PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sebastien Deveraux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manu Tuilagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Deveraux
vs
Tuilagi

186 cm
36
176 lbs
22 - 7 - 0

174 cm
27
183 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very strong

Excellent grappler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

HERITAGE Threads
Kore Fight Nutrition [TG]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sebastien Deveraux!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manu Tuilagi!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Micheangelo Fripello and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tuilagi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Tuilagi throws out a leg kick but Deveraux moves out of range and Tuilagi only half commits.
Deveraux tests Tuilagi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Deveraux misses with a shot to the body
and Tuilagi counters with a thumping low kick.
Tuilagi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Deveraux.
Deveraux falls off balance throwing a combination

and Tuilagi counters with a shoot takedown. Deveraux fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tuilagi scoring with some ground and pound.
Tuilagi looking to pass the guard.
My spies in Brown House inform me that Tuilagi has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Tuilagi stopping the sweep attempt from Deveraux.
Deveraux preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Deveraux has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Tuilagi throws a strike but Deveraux rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Deveraux will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuilagi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Tuilagi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tuilagi is looking to work some ground and pound but Deveraux has wrist control.
Tuilagi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tuilagi working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tuilagi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tuilagi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deveraux controls Tuilagi momentarily but Tuilagi frees himself.
Tuilagi stopping the sweep attempt from Deveraux.
Tuilagi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tuilagi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tuilagi throws a big right hand that misses.
Tuilagi is looking to work some ground and pound but Deveraux has wrist control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tuilagi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Tuilagi staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuilagi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Deveraux throws an overhand right that lands on Tuilagi's shoulder, as Tuilagi tries to avoid the shot.
Tuilagi fails with the takedown
enabling Deveraux to counter with a crisp jab.
Tuilagi lands a right hook to the body.
Deveraux throws a poor cross that misses

and Tuilagi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Deveraux won't be happy with that.
Tuilagi works to advance to full mount. Deveraux defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Tuilagi lands a couple of good shots and Deveraux has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tuilagi throwing strikes and Deveraux squirms under the pressure, ending up mounted.
Tuilagi misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Tuilagi.
Tuilagi throwing strikes here but Deveraux is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Tuilagi landing strikes, looking to finish!
Deveraux avoids a series of strikes thrown by Tuilagi.
Deveraux takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Tuilagi controlling the pace for now.
Tuilagi throwing strikes but Deveraux uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Deveraux tries to get to full guard but Tuilagi has control of the leg.
Tuilagi is thwarting Deveraux's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Tuilagi dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tuilagi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Deveraux checks it well.
Deveraux misses with a wild combination.
Tuilagi checks a low kick from Deveraux.
Tuilagi staying out of range there.
Tuilagi tries a head kick but it misses.
Deveraux works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tuilagi avoids the body shot from Deveraux.
Tuilagi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Deveraux throws out the jab.
Tuilagi on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Tuilagi on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuilagi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Tuilagi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Deveraux uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tuilagi.
Sebastien Deveraux is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tuilagi slips a straight right by Deveraux.
Sebastien Deveraux seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tuilagi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Deveraux is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Deveraux misses with an uppercut. Tuilagi saw that one coming.
Deveraux throws an off balance right hand

and Tuilagi counters with a takedown into side control.
Deveraux is not content to let Tuilagi control the position.
Tuilagi throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Deveraux works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Tuilagi throws a strike but Deveraux avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deveraux not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tuilagi tries to free his leg and advance position but Deveraux is retaining full guard.
Tuilagi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tuilagi looking to sit in guard and control but Deveraux gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

This has been an exciting period of action!

Tuilagi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tuilagi is trying to hold Deveraux in close to prevent damage but Deveraux has managed to pass into half guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Tuilagi misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuilagi trying to control here.

Tuilagi looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tuilagi tries to get to full guard but Deveraux has control of the leg.
Nice strikes from Deveraux there.
Deveraux wants to control but Tuilagi is keeping him busy.
Tuilagi trying to hold on to Deveraux's head to control him but Deveraux postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tuilagi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tuilagi wants to sweep here but Deveraux controlling him for the moment.
Tuilagi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tuilagi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Deveraux trying to control but Tuilagi is working from the bottom.
Deveraux is in close to Tuilagi's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Deveraux in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Tuilagi is looking for a triangle but Deveraux pushes his legs off easily.
Tuilagi controls Deveraux momentarily but Deveraux frees himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Deveraux is working Tuilagi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tuilagi throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sebastien Deveraux 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.

Deveraux looks to land a left hand but Tuilagi moved out of range nicely.
Deveraux misses with an uppercut
and Tuilagi counters with a big head kick but Deveraux shrugs it off.
Tuilagi moves forwards but Deveraux connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Deveraux connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tuilagi momentarily.
Deveraux throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Deveraux tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tuilagi or perhaps it was just good defense by Deveraux, which made it look bad.
Deveraux misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The crowd cheers as Deveraux lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tuilagi doesn't seem phased though.
Tuilagi slips a jab and a cross from Deveraux.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deveraux misses with a lunging right hand

and Tuilagi counters with a single leg into guard. Deveraux didn't expect that.
Tuilagi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Tuilagi in side control lands a decent elbow.
You can see the frustration on Deveraux's face as Tuilagi controls the position.
Deveraux avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Tuilagi.
Tuilagi lands some shots froms side control.
Deveraux tries to bench press Tuilagi off him but Tuilagi keeps the position.
Tuilagi trying to control the position but Deveraux is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuilagi in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Tuilagi trying to control the action but Deveraux is working from the bottom.
Tuilagi moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Tuilagi throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tuilagi cracks Deveraux with a big right hand but Deveraux just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Tuilagi moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Tuilagi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Deveraux is trying to control Tuilagi's posture but Tuilagi avoids it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Deveraux swings widly with a right hand
letting Tuilagi counter with a right hand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Deveraux throws a sloppy head kick and Tuilagi moves out of range easily.
Tuilagi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Tuilagi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Deveraux.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Tuilagi really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tuilagi throws a low kick, looking for Deveraux's leg but Deveraux calmly moves out of range.
Deveraux is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Deveraux misses with a hook. Tuilagi ducked under it nicely.
Deveraux paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Deveraux throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Tuilagi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Deveraux won't be happy with that.
Tuilagi cracks Deveraux with a big right hand but Deveraux just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Tuilagi is working Deveraux over with some ground and pound from side control.
Tuilagi wants to control but Deveraux is keeping him busy.
Sloppy strikes there by Tuilagi.
Deveraux is trying to control Tuilagi's posture but Tuilagi avoids it.
A control attempt from Deveraux but he's now mounted!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deveraux holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Tuilagi tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Tuilagi landing strikes from the mount.
Deveraux blocking the ground and pound.
Tuilagi lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Tuilagi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Tuilagi wants to control the pace but Deveraux is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Deveraux taking shots to the head.
Deveraux is trying desperately to improve position.
Tuilagi with a couple of short strikes.
Tuilagi landing punches.
Tuilagi working away from the top, dropping strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tuilagi scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Tuilagi punishing his opponent with strikes.

Deveraux is rocked!
Tuilagi breaks from Deveraux's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Oh Deveraux is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Tuilagi postures up and lands a whopping elbow - oh that's hurt Deveraux bigstyle! Two more strikes land for Tuilagi and the fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Manu Tuilagi!
Manu Tuilagi very nearly forgot to thank Kore Fight Nutrition [TG] amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.