PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yong Sellers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lionel Mancuso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mancuso has chosen Feel The Beat as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Lionel Mancuso has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sellers
vs
Mancuso

182 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yong Sellers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lionel Mancuso!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mancuso gets a clinch.
Sellers throws a punch but it's blocked by Mancuso.

Mancuso jumps guard and drags Sellers to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Mancuso 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.
Mancuso wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Sellers manages to pass to side control.
Sellers seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mancuso does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mancuso gets back to full guard.
Mancuso preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mancuso not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mancuso manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sellers manages to get himself to full guard.

Mancuso wants to get up but he can't break Sellers's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sellers looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mancuso is one step ahead there.
Mancuso wants to stand but Sellers has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mancuso must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mancuso preventing the sweep.

That's two 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.
Mancuso 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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
It looks like Mancuso might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Mancuso shoots in and gets a takedown into Sellers's guard.
Mancuso stopping the sweep attempt from Sellers.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mancuso wants to pass the guard but Sellers is keeping the position.
Sellers controls Mancuso momentarily but Mancuso frees himself.
Sellers seems keen to control Mancuso's posture.
Mancuso wants to pass the guard but Sellers is keeping the position.
Mancuso is still trying to improve position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sellers or perhaps it was just good defense by Mancuso, which made it look bad.

Mancuso closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mancuso lands in his opponent's guard.
Mancuso trying to control the position from guard on top but Sellers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mancuso connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Mancuso closes the distance and pushes Sellers back into the cage.
Mancuso lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sellers backwards.
Sellers misses with some punches.
Mancuso keeps control of Sellers as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Sellers is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mancuso is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Sellers to the mat. Sellers regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Sellers 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.
Lionel Mancuso has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mancuso would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sellers throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mancuso trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mancuso wanted to stand there but Sellers had control of the position.
Mancuso throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sellers works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sellers working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mancuso.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Mancuso moves into range and clinches up with Sellers.

Mancuso jumps guard.
Mancuso tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sellers throwing strikes from guard but Mancuso blocks nicely.
Sellers throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mancuso keeping moving, preventing Sellers from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mancuso controls Sellers momentarily but Sellers frees himself.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mancuso closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Mancuso is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Sellers is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Sellers's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Mancuso decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sellers to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sellers fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mancuso doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Yong Sellers is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sellers takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Mancuso feints and as Sellers raises his hands in defense, Mancuso changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sellers trying to control the position.
Mancuso postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mancuso trying to control the position from guard on top but Sellers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mancuso postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sellers is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mancuso, into his guard.

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

Lionel Mancuso showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Mancuso shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mancuso was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sellers tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Mancuso tries for a kimura but Sellers is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sellers struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sellers looking for a sweep but Mancuso has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Sellers is looking to get to half guard.
Mancuso looking to control but Sellers is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sellers holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Mancuso tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Mancuso throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Mancuso wants to finish this one by submission but Sellers is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Mancuso.
Mancuso trying to control but Sellers is having none of it.
Sellers wants to hold on but Mancuso pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sellers is squirming around, avoiding Mancuso's attempts to control the action.
Mancuso avoids the attempt from Sellers to control.

Mancuso stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Sellers tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mancuso looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Sellers shoots for a double leg takedown but Mancuso sprawls well. He's pushed Sellers's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sellers misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Mancuso moves into the clinch.

Mancuso turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Mancuso manages to end up in side control.
Mancuso wants to stand but Sellers is controlling his arm.

Mancuso has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mancuso swinging wildly here.
Sellers tries to counter with a takedown but Mancuso is quick to defend against it.
Yong Sellers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lionel Mancuso is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Mancuso drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lionel Mancuso comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mancuso has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 26:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lionel Mancuso!
In his post fight interview, Lionel Mancuso started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.