PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dean Larson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Larson
vs
McManus

169 cm
23
133 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

179 cm
21
135 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dean Larson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John McManus!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Larson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming McManus to the mat! McManus manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Larson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! McManus is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! McManus has escaped and now he's on top!
McManus wants to pass the guard but Larson is keeping the position.
Larson keeping moving, preventing McManus from controlling successfully.

Larson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McManus doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McManus manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
McManus with a flurry of punches that miss.
McManus is working Larson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
McManus postures up.
McManus wants to stand but Larson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Larson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McManus gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Larson trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson keeping full guard, as McManus tries to pass.

Larson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McManus can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Larson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McManus postures up and lands a big shot to Larson's brow.
Larson looking to hit a scissor sweep but McManus is one step ahead there.
Larson keeping full guard, as McManus tries to pass.
McManus sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Larson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
McManus with the ground and pound but Larson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
McManus working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Larson's head.
McManus working some strikes from top position.
Larson looking for a sweep. Not yet Larson, not yet.
Larson is breathing heavily.
McManus trying to control but Larson is working from the bottom.
McManus preventing the sweep.

McManus drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Larson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now McManus has Larson in his guard.
Larson won't allow McManus to sweep him here.

McManus looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Larson passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus gets back to full guard.

McManus has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Larson is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for McManus.
Larson working the head and body with strikes.
McManus is trying to control Larson's posture but Larson avoids it.
Larson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt McManus will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Larson is chipping away with strikes.
The referee asks Larson politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Larson prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Larson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Larson is looking to take a break and control but McManus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McManus won't allow Larson to pass to mount.
Larson trying to control the action but McManus is working from the bottom.

McManus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
McManus trying to control from the bottom.
Larson wants to pass to mount but McManus is defending the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

McManus looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
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 Dean Larson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

McManus lets loose with a powerful body kick. Larson will feel that in the morning.
Larson misses with a takedown

and McManus moves into the clinch.
McManus prevents a takedown attempt there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. McManus avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dean Larson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Larson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but McManus pulls him back up using the underhooks.
McManus has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Larson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McManus has Larson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. McManus pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Larson tumbling to the mat - McManus dives into Larson's guard.
McManus looking to pass the guard.
McManus must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McManus controls from within his opponent's guard.
McManus scoring with punches to the head and body.
McManus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Larson striking off his back, scoring a few points.
McManus preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larson is trying to control the position but McManus postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Larson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
McManus tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Larson was well out of range. Poor timing from McManus.

McManus shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Larson controls McManus momentarily but McManus frees himself.
McManus trying to control but Larson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
McManus trying to stand up but can't free himself from Larson's guard.
Larson looking for a sweep. Not yet Larson, not yet.
McManus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McManus working some strikes from top position.
McManus wants to pass the guard but Larson is keeping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
McManus fails with an attempt to clinch.
Larson with a lazy takedown attempt

and McManus counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus throws a strike but Larson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

McManus working for a triangle but Larson defends it easily.

McManus throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McManus is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Larson thows a big elbow that misses.
McManus looking to hit a scissor sweep but Larson is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John McManus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McManus has his takedown stuffed

and Larson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Larson.
Larson trying to control but McManus is working from the bottom.
Larson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because McManus is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
McManus looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McManus is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Larson passes McManus's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Larson is tying to control. McManus wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

McManus has one foot on Larson's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Larson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and McManus counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Larson!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
McManus can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Larson is looking to escape.
Larson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Larson tries to hold on but McManus pushes him away.
McManus looking to finish Larson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Larson!

McManus wants to finish this one by submission but Larson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from McManus.
Larson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
McManus prevents Larson from getting the reversal.
McManus controlling the position easily from mount.
Larson is desperately trying to improve his position but McManus has a good base and remains in mount.
Larson is working hard here to advance position.
McManus controlling from the full mount.
McManus with shots to the head and body - Larson looks very uncomfortable down there.
John McManus has got the better of the ground game so far.
Larson is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Larson trying to control the hands but McManus breaks the grip.
McManus lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Larson.

McManus has got one arm under Larson's chin. This could be trouble... Larson trying to control the other hand but McManus gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Larson has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). John McManus!