing Manel from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Manel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Friedricksen looking for a sweep. Not yet Friedricksen, not yet.
Manel trying to control the position from guard on top but Friedricksen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Friedricksen working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Manel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Manel.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toni Manel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Friedricksen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Manel has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Friedricksen throws a push kick but Manel slaps the foot to one side.
Manel tries to score a power double leg takedown but Friedricksen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Manel somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friedricksen is looking to score with low kicks.
Manel blocks a low kick nicely.

Manel closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Manel lands in his opponent's guard.
Manel looking to pass the guard.
Friedricksen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Manel 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.
Manel working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friedricksen pulls Manel in close to prevent any damage.
Manel trying to control but Friedricksen is working from the bottom.
Friedricksen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Friedricksen is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Manel trying to control but Friedricksen is working from the bottom.
Manel cracks Friedricksen with a solid left hand.
Manel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Friedricksen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Manel is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Friedricksen trying to control the position.
Manel distracts Friedricksen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Toni Manel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Manel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Friedricksen's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Friedricksen trying to control the position here.
Manel trying to control but Friedricksen is working from the bottom.
Manel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Manel scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Friedricksen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Manel controls from within his opponent's guard.
Manel trying to control but Friedricksen is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Manel throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toni Manel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Manel, 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toni Manel!
Toni Manel thanked the fans post fight for their support.