PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Papa Shango (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manuel La Bor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). La Bor is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Centuries. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shango
vs
La Bor

177 cm
36
166 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

179 cm
28
155 lbs
19 - 9 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Papa Shango!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 2, fighting out of New York, Manuel La Bor!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Chris Edwards and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shango dodges the punch combination from La Bor.
Shango is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from La Bor.
La Bor misses the shot to the body.
Shango half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
La Bor misses with a kick to the body

and Shango counters with a nice double leg into guard.
La Bor controls Shango momentarily but Shango frees himself.
Shango sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed La Bor's guard.
La Bor wants to improve his position but Shango is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
La Bor is still trying to improve position.
Shango seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shango prevents La Bor from improving his position.
La Bor trying to hold on to Shango's head to control him but Shango postures up.
Shango perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
La Bor is looking to control Shango's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can La Bor avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
La Bor is looking for a sweep. Shango is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
La Bor trying to control but Shango postures up.
Shango tries to pass to full mount but La Bor defends it.
La Bor wants to get back to full guard.
La Bor is refusing to be controlled, as Shango sits in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
La Bor misses with a looping left.
La Bor looks to score with a jab to the body but Shango is just out of range.
Shango appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Shango blocks a jab.
Shango seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Jab from La Bor.
Manuel La Bor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shango bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
La Bor ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
La Bor throws a leg kick

and Shango counters by clinching up.

Shango ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Shango no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
La Bor won't allow Shango to sweep him here.
Shango is working hard here to advance position.
La Bor trying to control the position from guard on top but Shango is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shango is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Shango keeping full guard, as La Bor tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shango had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. La Bor defends it easily.
Shango is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shango trying to control the position here.
La Bor wants to pass the guard but Shango is keeping the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shango keeping moving, preventing La Bor from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shango has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but La Bor can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Papa Shango dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

La Bor misses with a two punch combination.
Shango changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
La Bor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Shango at a distance.
La Bor looks to land a body kick but Shango moved away.
La Bor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shango was well out of range. Poor timing from La Bor.
La Bor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shango was well out of range. Poor timing from La Bor.
Shango half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Shango ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Shango tries to counter with a takedown but La Bor is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
La Bor is looking to slow Shango down with leg kicks.
La Bor is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Shango rather than just go for the knockout.
La Bor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
La Bor fakes the leg kick and cracks Shango in the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shango blocks a jab.
Shango seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
La Bor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
La Bor scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
La Bor throws a leg kick that is checked

and Shango counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shango.
Shango passes into half guard.

Shango is trying to work for a kimura but La Bor is defending well.
La Bor is refusing to be controlled, as Shango sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La Bor is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Shango's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Shango's back!
La Bor is hanging on to Shango's back as he tries to escape.
La Bor is trying to stick to Shango's back but Shango is turning into La Bor. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in La Bor's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Shango.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shango postures up.
Shango trying to control but La Bor is working from the bottom.
Shango trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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

Shango keeping moving, preventing La Bor from controlling successfully.
La Bor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shango is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
La Bor trying to control but Shango is working from the bottom.
Shango not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
La Bor looking to sit in guard and control but Shango gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Shango won't allow La Bor to sweep him here.
La Bor keeping full guard, as Shango tries to pass.
La Bor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
La Bor keeping moving, preventing Shango from controlling successfully.
Shango looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
La Bor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shango is one step ahead there.
La Bor is pulling down on Shango's head. It's preventing any offense from Shango, at least for the moment.
La Bor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
La Bor keeps trying to improve his position.

Shango drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shango jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shango wants to control from the top but La Bor keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel La Bor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

La Bor digs a good body shot into Shango's ribs.
La Bor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
La Bor throws a leg kick

and Shango counters with a nice double leg into guard.
La Bor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shango wants to control from the top but La Bor keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shango is pushing down on La Bor's leg trying to pass to half guard. La Bor is fighting to maintain full guard but Shango has managed to sneak the leg through.
Shango sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. La Bor defending well though.
Shango is keen to just control but La Bor is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La Bor wants to control but Shango is keeping busy.
Shango lands with a punch from half guard.
La Bor wants to control but Shango is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shango looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
La Bor is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Shango is working for a kimura but La Bor is defending it quite comfortably.

Shango is working for a submission of some sort.

Shango 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.
La Bor is looking to control Shango's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can La Bor avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shango is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
La Bor is holding on to half guard well.

Shango 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.
Shango prevents La Bor from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shango wants to lay and pray for a moment but La Bor keeps working.
La Bor felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Papa Shango overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Shango is sneakily working for an arm triangle but La Bor sees it coming and defends easily.
La Bor slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Shango tries to free his leg and advance position but La Bor is retaining full guard.
Shango stops La Bor from standing up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
La Bor keeping moving, preventing Shango from controlling successfully.
La Bor tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shango wants to pass the guard but La Bor is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Papa Shango showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shango has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Papa Shango!
A less than humble Papa Shango misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.
Manuel La Bor spoke after the fight, saying 'I am off to the gym,..we will see each other again.'.