PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jack Cherry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and La Tigre Munanaposa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Munanaposa has chosen I'm an Adult Now as his entrance music. La Tigre Munanaposa will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Cherry
vs
Tigre Munanaposa

160 cm
31
135 lbs
7 - 13 - 0

171 cm
28
135 lbs
11 - 15 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

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 7 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack Cherry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, La Tigre Munanaposa!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Munanaposa feints and as Cherry raises his hands in defense, Munanaposa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Munanaposa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cherry looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cherry is trying to control the position but Munanaposa postures up.
Munanaposa content to stall in guard here.
Munanaposa lands a couple of elbows.
Cherry trying to control the position.
Munanaposa scoring with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Munanaposa controls from within his opponent's guard.
Munanaposa stopping the sweep attempt from Cherry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cherry wants to stand but Munanaposa is controlling the position.
Munanaposa wants to control from the top but Cherry keeps moving.
Munanaposa passes Cherry's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Cherry tries to get to full guard but Munanaposa has control of the leg.
Munanaposa trying to control from half guard but Cherry is working away.
Munanaposa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Munanaposa stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Cherry to get to his feet.

Cherry rushes Munanaposa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Munanaposa pulls 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.
Munanaposa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cherry wants to control from the top but Munanaposa keeps moving.
Munanaposa throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Cherry is fighting to break Munanaposa's control of his arms but Munanaposa is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Cherry might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cherry postures up in Munanaposa's guard and throws a big left but Munanaposa blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Munanaposa is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cherry has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Munanaposa is looking for a triangle but Cherry pushes his legs off easily.
Munanaposa throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cherry is fighting to break Munanaposa's control of his arms but Munanaposa is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Cherry wants to control from the top but Munanaposa keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Munanaposa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cherry gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cherry postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Cherry landing some decent shots from guard.
Munanaposa keeping moving, preventing Cherry from controlling successfully.
Munanaposa has control of Cherry's left arm, preventing Cherry from doing any damage.

Munanaposa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Cherry stands up and waves to Munanaposa to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Munanaposa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Munanaposa steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.

Cherry has managed to clinch.
Cherry has had enough of the clinch but Munanaposa keeps him there for the moment.
Munanaposa is trying to pull guard but Cherry has him pressed against the cage.

Munanaposa pulls Cherry into guard.
Munanaposa throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Cherry avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cherry wants to control from the top but Munanaposa keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cherry is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Munanaposa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Munanaposa trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

La Tigre Munanaposa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cherry throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A countering left hand to the body from Munanaposa misses.
Munanaposa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cherry is fending him off so far but Munanaposa persists. Nope, Cherry circles away and we're back to standing.
Cherry throws a right hand that Munanaposa ducks under and follows up with a left that Munanaposa also avoids with ease.

Munanaposa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Cherry to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cherry trying to control the position from guard on top but Munanaposa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cherry working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Munanaposa working a defensive guard here.

Munanaposa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cherry defends it easily.
Cherry pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Munanaposa is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cherry trying to control but Munanaposa is working from the bottom.
Munanaposa with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Cherry can't handle though.

Munanaposa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cherry is aware though and is defending well.
Cherry throws a big right hand that misses.

Munanaposa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cherry doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cherry manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Munanaposa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cherry is one step ahead there.
Munanaposa is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cherry trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cherry is working hard here to advance position.

Munanaposa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Munanaposa working a defensive guard here.
Cherry would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Munanaposa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cherry can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Munanaposa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cherry gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cherry forces his way into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Cherry connects with a nice short shot to Munanaposa's temple.
Cherry landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Munanaposa flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Cherry looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Munanaposa wants to get back to his feet.
Cherry wants to control but Munanaposa is keeping him busy.

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.
Munanaposa landing rabbit punches to the side of Cherry's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Cherry blocks the strikes from Munanaposa.

Cherry postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Munanaposa to stand up.

Cherry has managed to clinch.
Cherry swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Munanaposa putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cherry in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Munanaposa is trying to trip Cherry. He has hold of a leg but Cherry is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Munanaposa persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Munanaposa trying to control the position from guard on top but Cherry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Munanaposa drops back looking for a leg! Cherry is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cherry manages to kick Munanaposa off! Munanaposa jumps back into Cherry's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cherry keeping moving, preventing Munanaposa from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jack Cherry will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Cherry displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Munanaposa.

Cherry moves into the clinch successfully.
Munanaposa jumps guard but Cherry turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Cherry fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Munanaposa manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Munanaposa wants to hit a switch here but Cherry passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Munanaposa there!
La Tigre Munanaposa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Munanaposa really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Munanaposa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Cherry lands with some strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Munanaposa 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.
Cherry is just content to waste time from the top position. Munanaposa takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Munanaposa will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Munanaposa has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Cherry off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Munanaposa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cherry defends it nicely.
Jack Cherry has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of La Tigre Munanaposa.
Munanaposa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cherry as he avoids it easily.
Munanaposa fails with the takedown.

Cherry clinches up against the cage.
Cherry misses with a body punch.

Cherry turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cherry decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Munanaposa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cherry as he jumps to the side.
Cherry stuffs the takedown.

Munanaposa moves into the clinch successfully.

Cherry is trying to trip Munanaposa. He has hold of a leg but Munanaposa is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Cherry persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Munanaposa working a defensive guard here.
Cherry with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Munanaposa keeping moving, preventing Cherry from controlling successfully.
Munanaposa trying to control the position.
Cherry wants to pass the guard but Munanaposa is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Munanaposa controls Cherry momentarily but Cherry frees himself.
Munanaposa wants to sweep here but Cherry controlling him for the moment.
Cherry trying to control but Munanaposa is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cherry's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Munanaposa has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Munanaposa controls Cherry momentarily but Cherry frees himself.

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.
Cherry with a flurry of punches that miss.
Munanaposa controlling the position.
Cherry lands a couple of digs.
Munanaposa keeping moving, preventing Cherry from controlling successfully.
Munanaposa controls Cherry momentarily but Cherry frees himself.

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

Cherry clinches with his opponent.
Munanaposa connects with a knee to the head.
Munanaposa has Cherry pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cherry manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Munanaposa pulls guard.

Munanaposa has his foot on Cherry's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cherry works his way back into a safe position though.
Cherry wants to control from the top but Munanaposa keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Cherry showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cherry 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Cherry!
Jack Cherry decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.