PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Troy Manning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alberto Del Rio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Del Rio's choice of entrance music: Requiem for a dream. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Manning
vs
Del Rio

198 cm
27
179 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

197 cm
42
177 lbs
12 - 50 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Troy Manning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 50 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alberto Del Rio!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manning throws a combination. Del Rio tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Alberto Del Rio has been cut.
Del Rio's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Manning connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Del Rio scrambles back to his feet.
Manning comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Del Rio takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Some bone on bone action there as Del Rio checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Manning throws a leg kick

and Del Rio counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Manning!
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!
Del Rio trying to control the action but Manning is working from the bottom.

Del Rio decides to stand back up. Del Rio steps back and let's Manning get back to his feet.
Manning lands with a shot to the body.
Manning scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Manning scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Del Rio doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Rio checks the leg kick.
Manning connects with a body shot that sends Del Rio's belly button to the back.
Del Rio checks a low kick from Manning.

Del Rio moves into the clinch successfully.
Manning is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Del Rio is defending well.
Manning avoids the elbow strike from Del Rio, against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Manning's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Manning fails to pull guard.
Del Rio stalling in the clinch.

Del Rio drags the fight down to the ground.
Manning prevents Del Rio from getting back to his feet.
Manning content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Del Rio can do anything to dispel that myth.
Manning's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Del Rio is looking to stand up but Manning isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manning stays in close to Del Rio's body and controls the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Del Rio wants to stand and escape but Manning is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A jab lands there for Manning.
Manning scores with a jab to the head.
Manning lands a slapping body shot.
Troy Manning seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manning moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Del Rio rushes Manning and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Manning really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manning wants to stall.
Del Rio blocks a body shot from Manning.
Manning scores with a shot to the side of Del Rio's head.
Del Rio tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Del Rio has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Manning clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manning staying busy and making it hard for Del Rio to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Troy Manning dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alberto Del Rio's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Manning cracks a nice hook into Del Rio's ribs.
Manning with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A shot to the liver by Manning. Beautiful body shot.
Manning cracks a nice hook into Del Rio's ribs.
Del Rio takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Del Rio closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Del Rio jumps guard but Manning stands there with Del Rio around his waist. Del Rio gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Del Rio just leaning against Manning, taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manning looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Manning looking to stall.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Del Rio tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Del Rio decides to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Rio wants to stand and escape but Manning is having none of it.
Manning's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Manning has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Manning looking to pass the guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Del Rio wants to stand and escape but Manning is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Manning dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Del Rio keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Del Rio takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nice shot by Manning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manning dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Del Rio moves into the clinch.
Del Rio missing with knees to the body.
Manning goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Del Rio has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Manning clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Manning tries to break free.
Manning staying busy and making it hard for Del Rio to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manning tries to escape but Del Rio has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Del Rio trying to control momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Troy Manning will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alberto Del Rio'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. This is the final round!

Manning connects with a good right hand that stumbles Del Rio. Del Rio circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Troy Manning is winning the standup battle so far.
Del Rio tries to clinch but Manning is having none of it.
Manning connects with a body shot.
Nice shot lands for Manning.
Del Rio tries to clinch
and Manning counters with a right hand to the body.

Del Rio rushes Manning and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Del Rio gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Manning.
Del Rio is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Manning to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Del Rio tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
I was talking to Manning's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Del Rio controlling the action here for a moment.
Del Rio wants to take the fight to the mat but Manning manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Rio has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Manning avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Troy Manning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alberto Del Rio.
Del Rio throws a punch but it's blocked by Manning.
Manning is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Del Rio can do to turn this around?
Del Rio has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Manning is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Del Rio misses with the head strike.
Del Rio missing with knees to the body.
Manning lands a left hand.
Del Rio has a couple of punches blocked by Manning.
Del Rio struggles to land a body shot inside as Manning controls his hands.
Del Rio's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Manning is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manning is looking for a takedown.
Del Rio looking for a takedown.

Manning pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Del Rio takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Manning ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Del Rio moves away.
Manning throws a body shot but no joy.
Del Rio wants to counter with a clinch but Manning pushes him away.
Del Rio avoids the body shot from Manning.
Manning throws a leg kick that misses.
Good exchange - Manning coming out on top.
Manning is looking to wear down Del Rio with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Manning connects with a body shot that sends Del Rio's belly button to the back.
Del Rio takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Del Rio is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Manning wobbles Del Rio with a right hand and the left hook that follows puts him on his rear! Manning dives in with a huge flying punch that connects right on the button and puts Del Rio to sleep! - What a violent and spectacular finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Troy Manning!