PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Borys Mankowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Strikes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Mankowski might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Kękę -Wyjebane. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Mankowski
vs
Strikes

180 cm
26
160 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

186 cm
47
180 lbs
38 - 36 - 2

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Borys Mankowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 36 - 2, fighting out of London, Carlos Strikes!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strikes tries to clinch there but Mankowski circles away.

Mankowski drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Strikes is looking to stand up but Mankowski isn't so interested in that idea.
Strikes looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strikes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mankowski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mankowski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Strikes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mankowski trying to control but Strikes is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mankowski throws a big elbow that misses.
Strikes 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.

Strikes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mankowski gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mankowski wants to control from the top but Strikes keeps moving.
Mankowski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mankowski trying to control but Strikes is working from the bottom.

Strikes working for a triangle but Mankowski defends it easily.
Strikes is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Mankowski drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Strikes dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strikes trying to control but Mankowski is working from the bottom.

Mankowski isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Strikes stacks Mankowski on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Strikes!

Strikes decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Strikes fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mankowski to the ground. Strikes is now in Mankowski's guard.

Mankowski looking for a guillotine here but Strikes defends easily.
Mankowski wants to sweep here but Strikes controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mankowski has a closed guard, preventing Strikes from standing up.

Mankowski is working an open guard so Strikes takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Strikes tries to clinch

and Mankowski decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Strikes's guard.
Strikes wants to sweep here but Mankowski controlling him for the moment.
Mankowski looking to sit in guard and control but Strikes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Strikes is stalling in the full guard.
Mankowski wants to sweep here but Strikes controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strikes 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.
Strikes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Strikes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Mankowski looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Mankowski escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Strikes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mankowski keeping moving, preventing Strikes from controlling successfully.
Strikes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Carlos Strikes will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Strikes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Carlos Strikes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mankowski throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Strikes was covering up waiting for the punch and Mankowski finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Mankowski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mankowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Strikes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Borys Mankowski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Strikes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strikes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mankowski looking to pass the guard.
Mankowski working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mankowski throws an elbow that misses. Strikes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mankowski's guard. Nice move by Strikes!

Mankowski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Strikes trying to control but Mankowski is working from the bottom.

Mankowski throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Strikes escapes and throws Mankowski's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Mankowski tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Mankowski can't escape the position.
Strikes throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mankowski keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mankowski is trying to reverse the position but instead Strikes has taken his back - oops!
Mankowski is really stuck here.
Mankowski manages to reverse the position and now he's in Strikes's guard. Nice work there by Mankowski.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Strikes holds on and takes a little breather.
Strikes keeping full guard, as Mankowski tries to pass.
Mankowski prevents Strikes from getting back to his feet.
Strikes has control of Mankowski's left arm, preventing Mankowski from doing any damage.
Strikes keeping moving, preventing Mankowski from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strikes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mankowski is controlling him.
Mankowski works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Mankowski is working for a submission of some sort.
Mankowski is trying to control. Strikes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Strikes controlling the position for now.
Strikes is trying to stand.

Mankowski is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Strikes defends it well.
Mankowski trying to advance position but Strikes counters by regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mankowski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Mankowski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Strikes is keeping the position for now.
Strikes is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Strikes looking for a sweep. Not yet Strikes, not yet.
Mankowski trying to control the position from guard on top but Strikes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Strikes tries to clinch up but Mankowski circles away and keeps his distance.
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 Borys Mankowski will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Strikes goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
We've been informed that Strikes has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Strikes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mankowski shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Strikes sprawls well. Strikes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mankowski gets slowly back to his feet.
Strikes with a body punch. A glancing blow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strikes goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strikes throws a lazy body kick

and Mankowski counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Strikes!
Strikes is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mankowski is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Strikes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Strikes is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Mankowski wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Strikes, who protects the arm well.
Strikes can't do much from the bottom here.
Strikes throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mankowski is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Strikes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Strikes is trying to buck Mankowski off.
Mankowski advances to full mount.
Mankowski wants to take his opponent's back but Strikes doesn't allow it.
Strikes sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Strikes taking some punishment here, with Mankowski in his half guard.
Mankowski trying to advance position but Strikes counters by regaining guard.
Mankowski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Strikes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mankowski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strikes pulls Mankowski in close to prevent any damage.
Strikes looking to control.
Strikes managing to control the position.
Mankowski won't allow Strikes to sweep him here.
Mankowski scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Strikes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mankowski lands a couple of elbows.
Strikes is trying to control the position but Mankowski postures up.

Mankowski postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Strikes is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Mankowski, into his guard.

Mankowski is looking to stand up but Strikes isn't so interested in that idea.

Mankowski working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Strikes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Strikes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mankowski looking to hit a scissor sweep but Strikes is one step ahead there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Strikes trying to control the position from guard on top but Mankowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Carlos Strikes.
I think Strikes has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Carlos Strikes!
A victorious Carlos Strikes thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.