PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between XZ Mann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Ortega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). XZ Mann could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Miguel Ortega's chin.

Mann
vs
Ortega

225 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

160 cm
24
134 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, XZ Mann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Miguel Ortega!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Daniel Franklin and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ortega misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mann shoots in and drives through. Ortega sprawls well.
Mann changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ortega tries to avoid it but Mann manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ortega to the ground. Ortega escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mann misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ortega.
Mann tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ortega manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Mann. No joy for Ortega on that attempt.
Ortega dives in for a single leg takedown but Mann sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
XZ Mann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Ortega.
Mann is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ortega to keep the fight standing.
Mann prevents a takedown attempt there.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortega missing with knees to the body.

Mann breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mann fails with a takedown attempt.
Ortega is looking to clinch but Mann is avoiding it.
Mann tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ortega swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ortega tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mann swivels and escapes.
Mann connects with a high kick.
Mann shoots in for a takedown but Ortega shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Mann tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ortega walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ortega shoots for a takedown but Mann saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mann tries to clinch but Ortega moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Mann as Ortega shoots in.
Ortega fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ortega shoots in but Mann avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ortega or perhaps it was just good defense by Mann, which made it look bad.
Mann throws a head kick but Ortega moves out of range.
Ortega shoots in but no luck this time.
Ortega darts in looking for a takedown but Mann gets double underhooks and turns Ortega into the cage.
Ortega looks winded!
Ortega tries to throw a body punch but Mann avoids it by throwing Ortega back against the cage.

Mann breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mann fails with a takedown attempt.
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!
Mann fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mann really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mann shoots for a double leg takedown but Ortega sprawls well. He's pushed Mann's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mann fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ortega tries for a takedown but Mann sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ortega fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mann throws a head kick but Ortega moves out of range.
Ortega will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A head kick misses from Mann.
Mann scores with a hook to the body. Ortega takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ortega tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mann swivels and escapes.
Mann fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mann wants to clinch up but Ortega keeps it at a distance.
Miguel Ortega seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ortega tries to clinch but Mann is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortega shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mann pinned against the cage. Mann gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mann connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ortega keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ortega looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mann ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ortega moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ortega clinches.
Mann is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ortega is defending well.
Mann tries to pull guard but Ortega forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

XZ Mann dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mann pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mann fails with a takedown attempt.
Ortega misses with a takedown attempt - Mann sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mann shoots in for a double leg but Ortega sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ortega fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ortega bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Ortega throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ortega darts in looking for a takedown but Mann gets double underhooks and turns Ortega into the cage.

Ortega breaks the clinch.
Mann shoots in looking for a takedown but Ortega manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mann's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for XZ Mann. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice takedown defense from Ortega. No joy for Mann on that attempt.
Ortega shoots in looking for a takedown. Mann tries to sprawl out of it but Ortega keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mann manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mann closes the distance and clinches.
Mann is trying to pull guard but Ortega turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Ortega wants to take the fight to the mat but Mann manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ortega using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mann has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Mann gets control of Ortega's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mann will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mann will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ortega trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mann has control of Ortega's left arm, preventing Ortega from doing any damage.
Ortega wants to pass the guard but Mann is keeping the position.
Ortega must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mann has his foot on Ortega's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ortega works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mann tries to strike from the bottom.

Ortega stands and steps away. Mann gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Ortega tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Mann manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
XZ Mann is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ortega tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mann swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ortega avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Mann. No joy for Ortega on that attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ortega is defended easily by Mann.
Mann dives in for a single leg takedown but Ortega sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mann tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mann keeps control of Ortega as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Ortega successfully pulls guard.
Ortega has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ortega wants to stand up but Mann is controlling him.
Mann trying to control the position from guard on top but Ortega is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.

Mann drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mann jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ortega wants to sweep here but Mann controlling him for the moment.
Mann not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ortega manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mann manages to get himself to full guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Ortega showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ortega misses with a head kick.
XZ Mann is winning the standup battle so far.
Mann scoring well with a low kick there.
Mann fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ortega tries to clinch but Mann moves out of range.
Ortega closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mann circles away.
Ortega looks for a takedown but Mann sprawls well.
Mann dives in for a single leg takedown but Ortega sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mann is trying to force a seperation but Ortega has the dominant position.
Mann misses with a body punch.
Mann stops a takedown attempt from Ortega.
XZ Mann has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miguel Ortega.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mann digs a right hand underneath Ortega's ribcage. Ortega let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Mann tries to pull guard but Ortega holds him up against the cage and eventually Mann drops back down to his feet.
Ortega is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ortega takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Mann breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Mann with that takedown attempt.
Ortega throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mann's waist but Mann gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ortega off to one side.
Ortega has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Ortega will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mann tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ortega just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mann stalling in the clinch but Ortega improves position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Ortega fails to land.
Mann jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ortega walks away with a smile on his face. Mann gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ortega avoids the head kick by Mann.

Ortega instigates a clinch.

Mann's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
No luck for Mann with that takedown attempt.
Ortega defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mann.
Ortega shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mann but Mann pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ortega is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mann sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ortega fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ortega takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ortega throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mann's waist but Mann gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ortega off to one side.
Mann moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mann is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ortega can do to turn this around?
Mann shoots in for a takedown but Ortega shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ortega darts in looking for a takedown but Mann gets double underhooks and turns Ortega into the cage.

Mann jumps into guard, dragging Ortega to the mat.
Mann is trying to control the position but Ortega postures up.
Mann is wriggling around but Ortega manages to pass to half guard.
Mann trying to hold on to Ortega's head to control him but Ortega postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ortega not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mann is staying active underneath Ortega, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ortega is pressing down on Mann's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mann is holding on for now.

Ortega is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ortega is thwarting Mann's attempts to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
XZ Mann showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mann has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... XZ Mann!
After the fight, XZ Mann was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.