PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lester Manning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Omar Little (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Manning
vs
Little

170 cm
19
151 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

180 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lester Manning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Omar Little!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manning closes the distance and clinches up with Little, looking for a takedown. Manning pushes Little against the cage but Little circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Little throws a series of punches but Manning avoids them all with ease.
Manning takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Lester Manning has been cut.
Little is looking to land body kicks.
Manning doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Little counters with a right hand to the body.
Manning is trying hard to land a takedown here. Little sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lester Manning. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Little stuffs the takedown attempt from Manning. Manning gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manning misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Manning doesn't manage to clinch there - Little circles away.

Little gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Little breaks the clinch.

Little clinches with his opponent.
Little misses with an elbow over the top.
Manning drops down looking for an ankle pick but Little pulls his leg out and moves away.
Manning misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Manning shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Little as he avoids it easily.

Little darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Little keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Little might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Little takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Little throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Manning to regain full guard.
Little trying to control the position from guard on top but Manning is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Little wants to stand but Manning is controlling his posture from full guard.
Little stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Manning swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Little trying to control but Manning is working from the bottom.
Manning 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.
Little looking to sit in guard and control but Manning gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Little pulls Manning in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Manning postures up.

Little had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Manning defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Little 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.

Little had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Manning defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Manning is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Little is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Little has escaped and now he's on top!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Omar Little dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lester Manning's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Little fails with a takedown attempt.
Little with a poor takedown
and Manning counters with a left and a right that stings Little.

Little shoots in and gets a takedown into Manning's guard.

Manning is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Little presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Little has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Little tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lester Manning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Omar Little.
Little taking a breather.
Little manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Manning pulls Little into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manning is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manning trying to control from half guard but Little is working away.
Little misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Little is trying to maintain the position but Manning is very close to passing his half guard.
Lester Manning overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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.

Manning looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Little tries to get to full guard but Manning has control of the leg.
Little is breathing heavily.
Manning landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Little regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Little trying to control the position.
Little trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Manning is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Manning trying to control but Little is working from the bottom.
Manning 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 ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lester Manning is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manning shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Little sprawls well. Little wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Manning gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Manning looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Little will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Little clinches up with Manning and pushes him back against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Manning keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Little's efforts to push away.
Manning is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Little is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lester Manning dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lester Manning's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Little lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

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

Little manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Manning is trying to drag Little to the mat but Little just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Manning lands a hook that snaps the head of Little backwards.
Manning jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Little walks away with a smile on his face. Manning gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Manning shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Little as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lester Manning. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manning misses with a takedown attempt - Little sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Little looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Little tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Manning was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Manning goes for a double leg but Little avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Little continues to drive forward.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Little is defended easily by Manning.
Omar Little seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Little shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Little was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Little decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Little tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Little looking to score a takedown here. Manning is defending well but Little drives through and ends up in Manning's guard.
Manning wants to get back to his feet but Little passes into half guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Little slows the pace down in half guard.
Little seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manning preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Manning is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Little jumps into side control!
Manning regains half guard there - taking advantage of Little's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Little is pressing down on Manning's thigh, looking to free his foot. Manning is holding on for now.

That's four 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.

Little is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Little wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Manning uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Little throws an elbow that misses. Manning uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Little's guard. Nice move by Manning!

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manning throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Omar Little comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Little has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Omar Little!