PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Povetkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Mangold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mangold has chosen Dead Prez as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Povetkin
vs
Mangold

185 cm
38
178 lbs
31 - 15 - 1

190 cm
37
220 lbs
18 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Alexander Povetkin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Danny Mangold!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Povetkin throws out a loose jab but Mangold uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mangold shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Povetkin but Povetkin pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Povetkin 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.
Povetkin tries to work over Mangold's front leg with a kick but Mangold checks it.
Povetkin punishes Mangold's body with a nice straight punch.
Povetkin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Mangold gets a takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Povetkin is pressing down on Mangold's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mangold with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mangold in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Povetkin is on top in guard.

Mangold looking for subs off his back but Povetkin has passed one foot through into half guard.

Mangold looking for submissions off his back.
Povetkin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mangold wants to control but Povetkin passes into side.
Mangold manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Povetkin is looking to take a break and control but Mangold is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Mangold looking for submissions off his back.

Mangold looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Mangold uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Povetkin sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Mangold throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Mangold escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Povetkin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mangold keeping moving, preventing Povetkin from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mangold has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Povetkin has passed into side control.
Mangold tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mangold is trying to control Povetkin's posture but Povetkin avoids it.
Povetkin happy to just control the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Povetkin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mangold shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Povetkin as he jumps to the side.
Povetkin leaves Mangold with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Povetkin misses with a right hand
and Mangold counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mangold dives in and grabs Povetkin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Povetkin pushes down on Mangold's head and hops out.
Alexander Povetkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Mangold.
Povetkin lands a leg kick that knocks Mangold off balance momentarily.
Alexander Povetkin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Povetkin will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Povetkin scores with a jab to the jaw.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mangold looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Povetkin throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mangold doesn't manage to clinch there - Povetkin circles away.
Povetkin cracks Mangold with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Povetkin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sloppy strikes from Povetkin. Those never looked like landing.
Povetkin lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Danny Mangold has been cut.

Mangold closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Povetkin's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Povetkin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Povetkin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mangold loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Povetkin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Povetkin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mangold is looking to work some ground and pound but Povetkin has wrist control.
Mangold postures up and lands a big shot to Povetkin's brow.
Mangold is looking to pass into half guard but Povetkin pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Povetkin is in guard.

Mangold throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Povetkin escapes and throws Mangold's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Mangold tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Povetkin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangold is trying to work for a sweep but Povetkin has mounted him!
Povetkin won't let Mangold get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Mangold working to try and regain half guard.
Danny Mangold has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mangold's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Mangold is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mangold tries to hold on but Povetkin postures up.
Povetkin controlling from the full mount.
Mangold tries to hold on but Povetkin pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mangold can't escape the position.
Mangold tries to lock up and control but Povetkin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Povetkin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Danny Mangold's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Povetkin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Povetkin wants it to stay on the feet.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Povetkin enables Mangold to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Povetkin manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mangold in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Povetkin seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Mangold wants to control from the top but Povetkin keeps moving.
Povetkin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mangold manages to get himself to full guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mangold has an active guard here but Povetkin has managed to pass into half guard.
Povetkin is trying to control the action in half guard but Mangold is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mangold has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Povetkin escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Povetkin!
Mangold is trying to work for a sweep but Povetkin has mounted him!
Povetkin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mangold can't escape the position.
Povetkin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mangold is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin controlling from the full mount.
Mangold tries to lock up and control but Povetkin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mangold is looking to get to half guard.
Mangold wants to control but Povetkin is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangold is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mangold sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Mangold holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Mangold trying to hold on to Povetkin's head to control him but Povetkin postures up.

Mangold actively working from the bottom here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Mangold looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
No luck for Mangold with that takedown attempt.
Mangold on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Mangold with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Povetkin to score with a decent uppercut.

Mangold shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mangold with the ground and pound but Povetkin uses the opportunity to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Povetkin clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Danny Mangold's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mangold is trying hard to land a takedown here. Povetkin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Povetkin feints and then cracks Mangold's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mangold down.
Povetkin thuds his right hand into Mangold's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Povetkin throws a right hand that Mangold ducks under and follows up with a left that Mangold also avoids with ease.
A swing and a miss from Povetkin.
Mangold shoots for a double leg takedown but Povetkin sprawls well. He's pushed Mangold's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A combination from Povetkin does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Povetkin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Povetkin leaves Mangold with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alexander Povetkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Mangold.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mangold is defended easily by Povetkin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mangold avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mangold takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Mangold on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Povetkin leaves Mangold with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mangold takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mangold shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Povetkin sprawls well. Povetkin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mangold gets slowly back to his feet.
Mangold shoots and misses
and Povetkin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mangold is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Povetkin lands a glancing blow to the side of Mangold's head.
Mangold shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Povetkin pinned against the cage. Povetkin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Povetkin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin misses with an uppercut. Mangold saw that one coming.
Povetkin misses with a double jab.
Povetkin scores with a jab to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Povetkin.
Povetkin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Povetkin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Povetkin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Povetkin thumps Mangold with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mangold tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Povetkin counters with a low kick, right behind Mangold 's knee.

Mangold pushes Povetkin up against the cage in a clinch.
Povetkin is looking to break free of the clinch but Mangold has double underhooks.
Mangold's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Mangold misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mangold is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Povetkin is defending well.
Mangold swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Mangold throws a head punch that misses.
Mangold is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Povetkin to keep the fight standing.
Mangold wants to stall.

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

Alexander Povetkin had his way with Danny Mangold in that round.
The cut man is working on Danny Mangold's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mangold looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Mangold shoots in but no luck this time.
Alexander Povetkin is winning the standup battle so far.
Mangold fails to land the takedown.
Mangold throws a hook but Povetkin blocks it.
Povetkin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Povetkin misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mangold takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A punch combination from Povetkin misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Povetkin moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Povetkin throws a jab when Mangold was well out of range.
Povetkin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Povetkin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Povetkin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mangold shoots and misses
and Mangold takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Alexander Povetkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Danny Mangold.
Mangold fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Mangold looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Povetkin's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Mangold has an active guard here but Povetkin has managed to pass into half guard.

Mangold looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Mangold is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Povetkin pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangold wants to control but Povetkin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mangold is looking to improve his position.
Povetkin is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Mangold is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Danny Mangold has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Povetkin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mangold is wriggling around trying to escape.
Povetkin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mangold is looking to escape.
Mangold tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Povetkin content just to control the position here.
Mangold is desperately trying to improve his position but Povetkin has a good base and remains in mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Povetkin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Povetkin, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 50:44
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 50:44
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 50:44

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Povetkin!
Alexander Povetkin is the new super heavyweight champion!
Alexander Povetkin really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that //buriedALIVE// Fight Gear logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.
Danny Mangold spoke after the fight, saying 'I have fallen this once, but I promise to pick myself up again. I will never ever disappoint the millions of my fans again. The road to success is long, but I am a fighter, and I will persevere. '.