PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manu Tuilagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamish Gaffney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tuilagi
vs
Gaffney

174 cm
36
183 lbs
27 - 14 - 0

187 cm
43
182 lbs
15 - 32 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Decent elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manu Tuilagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 32 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Hamish Gaffney!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Darius Henderson and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tuilagi misses with a body kick.
Gaffney uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tuilagi.
Gaffney misses with a takedown attempt - Tuilagi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tuilagi throwing a counter right hand but Gaffney manages to avoid it.

Tuilagi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gaffney did well to prevent Tuilagi getting side control.
Tuilagi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tuilagi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tuilagi drops an elbow to the side of Gaffney's head.

Tuilagi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tuilagi takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Tuilagi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gaffney doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tuilagi.
Tuilagi slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuilagi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tuilagi lands with a punch from half guard.

Tuilagi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gaffney is trying to maintain the position but Tuilagi is very close to passing his half guard.
Gaffney regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Tuilagi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaffney keeping moving, preventing Tuilagi from controlling successfully.
Tuilagi slips nicely into half guard.
Tuilagi working Gaffney over with strikes.
Tuilagi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tuilagi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tuilagi is looking to take a break and control but Gaffney is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Tuilagi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gaffney sees it coming and defends easily.
Tuilagi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gaffney does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tuilagi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gaffney is looking to improve his position.
Gaffney trying to control from the bottom.
Tuilagi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Gaffney has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tuilagi is working away from the top position though.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Tuilagi in particular looking to stall.

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.
Gaffney is refusing to be controlled, as Tuilagi sits in half guard.
Tuilagi looks to land a strike but Gaffney avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Gaffney wants to sweep here but Tuilagi controlling him for the moment.
Tuilagi chips away with some ground and pound.
Tuilagi stands up over Gaffney, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tuilagi connects with a couple of short punches.
Tuilagi is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Tuilagi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Tuilagi lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gaffney wants to sweep here but Tuilagi controlling him for the moment.
Tuilagi connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Tuilagi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice sprawl there from Tuilagi as Gaffney shoots in.
Tuilagi is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gaffney.

Tuilagi closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Gaffney quickly recovers to half guard.
Gaffney is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gaffney taking some punishment here, with Tuilagi in his half guard.
Tuilagi slows the pace down in half guard.
Tuilagi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gaffney tries to get to full guard but Tuilagi has control of the leg.
Gaffney blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tuilagi.
Tuilagi working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuilagi prevents Gaffney from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Well, if Tuilagi is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tuilagi lands a nice short elbow.
Gaffney on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Tuilagi seems content to control.
Nice strikes from Tuilagi there.
Tuilagi lands strikes from half guard.
Tuilagi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gaffney tries to get to full guard but Tuilagi has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuilagi drops an elbow to the side of Gaffney's head.
Manu Tuilagi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tuilagi wants to control but Gaffney is keeping him busy.
Tuilagi stalling away here and it's allowed Gaffney to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Tuilagi won't allow Gaffney to sweep him here.
Tuilagi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tuilagi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tuilagi trying to control but Gaffney is working from the bottom.
Tuilagi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tuilagi postures up in Gaffney's guard and throws a big left but Gaffney blocks it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tuilagi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tuilagi controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tuilagi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuilagi stands up over Gaffney, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tuilagi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tuilagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Gaffney is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tuilagi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Gaffney is rocked!
Tuilagi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gaffney is still in real trouble! Can Tuilagi finish him?
Gaffney keeping moving, preventing Tuilagi from controlling successfully.
Tuilagi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gaffney 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.
Gaffney has momentary wrist control but Tuilagi slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuilagi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tuilagi loads up on a big left hand. Gaffney felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Tuilagi looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Gaffney can't hide his disappointment, as Tuilagi celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Manu Tuilagi!
Manu Tuilagi gave a mention to HERITAGE Threads in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).