PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sasha Dezhda (ranked 6150 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eli Manning (ranked 6155 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.

Dezhda
vs
Manning

184 cm
24
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
24
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite 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 Los Angeles, Sasha Dezhda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eli Manning!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manning lands a nice shot to the body.
Sasha Dezhda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dezhda moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Manning punishes Dezhda's body with a nice straight punch.
A big right from Manning misses.
Dezhda lands a lovely overhand right.
Dezhda lands a jab.
Manning throws a hook but Dezhda blocks it.
Manning defending well as Dezhda loads up on a big left hand.
A jab lands there for Manning.
Nice jab there from Dezhda.
Manning swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Dezhda clinches up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manning leaning his opponent against the cage.
Good body shot from Manning.
Manning blocking some punches.
Manning pressing his opponent against the cage.
Manning throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manning lands a left hand.
Manning throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Manning blocking some punches.

Dezhda manages to break the clinch.
Manning looks to score with a jab to the body but Dezhda is just out of range.
Donk. Dezhda catches Manning right on the button with a cross.
Dezhda rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Manning connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dezhda throws out a powerful jab.
Manning scores with a decent looking hook.
Manning looks to land a combination but Dezhda avoids it well.
Dezhda is looking to counter punch.
Dezhda connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Manning's hands.
Manning takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dezhda uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Manning.
Dezhda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dezhda is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

Dezhda moves into the clinch.
Dezhda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dezhda's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Manning steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dezhda.

Dezhda fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Manning, pushing him back against the cage.
Dezhda tries to work over Manning's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Manning is working Dezhda over against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Manning.
Manning lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Manning.
Manning makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Dezhda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dezhda moves out of range as Manning strikes.
Manning scores with a nice right hand.
Dezhda lands with a hook. Manning tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Dezhda is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Dezhda connects with a good right hand that stumbles Manning. Manning circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Manning moves out of range as Dezhda strikes.
Dezhda scores with a jab to the body.
Dezhda scores with a nice strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Dezhda throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Manning moves out of range of the strikes.
Manning is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Dezhda ducks under a wild hook from Manning.
Dezhda misses with a hook.
Manning ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dezhda moves away.
A counter left hand to the body from Dezhda misses its target.
Nice defenses there by Manning.
A decent looking cross lands there for Dezhda.
Manning throws a hook but Dezhda avoids it easily.
Dezhda throws a lazy right hand but Manning sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Manning throws a hook to the side of Dezhda's head but Dezhda sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dezhda misses with a straight left.
Dezhda uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Manning has time to react.
Manning misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dezhda.
Manning missing with a left hand there. Dezhda was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Manning throws the left hand but Dezhda avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dezhda throws a right hand that misses
and Manning counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Manning throws a jab but it's blocked by Dezhda.
Manning loads up on a big right hand but Dezhda slips the punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dezhda throws a body shot but no joy.
Manning wants to counter the offense by Dezhda and move into the clinch position.
Dezhda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dezhda misses with an uppercut
and Manning counters with a left to the body.

Dezhda fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Manning, pushing him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Dezhda fails to land.
Dezhda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Manning tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dezhda working hard to break the clinch.
Dezhda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dezhda misses with the head strike.
Dezhda misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dezhda misses with a punch on the inside.
Dezhda working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
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 Sasha Dezhda will probably get the nod.
That's time! Dezhda's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dezhda throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Manning wants to counter with a clinch but Dezhda pushes him away.
Manning defending well as Dezhda loads up on a big left hand.
Dezhda blocks a jab.
Manning works Dezhda's body with a nice hook.
Manning misses with a hook.
Dezhda is looking to counter punch.
Dezhda misses with a body shot.
A cross from Dezhda lands.
Manning tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dezhda was well out of range. Poor timing from Manning.
Dezhda throwing a counter right hand but Manning manages to avoid it.
Manning takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Manning defending well as Dezhda loads up on a big left hand.

Dezhda rushes Manning and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manning has Dezhda pressed against the cage, preventing Dezhda from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Manning blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dezhda misses with a punch on the inside.
Manning blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Manning has Dezhda pressed against the cage.
Dezhda can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manning misses with a punch on the inside.

Dezhda's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dezhda misses the jab.
A jab from Dezhda finds it's way through Manning's defenses.
Dezhda scores with a nice right hand.
Dezhda avoids a punch combination nicely.
Manning connects with a body shot that sends Dezhda's belly button to the back.
Good exchange - Dezhda coming out on top.
Dezhda connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Dezhda lands a slapping body shot.

Dezhda forces Manning back against the cage and clinches.
Manning keeps control of Dezhda as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Manning lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dezhda backwards.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Dezhda here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manning blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manning misses with a punch on the inside.
Dezhda misses with a punch to the body.
Dezhda has a couple of punches blocked by Manning.
A short right from Manning.
Dezhda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dezhda tries to work over Manning's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dezhda wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dezhda has had enough of the clinch but Manning keeps him there for the moment.
Dezhda doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Manning lands with a right to the head.
Eli Manning seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A nice right hand lands inside from Dezhda.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Manning.
A nice right hand lands inside from Manning.
Manning blocks a body shot from Dezhda.
Manning blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Manning can't find room to land a body shot as Dezhda controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manning blocks an uppercut.
Manning blocks an uppercut.
Manning lands an uppercut.
Dezhda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Manning lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dezhda backwards.
A short body shot lands from Dezhda as the two fighters clinch.
Manning scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Manning pushes Dezhda back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Good body shot from Manning.
Manning gets through Dezhda's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Dezhda misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dezhda wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dezhda misses with the head strike.
Manning stalling against the cage.

Dezhda pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Manning just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dezhda displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Manning has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dezhda lands a right hook to the body.
Manning throws a lazy right hand but Dezhda sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Manning misses the shot to the body.
Manning moves out of range of the strikes.
The fighters circling - Dezhda throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Manning ducks under a wild hook from Dezhda.
Dezhda throws an overhand right that lands on Manning's shoulder, as Manning tries to avoid the shot.
Dezhda takes a swing at Manning's ribcage but misses.
Dezhda misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Manning cracks Dezhda with an open hand slap.
Manning throws a body punch but Dezhda moves out of range.
Manning uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dezhda.
Dezhda pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Manning! But no joy.
Manning swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sasha Dezhda dominated that second round.
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!

Dezhda just misses with a punch to the body.
Manning steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Dezhda.
Manning avoids the body shot from Dezhda.
Dezhda keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Manning misses with an uppercut. Dezhda saw that one coming.
Dezhda is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Manning.
Dezhda connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sasha Dezhda is winning the standup battle so far.

Dezhda has managed to clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Dezhda fails to land.
Manning scores with a shoulder strike.
A frustrated look appears on Dezhda's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Dezhda working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dezhda.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dezhda throws a punch but it's blocked by Manning.
Manning fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Manning misses with a body punch.
Dezhda is trying to push Manning away but Manning has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Dezhda lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short uppercut from Manning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dezhda misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dezhda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dezhda blocking some punches.
Manning misses with a hook from the clinch.
Manning scores with a nice hook to the head.
Manning misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A frustrated look appears on Dezhda's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Dezhda misses with a hook to the ribs.
Manning is stalling here.
A head punch on the inside from Dezhda fails to land.
Manning goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Manning blocks an uppercut.
Dezhda is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Dezhda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dezhda moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Manning showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dezhda.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dezhda misses with a hook. Manning ducked under it nicely.
Manning misses with a two punch combination.
Manning takes a swing at Dezhda's ribcage but misses.

Dezhda gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dezhda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Manning.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manning lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Manning misses with a body punch.
Dezhda cracks Manning with a nice body shot.
Manning tries to work over Dezhda's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dezhda working aggressively here.
Manning tries to work over Dezhda's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Manning.
Dezhda misses with a punch on the inside.
Manning is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manning struggles to land a body shot inside as Dezhda controls his hands.
Dezhda swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Manning creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Dezhda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dezhda working aggressively here.
Manning fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dezhda misses with a punch on the inside.
Eli Manning has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manning swings wildly with an uppercut but Dezhda uses good head movement to avoid it.
Manning is trying to stall.
Dezhda working aggressively here.
Good body shot from Manning.
Manning blocks an uppercut.
Manning lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dezhda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dezhda fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dezhda throws a punch but it's blocked by Manning.
Manning misses with a punch on the inside.
Dezhda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Manning's elbow.
Dezhda blocks an uppercut.
Manning cracks Dezhda with a nice body shot.
Dezhda goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Manning.
Dezhda tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Manning misses with some punches.
Dezhda throws a head punch that misses.
Manning misses with a punch on the inside.
Dezhda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Manning swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Manning fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dezhda swings wildly with an uppercut but Manning uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sasha Dezhda.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dezhda, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Sasha Dezhda!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Sasha Dezhda!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Sasha Dezhda!

Sasha Dezhda wins by unanimous decision!