PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Monroe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel La Bor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Monroe comes to the cage accompanied by Deep Ocean - Island drumming. La Bor has chosen Centuries as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Manuel La Bor has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Monroe
vs
La Bor

166 cm
22
139 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

179 cm
22
155 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Machiavelli Boutique

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricky Monroe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Manuel La Bor!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
La Bor dips to his left and cracks Monroe with an uppercut!
La Bor punishes Monroe's body with a nice straight punch.
La Bor defending well as Monroe loads up on a big left hand.
Monroe throws a left and a right that both miss
and La Bor counters with an inside leg kick.
La Bor scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Monroe doesn't seem bothered though.
La Bor throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
La Bor is looking to score with low kicks.
La Bor throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Monroe counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for La Bor!
La Bor tries to bench press Monroe off him but Monroe keeps the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
La Bor takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
La Bor tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Monroe wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Monroe lands a nice forearm strike.
La Bor is looking for a sweep.
La Bor has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Monroe is chipping away with strikes.
La Bor on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
La Bor gets back to half guard.
Ground and pound from Monroe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Monroe.
La Bor is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Monroe scores with a couple of nice shots.
Monroe tries to pass to full mount but La Bor defends it.
La Bor regains full guard. Nicely done.
Monroe trying to control the position from guard on top but La Bor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Monroe slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
La Bor is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Monroe lands some shots froms side control.
La Bor is looking for a sweep.
Monroe cracks La Bor with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Monroe working the head and body with strikes.
Monroe is chipping away with strikes.

Monroe tries for a kimura but La Bor is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La Bor tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Monroe wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
La Bor is trying to control Monroe's posture but Monroe avoids it.
Monroe 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.
Monroe lands some shots froms side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
La Bor taking a bit of punishment here - Monroe scoring with strikes.
La Bor is looking for a sweep.

Monroe is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. La Bor knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Monroe working away.
La Bor tries to improve position but can't.
La Bor takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Monroe landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe cracks La Bor with a big elbow.
Monroe has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Monroe putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
La Bor in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
La Bor is wriggling around trying to escape.
La Bor gets back to half guard.
Monroe is trying to control. La Bor wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
La Bor on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Monroe working over La Bor with some ground and pound. La Bor looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
La Bor is looking for a sweep. Monroe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Monroe seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Monroe is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. La Bor doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Monroe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
La Bor taking some punishment here, with Monroe in his half guard.
La Bor throws a strike from the bottom but Monroe passes into side control!
La Bor tries to buck Monroe off but Monroe is having none of it.
Monroe advances nicely into full mount.
Monroe landing strikes, looking to finish!
La Bor is in a horrible position here. Monroe smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Monroe is landing with some decent strikes but La Bor is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
La Bor takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
La Bor squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
La Bor is working to get back to half guard.
La Bor is still trying to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Monroe dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice defenses there by La Bor.
La Bor moves out of range of the strikes.
La Bor looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Monroe slips a straight right by La Bor.
Monroe swings for the body but La Bor moves out of range.
La Bor misses with a straight left.
Monroe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that La Bor can do to turn this around?
Nice uppercut there from La Bor.
La Bor scores with a jab to the body.
Monroe is on the wrong end of a nice combination from La Bor.
Monroe scores with a hook to the body. La Bor takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Monroe misses with a body shot.
Monroe throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Monroe throws a hook but La Bor avoids it easily.
A countering left hand to the body from La Bor misses.
A shot to the body from Monroe misses
and La Bor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Monroe misses with a straight right.
Monroe throws a head kick but La Bor moves out of range.
Manuel La Bor seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Bor throws a hook but Monroe avoids it easily.
Monroe seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
A big left from La Bor misses.
Monroe tries to close the distance and clinch but La Bor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Monroe. La Bor does a little dance to reset his feet.
La Bor unleashes a big counter combination but Monroe bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
La Bor has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Monroe finds it's way round the side to connect with La Bor's head.
Good work by Monroe as he checks the leg kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Monroe misses its target.
La Bor scores with the left hand. Monroe knows he should have avoided that one.
La Bor is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Monroe fails to land with a series of punches.
Monroe throws a sloppy body shot
and La Bor counters with a stiff right hand.
Monroe misses with a hook to the body
and La Bor makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Monroe really felt that one!
Monroe throws a right and a left that La Bor avoids nicely.
Monroe misses the shot to the body.
Monroe on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A clash of legs there as Monroe blocks the low kick.
A little feinted left hand from Monroe on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe wants to clinch.
Monroe takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
La Bor throws out a powerful jab.
Monroe takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
La Bor throws a push kick but Monroe slaps the foot to one side.
La Bor misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Monroe.
Manuel La Bor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Monroe misses the shot to the body.
La Bor lands a glancing blow to the side of Monroe's head.
La Bor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Monroe appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Monroe throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe takes a swing at La Bor's ribcage but misses.
La Bor cracks Monroe with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Monroe lands with a straight right. La Bor didn't see that one coming.
Monroe misses with a combination
and La Bor counters with a stiff right hand.
La Bor throws a looping overhand right but Monroe ducks down to avoid it.
Monroe slips a jab and a cross from La Bor.
Monroe is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Monroe misses with a body shot.
Monroe swings for the body but La Bor moves out of range.
La Bor misses with a leg kick.
A quick step to the side and Monroe tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
La Bor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Monroe.
La Bor darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Monroe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from La Bor.
La Bor connects with the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab by La Bor.
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!
A punch lands to the side of Monroe 's head but he takes it in his stride.
La Bor looks to throw the jab but Monroe is out of range.
Monroe throws a big counter combination but La Bor scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Monroe throws a body shot but no joy.
La Bor looks to throw the jab but Monroe is out of range.
Monroe shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Monroe dives in and grabs La Bor's left leg, looking for a takedown. La Bor pushes down on Monroe's head and hops out.
Monroe takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Monroe closes this distance looking for a takedown but La Bor circles away.
La Bor misses with an uppercut. Monroe saw that one coming.
A looping hook to the body misses from La Bor. Monroe does a little dance to reset his feet.
A shot to the liver by La Bor. Beautiful body shot.

Monroe looking to score a takedown here. La Bor is defending well but Monroe drives through and ends up in La Bor's guard.

La Bor has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Monroe off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel La Bor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

La Bor moves away from the strike by Monroe.
La Bor swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Monroe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by La Bor.
Monroe just misses with a punch to the body.
Monroe lands with a cross.
Monroe misses with a body punch
and La Bor counters with a stiff right hand.
La Bor scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Monroe avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Monroe throws a body punch but La Bor moves out of range.
La Bor is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Monroe with a body shot.
Monroe shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
La Bor with a nice cross.
Monroe looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
La Bor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Monroe.
La Bor ducks under a wild hook from Monroe.
La Bor staying out of range there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
La Bor ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe tries a head kick but it misses.
La Bor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Monroe.
Good standup being displayed there by La Bor as he connects with a hook.
Monroe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but La Bor moves away.
Monroe has a takedown stuffed.
Monroe is looking to wear down La Bor with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Monroe throws an overhand right that lands on La Bor's shoulder, as La Bor tries to avoid the shot.
La Bor lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Monroe tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but La Bor was well out of range. Poor timing from Monroe.
La Bor moves out of range as Monroe strikes.
La Bor tries a quick counter leg kick but Monroe is wise to it.
La Bor scores with a nice head shot.
Monroe moves away from the strike by La Bor.
Monroe misses with a hook
and La Bor counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice jab there from La Bor.
Monroe is really struggling to find his range with his punches. La Bor's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La Bor misses with a right hand

and Monroe counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
La Bor 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.
Monroe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Monroe working some strikes from top position.
Monroe scoring with punches to the head and body.
Monroe lands a couple of digs.
La Bor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Monroe is one step ahead there.
Monroe scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Monroe is in close to La Bor's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Monroe stands and throws La Bor's legs to the side, diving into side control.
La Bor is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe lands a few punches from side control.
La Bor tries to bench press Monroe off him but Monroe keeps the position.
Monroe cracks La Bor with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Monroe in side control lands a decent elbow.
La Bor is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Monroe off and has taken his back!
Monroe is in bad spot here.
La Bor misses with a punch to the head.
La Bor missing with punches from the back.
Monroe is really stuck here.
La Bor throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Monroe covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Monroe is in all sorts of trouble here.
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!
Monroe suckers La Bor into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Monroe is now in La Bor's guard!
Monroe sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed La Bor's guard.
Monroe is looking to advance position but La Bor won't allow it.
La Bor slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now La Bor is on top in guard.

La Bor postures up in Monroe's guard and throws a big left but Monroe blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Manuel La Bor.
I think La Bor has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!