PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Otumba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ling Manchu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manchu is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bodies. Stephen Otumba could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ling Manchu's chin.

Otumba
vs
Manchu

204 cm
21
220 lbs
4 - 12 - 0

208 cm
27
245 lbs
9 - 29 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stephen Otumba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 29 - 0, fighting out of London, Ling Manchu!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manchu has his takedown stuffed

and Otumba counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Otumba in particular looking to stall.
Otumba with the ground and pound but Manchu uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Otumba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Otumba slips nicely into half guard.
Otumba wants to pass the guard but Manchu is defending well.
We've been hearing good reports from Otumba's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manchu is refusing to be controlled, as Otumba sits in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Manchu avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Otumba.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manchu is refusing to be controlled, as Otumba sits in half guard.
Otumba throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Otumba missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Otumba is keen to just control but Manchu is a slippery customer.
Otumba stalling away here and it's allowed Manchu to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Otumba is breathing heavily.
Manchu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Manchu is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Manchu working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Manchu stalling.
Manchu 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Otumba is trying to maintain the position but Manchu is very close to passing his half guard.
Otumba is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Manchu scores with a couple of nice shots.
Otumba 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.
Manchu looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Otumba with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Otumba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Manchu winds up and cracks Otumba with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Otumba on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Otumba trying to control here.
Manchu takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Otumba has hold of Manchu's hands but Manchu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Otumba tries to get to full guard but Manchu has control of the leg.
Otumba has hold of Manchu's hands but Manchu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Otumba is looking to improve his position.
Otumba wants to control but Manchu is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Otumba is defending against the submission attempts here by Manchu.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Manchu connects with a nice short shot to Otumba's temple.
Manchu trying to control the pace.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Manchu lands a nice short elbow.
Manchu working Otumba over with strikes.
Otumba is trying to get back to full guard.
Otumba has hold of Manchu's hands but Manchu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Manchu working Otumba over with strikes.
Manchu takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manchu working over Otumba with some ground and pound. Otumba looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manchu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Manchu lands strikes from half guard.
Manchu scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Manchu is thwarting Otumba's attempts to control the position.
Manchu lands with a punch from half guard.
Otumba is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Manchu scores with a couple of nice shots.
Otumba wants to control but Manchu is keeping busy.
Manchu not doing much here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manchu landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Manchu is thwarting Otumba's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ling Manchu dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Manchu misses with a takedown

and Otumba counters with a nice double leg into side control. Manchu won't be happy with that.
Otumba trying to control the position but Manchu is working away.
Otumba tries to move into full mount but can't pass Manchu's legs.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Manchu can do anything to dispel that myth.
Manchu gets back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manchu trying to control here.
Otumba is stalling here. Manchu is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Otumba seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Manchu has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manchu controlling the position.
Otumba is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Manchu connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Otumba some visible discomfort.
Otumba is trying to escape the position but Manchu is controlling the position.
Manchu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Otumba keeps working.
Manchu working the head and body with strikes.
Ling Manchu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Otumba takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Manchu scores with a couple of short elbows.
Otumba is looking to regain half guard here but Manchu keeps moving and retains side control.
Manchu connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Otumba some visible discomfort.
Otumba tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Manchu wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Otumba is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Manchu off and has taken his back!
Otumba struggling to land strikes to the head as Manchu covers up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Otumba has the hooks in. Manchu is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Otumba trying to control momentarily.
Otumba looking to hold on to the position here but Manchu rolls and ends up regaining guard.
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!
Otumba wants to pass the guard but Manchu is keeping the position.
Otumba throws a strike but Manchu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Manchu controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Manchu's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manchu stands up over Otumba, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Manchu stopping the sweep attempt from Otumba.
Manchu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Otumba being controlled here, momentarily.
Otumba 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.
Otumba has momentary wrist control but Manchu slips an elbow through the middle.
Otumba is trying to control the position but Manchu postures up.
Manchu landing with the ground and pound.
Manchu not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Manchu chips away with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manchu is fighting to break Otumba's control of his arms but Otumba is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Manchu chips away with some ground and pound.
Manchu stands up over Otumba, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Otumba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Manchu is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Otumba working a defensive guard here.
Manchu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Manchu engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Otumba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manchu sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Manchu with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ling Manchu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Manchu shoots in but Otumba avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Manchu.
Otumba tries to counter with a takedown but Manchu is quick to defend against it.
Ling Manchu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manchu shoots in but no luck this time.
Otumba tries to counter with a takedown but Manchu is quick to defend against it.
Stephen Otumba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ling Manchu.
Nice defenses there by Otumba.
Otumba tries to counter with a takedown but Manchu is quick to defend against it.
Manchu fails with a takedown attempt.
Otumba drops down looking for a counter takedown but Manchu sprawls and moves away.
Manchu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Otumba. No joy for Manchu on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manchu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Otumba counters with a nice double leg into side control. Manchu won't be happy with that.
Otumba wants to control but Manchu is keeping him busy.
Otumba is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Manchu is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Manchu parries the strikes from Otumba easily there. Otumba is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Manchu to escape.
Otumba is looking to take a break and control but Manchu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Otumba.
Otumba trying to control the action but Manchu is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manchu defending against the ground and pound.
Otumba creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Manchu sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Manchu is not content to let Otumba control the position.
Otumba working the strikes but Manchu uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Otumba is trying to control. Manchu wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Otumba not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Otumba wants to control but Manchu is keeping him busy.
Manchu wants to improve his position but Otumba is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Manchu fails with a takedown attempt.
Otumba feinted with a counter takedown.
Manchu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Otumba avoids it really well and circles away.

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.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Manchu.

Manchu gets a double leg takedown into Otumba's guard.
Otumba is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Otumba is really struggling to control Manchu but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Manchu sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Otumba trying to keep a closed guard but Manchu is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Manchu controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Otumba showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Manchu 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ling Manchu!
A relieved looking Ling Manchu thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.