PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Ragnar (ranked 6615 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francesco Manzo (ranked 6566 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ragnar
vs
Manzo

185 cm
18
202 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rocco Ragnar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Francesco Manzo!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, John Roberts and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Manzo feints and as Ragnar raises his hands in defense, Manzo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ragnar striking off his back but it's not causing Manzo any problems.
Ragnar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ragnar missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ragnar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Manzo wants to improve his position but Ragnar is controlling well.
Ragnar takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

It looks like Francesco Manzo has been cut.
Ragnar sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Manzo defending well though.
Ragnar seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ragnar controlling the action here.

Manzo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ragnar pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manzo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ragnar.
Ragnar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ragnar drops an elbow to the side of Manzo's head.
Ragnar thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ragnar content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ragnar not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ragnar prevents Manzo from standing back up.
Manzo is holding on to half guard well.

Ragnar seems to be working for a kimura but Manzo defends the submission attempt.
Manzo should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manzo has hold of Ragnar's hands but Ragnar slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Manzo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ragnar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ragnar works his way into side control.
Ragnar trying to control the action but Manzo is working from the bottom.
Manzo wants to control but Ragnar postures up.
Manzo is looking for a sweep.
Manzo wants to control but Ragnar postures up.
Ragnar taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ragnar working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Manzo is looking for a sweep.
Ragnar trying to control the action but Manzo is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Manzo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Manzo defending against the ground and pound.
Ragnar cracks Manzo with a big right hand but Manzo just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Manzo is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Manzo tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ragnar connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Manzo some visible discomfort.
Ragnar creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Manzo sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Manzo is looking for a sweep.
Ragnar lands a few punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manzo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ragnar wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Ragnar lands a nice forearm strike.
Ragnar sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Manzo is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The ground and pound from Ragnar seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Ragnar throws an elbow but Manzo slips to the side and avoids it well.
Ragnar is looking to take a break and control but Manzo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manzo is trying to control Ragnar's posture but Ragnar avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Ragnar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Francesco Manzo's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ragnar drives through with a takedown into Manzo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Ragnar wants to control from the top but Manzo keeps moving.
Manzo 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.
Ragnar landing some decent shots from guard.
Ragnar being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manzo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ragnar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Manzo can do to turn this around?
Ragnar won't allow Manzo to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ragnar cracks Manzo with a solid left hand.

That has opened up Francesco Manzo's cut even more.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Manzo holds on and takes a little breather.
Manzo keeping moving, preventing Ragnar from controlling successfully.
Ragnar slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ragnar lands a couple of digs.
Ragnar pushes down on Manzo's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Ragnar trying to control from Manzo's half guard. Manzo has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Ragnar throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ragnar scoring with some ground and pound.
Ragnar wants to control from the top but Manzo keeps moving.
Manzo keeping full guard, as Ragnar tries to pass.
Ragnar content to stall in guard here.
Manzo wants to stand but Ragnar is controlling the position.

Manzo isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ragnar stacks Manzo 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 Ragnar!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manzo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Manzo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Manzo is trying to improve his position.
Ragnar 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.

Ragnar is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Manzo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Manzo is not content to let Ragnar control the position.
Ragnar creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Manzo sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four 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.
Manzo defending against the ground and pound.
Manzo is looking for a sweep.
Manzo is trying to control Ragnar's posture but Ragnar avoids it.

Ragnar thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Ragnar scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Manzo to see if he's OK.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ragnar prevents Manzo from escaping the position.
An elbow from Ragnar crashes against the mat.
Manzo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ragnar's best efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Ragnar dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Francesco Manzo's cut.
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!

Manzo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Ragnar on his heels. He'll look to pass Ragnar's guard now, I'm sure.
Manzo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ragnar throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Manzo wants to control from the top but Ragnar keeps moving.
Ragnar trying to control the position.
Manzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Ragnar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manzo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manzo trying to control the position from guard on top but Ragnar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manzo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ragnar wants to sweep here but Manzo controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manzo landing with the ground and pound.
Ragnar controls Manzo momentarily but Manzo frees himself.
Ragnar looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Ragnar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Manzo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Manzo stays in close to Ragnar's body and controls the position.
Ragnar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ragnar throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two 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.
Ragnar displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Manzo.

Manzo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manzo keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ragnar's head.
Manzo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Manzo wants to pass the guard but Ragnar is keeping the position.
Manzo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Ragnar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Manzo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Manzo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Manzo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ragnar trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Manzo is stalling in the full guard.

Ragnar looking for a guillotine here but Manzo defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manzo with a nice head shot there.

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.
Manzo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Manzo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ragnar working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Manzo.
Rocco Ragnar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ragnar is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Manzo is aware though and is defending well.
Manzo won't allow Ragnar to sweep him here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Manzo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ragnar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Manzo has managed to get both his arms back between Ragnar's legs - danger averted.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Manzo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ragnar manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Manzo distracts Ragnar with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Manzo 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.
Francesco Manzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rocco Ragnar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Manzo scoring with punches to the head and body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francesco Manzo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ragnar has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocco Ragnar!