PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sean Balor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carter Mann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Balor
vs
Mann

185 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Sean Balor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Carter Mann!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mann blocks a jab.
Mann misses with an attempted mid kick.
Balor closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mann circles away.
Balor fails with a takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Mann. Those never looked like landing.
Balor shoots in for a takedown but Mann shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
As Balor backs off Mann throws a huge counter combo but Balor manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Balor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balor lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Carter Mann has been cut.
Balor moves out of range of the body kick from Mann.
Horrible takedown attempt by Balor or perhaps it was just good defense by Mann, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Balor clinches up against the cage.
Mann tries to break the clinch but Balor is controlling the position.
Balor keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mann's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balor has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mann avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Balor keeps control of Mann as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Balor tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mann smiles and moves away.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Mann has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Mann fails with a takedown attempt.
Balor went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Mann looks winded!
Mann shoots in for a takedown but Balor shows good takedown defense.
Balor slips a jab and a cross from Mann.
Mann avoids the head kick by Balor.
Balor drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Balor fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balor lands a jab-cross combination.
Mann shoots in looking for a takedown but Balor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mann's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Mann keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mann with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Balor to score with a decent uppercut.
Horrible takedown attempt by Balor or perhaps it was just good defense by Mann, which made it look bad.
Balor fails with a takedown attempt.
As Balor backs off Mann throws a huge counter combo but Balor manages to avoid it all.
Balor fails to land the takedown.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Balor looks for a takedown but Mann sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mann darts in looking for a takedown but Balor gets double underhooks and turns Mann into the cage.
Balor will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mann scores with a punch to the head.
Mann shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Balor as he avoids it easily.
Mann closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Balor lands a high kick!

Balor drives through with a takedown into Mann's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Mann has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Balor is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Balor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mann throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Balor stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Balor keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Balor is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mann's half guard.
Balor thows a huge punch but Mann dodges it nicely.
Mann pushes Balor off looking to stand but Balor dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sean Balor will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Carter Mann's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mann gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Balor to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Balor sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Sean Balor overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balor postures up and lands a big shot to Mann's brow.
Mann is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balor controlling from the top position.
Mann wants to stand and escape but Balor is having none of it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balor 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mann defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Balor.
Balor dives in for a single leg takedown but Mann sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sean Balor is winning the standup battle so far.

Balor clinches with his opponent.

That's two 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.

Balor breaks the clinch.
Mann displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Balor.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Balor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balor avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Balor misses with a jab to the body
and Mann connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A nice leg kick lands there from Balor.

Mann has managed to clinch.

Balor manages to break the clinch.
Mann moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A right-left combo lands from Mann.
Carter Mann seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mann displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Balor.

Mann clinches up with Balor and pushes him back against the cage.
Balor tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Balor tries for a takedown but Mann manages to get underhooks.
Stalling in the clinch from Balor.
Mann wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Balor has him pressed against the cage.

Balor breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Balor, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Mann shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mann tries to stand but can't do so whilst Balor controls his leg.
Balor keeping control of the position.

Mann postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Balor to stand up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Balor leaves Mann with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carter Mann showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Carter Mann's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mann keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mann throws a head kick that misses
and Balor counters with a series of strikes. Mann will be more careful next time no doubt.
Balor dives in for a single leg takedown but Mann sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mann wants to counter with a clinch but Balor pushes him away.
Mann throws a leg kick but Balor sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Balor moves into the clinch.
Balor fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Balor. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balor tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balor is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mann to keep the fight standing.
Balor fails to pull guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mann is trying to force a seperation but Balor has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Balor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sean Balor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mann shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Balor sprawls well. Balor wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mann gets slowly back to his feet.
Balor fails with the takedown.
Balor fails with a takedown attempt.
Mann's corner calls for a 1-2. Mann obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mann looks to land a combination but Balor avoids it well.
Balor changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mann tries to avoid it but Balor manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mann to the ground. Mann escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mann fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Balor looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Mann lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Balor throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Mann throws a series of strikes that have Balor backpedaling.
Balor dives in for a single leg takedown but Mann sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Mann throws a head kick that misses.
Balor throws a big counter combination but Mann scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Mann digs a good body shot into Balor's ribs.

Balor clinches with his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stalling in the clinch from Balor.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Balor breaks the clinch.
Mann closes this distance looking for a takedown but Balor circles away.
Mann tries for a takedown but Balor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Balor shoots in but Mann avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Balor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mann wants to get back to striking at distance but Balor won't allow it.
Balor can't get the takedown.
Mann is looking to break free of the clinch but Balor has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mann is trying to force a seperation but Balor has the dominant position.
Balor stalling the fight.
Mann working hard to break the clinch.
Balor has Mann pressed against the cage, preventing Mann from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Balor drops down looking for an ankle pick but Mann pulls his leg out and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mann lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carter Mann comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mann 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carter Mann!