PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Normand Cleveland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alk Manik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alk Manik has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cleveland
vs
Manik

164 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 Montreal, Normand Cleveland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Alk Manik!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cleveland stuffs the takedown.
Manik shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cleveland defends it nicely.

Cleveland looking to score a takedown here. Manik is defending well but Cleveland drives through and ends up in Manik's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manik throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Cleveland trying to control the position from guard on top but Manik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manik has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Manik is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cleveland is aware though and is defending well.
Cleveland has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Cleveland got a little sloppy there for a moment and Manik has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Cleveland has managed to get both his arms back between Manik's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleveland's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Manik has his foot on Cleveland's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cleveland works his way back into a safe position though.
Cleveland is looking to work some ground and pound but Manik has wrist control.

Manik working for a triangle but Cleveland defends it easily.
Cleveland would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Manik had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cleveland defends it easily.

Cleveland decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cleveland shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Manik napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Manik wants to get back to his feet but Cleveland is dominant here and he's now got Manik's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cleveland throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Manik!
Manik is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Manik is really stuck here.
Manik wants to get back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cleveland gets his hands free as Manik looks to control.
Cleveland has the hooks in. Manik is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Cleveland is riding his opponent, not letting Manik buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Manik up.
Cleveland scores with strikes from the back.
Manik wants to escape the position.
Cleveland lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Manik tries to escape but Cleveland has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Manik just trying to survive but Cleveland is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Cleveland trying to control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
I would not like to be Manik right now.
Cleveland could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Cleveland looking to break Manik's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Manik remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Cleveland will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Manik wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Cleveland is trying to stick to Manik's back but Manik is turning into Cleveland. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Cleveland's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Manik.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manik looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Manik looking to sit in guard and control but Cleveland gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Cleveland stopping the sweep attempt from Manik.
Cleveland is looking to stand up but Manik won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Manik with a poor takedown

and Cleveland moves into the clinch.
Cleveland is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Manik can do to turn this around?

Manik gets control of Cleveland's arms and successfully pulls guard. Manik will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Manik 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.
Cleveland makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Manik trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Cleveland content to stall in guard here.

Manik working for submissions but it's allowed Cleveland to get to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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. Cleveland connects with a nice short shot to Manik's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manik misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Cleveland is working for a submission of some sort.
Cleveland is keen to just control but Manik is a slippery customer.
Cleveland drops an elbow to the side of Manik's head.

Manik looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cleveland working Manik over with strikes.
Cleveland knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Manik on the ground.
Cleveland is keen to just control but Manik is a slippery customer.
Manik throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two 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.
Cleveland controlling the action here.
Manik trying to control here.
Cleveland looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Manik with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cleveland sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Manik actively working from the bottom here.
Cleveland with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Manik.

Cleveland closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Manik's guard.

Manik is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Cleveland defends well.
Manik is breathing heavily.
Cleveland seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Cleveland lands a couple of elbows.
Manik trying to strike off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cleveland wants to control from the top but Manik keeps moving.
Manik thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Manik doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Normand Cleveland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Cleveland avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Manik looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Cleveland is defending well. Manik quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Cleveland has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Manik celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alk Manik!