PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frank McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zhang Lianbiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

McManus
vs
Lianbiao

182 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank McManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zhang Lianbiao!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Igor Prikhodko and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lianbiao is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
McManus shoots in for a takedown but Lianbiao shows good takedown defense.
McManus stuffs the takedown.
McManus tries to clinch but Lianbiao moves out of range.

Lianbiao gets caught flat footed, as McManus shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
McManus has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
McManus stopping the sweep attempt from Lianbiao.
McManus looking to sit in guard and control but Lianbiao gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lianbiao passes McManus's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Lianbiao winds up and cracks McManus with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lianbiao wants to lay and pray for a moment but McManus keeps working.
Lianbiao missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lianbiao wants to pass the guard but McManus is defending well.
Lianbiao thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing McManus to regain full guard.
Lianbiao throwing strikes but missing.
Lianbiao wants to control from the top but McManus keeps moving.
Lianbiao has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of McManus is proving hard to escape from.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McManus misses with a takedown

and Lianbiao counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lianbiao has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
McManus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Lianbiao counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for McManus!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank McManus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lianbiao controlling his opponent.
Lianbiao trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McManus is trying to escape the mount.
Lianbiao controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus regains half guard.
Lianbiao wants to control but McManus is keeping him busy.
McManus is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McManus wants to control but Lianbiao is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lianbiao wants to control but McManus is keeping him busy.
Lianbiao is thwarting McManus's attempts to control the position.
Lianbiao wants to control but McManus is keeping him busy.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
McManus with a lazy takedown attempt

and Lianbiao counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
McManus is breathing heavily.
McManus is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lianbiao decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
McManus throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Horrible takedown by Lianbiao or perhaps it was just good defense by McManus which made him look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Lianbiao dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McManus misses with a takedown
and Lianbiao counters with a series of strikes. McManus will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lianbiao tries to clinch up.
Lianbiao doesn't succeed with the takedown

and McManus holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lianbiao wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but McManus has him pressed against the cage.
McManus has Lianbiao pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lianbiao manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

McManus has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lianbiao uses from the top position.
McManus keeping moving, preventing Lianbiao from controlling successfully.

Lianbiao is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! McManus is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! McManus has escaped and now he's on top!

Lianbiao has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McManus can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus postures up.

McManus thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McManus accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McManus stopping the sweep attempt from Lianbiao.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
McManus wants to stand but Lianbiao has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Lianbiao working a defensive guard here.

McManus stands and steps away. Lianbiao gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
McManus closes the distance but Lianbiao moves to the side

and Lianbiao counters with a single leg into guard. McManus didn't expect that.
McManus trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Zhang Lianbiao has got the better of the ground game so far.
McManus throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus is trying to control the position but Lianbiao postures up.
McManus is really struggling to control Lianbiao but he's trying to hold on to the position.

McManus has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lianbiao can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lianbiao is stalling in the full guard.
Lianbiao postures up and lands a big shot to McManus's brow.

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.
McManus is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McManus misses with a takedown attempt

and Lianbiao counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for McManus!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank McManus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lianbiao sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
McManus controls the position.

Lianbiao is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. McManus can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
McManus tries to hold on but Lianbiao postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhang Lianbiao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McManus throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lianbiao connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lianbiao moves in looking to clinch but McManus pushes him off.
Lianbiao lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Frank McManus has been cut.
McManus shoots and misses

and Lianbiao counters with a single leg into guard. McManus didn't expect that.
McManus is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lianbiao is controlling him.
Lianbiao preventing the sweep.

Lianbiao gets to his feet - McManus follows without any prompting.
McManus tries for a takedown but Lianbiao sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Lianbiao looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for McManus!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McManus is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lianbiao controlling the position easily from mount.
Lianbiao trying to control but McManus is having none of it.
Frank McManus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Lianbiao lands a big shot there that rocks McManus but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
A nice elbow there by Lianbiao.
Lianbiao manages to capitalize on a mistake by McManus to take his back!
Lianbiao gets his hands free as McManus looks to control.
Lianbiao trying to control.
What can McManus do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus trying to control but not successfully.

Lianbiao looking for the RNC.
McManus is keeping busy.
Lianbiao is trying to stick to McManus's back but McManus is turning into Lianbiao. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Lianbiao's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by McManus.
McManus is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McManus trying to control the position from guard on top but Lianbiao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McManus postures up.
McManus working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lianbiao shoots in for a takedown but McManus shows good takedown defense.

McManus closes the distance and clinches.

McManus breaks the clinch.
McManus closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lianbiao circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank McManus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lianbiao just misses with a punch to the body.
Zhang Lianbiao is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McManus scores with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zhang Lianbiao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lianbiao winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zhang Lianbiao!