PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Albert Manipot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregor Mendelev (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.

Manipot
vs
Mendelev

183 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Albert Manipot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Gregor Mendelev!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Manipot.
Mendelev tries to land a leg kick but Manipot saw it coming and moves away.
Manipot appears to be looking for a big counter.

Manipot instigates a clinch.

Manipot escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Manipot shoots in but no luck this time.
Manipot looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mendelev is fending him off so far but Manipot persists. Nope, Mendelev circles away and we're back to standing.
Mendelev thows a left - swing and a miss!

Mendelev shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Manipot's guard.
Manipot preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Manipot looking for a sweep. Not yet Manipot, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendelev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Manipot wants to stand up but Mendelev is controlling him.
Mendelev stands up over Manipot, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendelev sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mendelev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mendelev works over Manipot with some ground and pound from guard.
Mendelev is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Mendelev as Manipot shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Albert Manipot. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mendelev is looking to chop away at Manipot's legs.
Mendelev throws an overhand right that lands on Manipot's shoulder, as Manipot tries to avoid the shot.
Manipot keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mendelev.
Mendelev throws a right hand that misses

and Manipot counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mendelev is trying to stall.
Mendelev is trying to push Manipot away but Manipot has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manipot is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Mendelev can't fight it off and eventually Manipot manages to take the fight to the floor. Mendelev looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mendelev pulls Manipot in close to prevent any damage.
Mendelev 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.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mendelev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mendelev looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendelev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Manipot is one step ahead there.
Manipot trying to control but Mendelev is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Mendelev lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Mendelev pushing down on Manipot's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mendelev is looking for a kimura here.
Mendelev slows the pace down in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mendelev misses with an uppercut. Manipot saw that one coming.
Mendelev slaps away a takedown attempt from Manipot, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Manipot shoots for a takedown but Mendelev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mendelev throws an overhand right that lands on Manipot's shoulder, as Manipot tries to avoid the shot.
Manipot fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mendelev misses with an uppercut.
Manipot pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mendelev misses the jab.
Mendelev throws a poor cross that misses

and Manipot counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendelev moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Manipot preventing the sweep.

Mendelev is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Manipot has his hands clasped together but Mendelev extends and breaks Manipot's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Mendelev.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gregor Mendelev!