PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manu Tuilagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Cabrillo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Tuilagi
vs
Cabrillo

174 cm
29
183 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

177 cm
33
186 lbs
11 - 7 - 1

Great wrestler
Decent elbows
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manu Tuilagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Juan Cabrillo!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Josh West and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cabrillo looks to clinch

and Tuilagi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tuilagi.
Tuilagi is stalling in the full guard.
Tuilagi trying to control but Cabrillo is working from the bottom.
Cabrillo has Tuilagi pulled in close to control his posture.
Tuilagi wants to control from the top but Cabrillo keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabrillo 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.
Cabrillo keeping moving, preventing Tuilagi from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrillo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tuilagi throws a leg kick that is checked
enabling Cabrillo to counter with a crisp jab.
Tuilagi misses with a lunging right hand
and Cabrillo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Cabrillo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Tuilagi circles away from the clinch attempt

and Tuilagi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Tuilagi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tuilagi wants to control from the top but Cabrillo keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabrillo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tuilagi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tuilagi throws a big elbow that misses.
Cabrillo keeping moving, preventing Tuilagi from controlling successfully.
Cabrillo trying to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Cabrillo 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Tuilagi shoots in looking for a takedown but Cabrillo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tuilagi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cabrillo scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cabrillo lands a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabrillo lands with a good body shot.
Cabrillo throws a series of punches but Tuilagi moves out of range.
Tuilagi tries to counter with a takedown but Cabrillo is quick to defend against it.
Danga de danga de dang - Cabrillo scores with a four punch combination!
Tuilagi cracks Cabrillo with a good jab.
Juan Cabrillo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cabrillo tests Tuilagi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Cabrillo is looking to clinch.
Cabrillo looks to throw the jab but Tuilagi is out of range.
Cabrillo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tuilagi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tuilagi attempts a counter takedown but Cabrillo avoids it well and moves away.
Cabrillo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tuilagi half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Cabrillo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tuilagi sprawls well. Tuilagi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Cabrillo gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cabrillo ducks under a wild hook from Tuilagi.
Tuilagi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A slapping body kick lands there for Cabrillo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cabrillo throws a nice looking combination but Tuilagi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tuilagi throws a quick counter head kick but Cabrillo was just out of range.

Cabrillo closes the distance and clinches.
Tuilagi leaning against his opponent.
Cabrillo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cabrillo misses with some punches.
Cabrillo misses with the head strike.
Cabrillo scores with a shoulder strike.
Tuilagi misses with the head strike.
Tuilagi has Cabrillo pushed against the cage.
Cabrillo tries to work over Tuilagi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Cabrillo 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.

Cabrillo stalks Tuilagi and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tuilagi's face. Tuilagi staggers backwards, shaken.
Tuilagi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Cabrillo doesn't manage to clinch there - Tuilagi circles away.
Tuilagi half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Cabrillo scores with a decent looking hook.
Tuilagi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cabrillo scores with a decent looking hook.
Cabrillo lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Tuilagi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cabrillo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Juan Cabrillo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tuilagi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Cabrillo! But no joy.
Cabrillo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tuilagi to score with a decent uppercut.
Juan Cabrillo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cabrillo buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrillo digs a good hook to Tuilagi's body.
Cabrillo lands a really nice looking cross but Tuilagi seems unphased.
Cabrillo wants to clinch up but Tuilagi keeps it at a distance.
Tuilagi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cabrillo swivels and escapes.
Cabrillo works Tuilagi's body with a nice hook.

Cabrillo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Tuilagi to the ground. Cabrillo is now in Tuilagi's guard.
Tuilagi is pulling down on Cabrillo's head to control his posture.
Cabrillo is pushing down on Tuilagi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Tuilagi is fighting to maintain full guard but Cabrillo has managed to sneak the leg through.
Cabrillo lands strikes from half guard.
Cabrillo prevents Tuilagi from improving his position.
Cabrillo is trying to control the action in half guard but Tuilagi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cabrillo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Tuilagi actively working from the bottom here.
Tuilagi is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Brown House, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Tuilagi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tuilagi.
Cabrillo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tuilagi trying to keep a closed guard but Cabrillo is proving a slippery customer.
Tuilagi doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Cabrillo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cabrillo trying to control the position from guard on top but Tuilagi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Cabrillo working his ground and pound in the gym.
Cabrillo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tuilagi throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cabrillo postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Tuilagi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuilagi keeps the fight on the outside.
Good standup being displayed there by Cabrillo as he connects with a hook.
Cabrillo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tuilagi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cabrillo.
Tuilagi drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cabrillo sprawls and moves away.
Cabrillo lands a nice looking body shot.

Cabrillo closes the distance and clinches.
Cabrillo lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cabrillo prevents a body shot from Tuilagi.
Cabrillo scores with a hook to the body.
Tuilagi looking to slow down the pace here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tuilagi looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuilagi misses with some punches.

Tuilagi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cabrillo scores with a body shot.
Nice shot lands for Cabrillo.
Cabrillo lands with a kick to the ribs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tuilagi, right into the meat.
Cabrillo tries to close the distance and clinch but Tuilagi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tuilagi was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Cabrillo swings for the body but Tuilagi moves out of range.
Good shot there by Cabrillo.
Cabrillo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cabrillo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tuilagi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Cabrillo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Tuilagi tries to keep at a distance but Cabrillo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cabrillo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tuilagi blocking some punches.
Tuilagi avoids the elbow strike from Cabrillo, against the cage.
Tuilagi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cabrillo is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cabrillo takes a shot to the head.
Tuilagi prevents the takedown attempt.
Cabrillo throws an elbow that misses.
Cabrillo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Cabrillo misses with a punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabrillo lands a damaging elbow.
Tuilagi leaning his opponent against the cage.
Tuilagi lands a good knee to the midsection. Cabrillo won't want to take too many of those.

Tuilagi wants the takedown. Cabrillo is fighting it off but Tuilagi persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Cabrillo's guard against the cage.
Tuilagi 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuilagi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tuilagi postures up in Cabrillo's guard and throws a big left but Cabrillo blocks it.
Tuilagi wants to pass the guard but Cabrillo is keeping the position.
Tuilagi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cabrillo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tuilagi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tuilagi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tuilagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Cabrillo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tuilagi throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A shot to the liver by Cabrillo. Beautiful body shot.
Cabrillo throws a right and a left that Tuilagi avoids nicely.
Tuilagi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cabrillo throws a right hand that Tuilagi ducks under and follows up with a left that Tuilagi also avoids with ease.
Tuilagi half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Cabrillo avoids the body shot from Tuilagi.
Cabrillo takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tuilagi avoids the head kick by Cabrillo.
Cabrillo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cabrillo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cabrillo.
Cabrillo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tuilagi half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Manu Tuilagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juan Cabrillo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabrillo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Cabrillo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Tuilagi shoots and misses
and Cabrillo counters with a two punch combo.

Cabrillo drives through with a takedown into guard.
Juan Cabrillo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tuilagi trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Tuilagi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Tuilagi has his feet on Cabrillo's thighs here. He's pushed Cabrillo off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Cabrillo screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Manu Tuilagi!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Manu Tuilagi made sure he mentioned HERITAGE Threads, along with how happy he was to win his fight.