PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Connor McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Corbin Creed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McManus comes into the arena with Jeff Danna - 'The Blood of Cú Chulainn' blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Creed's choice of entrance music: 50 Cent walks stone cold out - Patiently Waiting. Connor McManus could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Corbin Creed's chin.

McManus
vs
Creed

177 cm
33
167 lbs
17 - 16 - 0

187 cm
25
162 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Connor McManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Corbin Creed!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Creed keeps the fight on the outside.
McManus punishes Creed's body with a nice straight punch.
Creed avoids the body shot from McManus.
McManus misses with a lunging right hand
and Creed counters with a right hand to the body.
McManus throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McManus checks a leg kick.
Sloppy strikes from Creed. Those never looked like landing.
McManus 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.
McManus misses with a wild body shot.
Good leg kick by McManus there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Creed keeps the fight on the outside.
McManus throws a leg kick that is checked
and Creed counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Creed lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
McManus throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McManus connects with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Creed looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
McManus misses with a lunging right hand
and Creed makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Creed swings widly with a right hand

so McManus counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
McManus trying to control the position from guard on top but Creed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Creed has McManus pulled in close to control his posture.

Creed escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McManus gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Creed looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Creed 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus works over Creed with some ground and pound from guard.
Creed not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Creed throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Creed is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Creed utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Creed is trying to hold McManus in close to prevent damage but McManus has managed to pass into half guard.
Creed wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
McManus scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Creed is trying to control but can't.
Creed tries to get to full guard but McManus has control of the leg.
McManus throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
McManus is controlling the pace.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Creed wants to get back to full guard.
McManus working Creed over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Creed is refusing to be controlled, as McManus sits in half guard.
McManus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McManus is thwarting Creed's attempts to control the position.
McManus is looking to take a break and control but Creed is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McManus with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Creed looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor McManus dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Creed staying out of range there.
Creed changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
McManus buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Creed scores with a punch to the head.
McManus works the jab nicely.
McManus misses with a low kick.
Creed takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Good leg kick by McManus there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Creed rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and McManus counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
McManus throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Creed on the side of the head.
McManus misses with a left hand
and Creed counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Creed throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck McManus on the side of the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Creed staying out of range there.
Nice uppercut lands for McManus. That snapped Creed's head back.
McManus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Creed can do to turn this around?
McManus throws a head kick that misses.
Connor McManus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus lands with a thumping leg kick.
Creed misses the shot to the body.

McManus clinches.
Creed misses with the head strike.
McManus content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Creed throws a head punch that misses.
McManus is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Creed creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Creed takes a shot to the head.
McManus is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Creed is defending well.
Creed misses with a short punch on the inside.
Creed pushes McManus back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
McManus cracks Creed with a nice body shot.
Creed tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McManus's elbow.
Creed has a couple of punches blocked by McManus.
McManus blocks an elbow strike from Creed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus tries a body shot but Creed blocks it.
Creed looking to stall.
Creed throws a punch but it's blocked by McManus.
Creed is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

McManus tightens his grip and picks Creed up, before dumping him to the ground. Creed manages to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McManus wants to control from the top but Creed keeps moving.
McManus scoring with punches to the head and body.
McManus throws a big right hand that misses.
Creed looking to control but McManus passes into half guard.
McManus missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McManus is trying to control. Creed wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Creed has hold of McManus's hands but McManus slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are battling for position here. Creed manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Creed being controlled here, momentarily.
McManus trying to control but Creed is working from the bottom.
McManus is looking to work some ground and pound but Creed has wrist control.
Creed being controlled here, momentarily.

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.
McManus postures up in Creed's guard and throws a big left but Creed blocks it.
Creed not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Creed has his hands on McManus's head, controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
McManus sizes up Creed with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
McManus ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Creed moves away.
Creed misses with a hook to the body
enabling McManus to counter with a crisp jab.
Creed keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
McManus staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor McManus dominated that second round.
That's time! McManus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Creed slips a straight right by McManus.

McManus clinches.

McManus jumps guard.
McManus wants to control but Creed passes easily into half guard.
Creed wants to pass the guard but McManus is defending well.
McManus tries to get to full guard but Creed has control of the leg.

Creed is looking for a kimura but McManus is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Creed to get the leverage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Creed is sneakily working for an arm triangle but McManus sees it coming and defends easily.
McManus slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
McManus looking to hit a scissor sweep but Creed is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

McManus scoring with punches to the head and body.
McManus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Creed trying to keep a closed guard but McManus is proving a slippery customer.
Creed has momentary wrist control but McManus slips an elbow through the middle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McManus scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
McManus is looking to work some ground and pound but Creed has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus throws a big elbow that misses.
McManus postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Creed isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. McManus stacks Creed on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by McManus!
McManus lands an elbow.

Creed is rocked!

McManus tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McManus has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
McManus fails to land a wild elbow strike.
McManus wants to control but Creed is keeping him busy.
Creed parries the strikes from McManus easily there. McManus is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Creed to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Creed is trying to control McManus's posture but McManus avoids it.
McManus controlling the position from side mount.

McManus wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Creed, who protects the arm well.
Creed is looking to regain half guard here but McManus keeps moving and retains side control.
McManus lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Creed is looking to regain half guard here but McManus keeps moving and retains side control.
Connor McManus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Creed is still trying to improve position.
Corbin Creed has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Creed is letting McManus control him for a moment.
Creed is trying to control McManus's posture but McManus avoids it.
Creed is trying to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Creed is trying to escape the position but McManus is controlling the position.
Creed tries to bench press McManus off him but McManus keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor McManus showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McManus, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor McManus!
After winning the bout, Connor McManus thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.