PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mansa Musa (ranked 6485 p4p, 0 weight class) and Francis Black (ranked 6789 p4p, 0 weight class). Francis Black has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mansa Musa's chin.

Musa
vs
Black

164 cm
21
133 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

167 cm
23
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mansa Musa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Francis Black!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Musa lands with a thumping leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Black blocks the leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Musa, right into the meat.

Black drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Black keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Musa's head.
Black trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Black slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Black has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Musa takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Musa wants to get back to his feet but Black drags him back down.
Black is working Musa over with some ground and pound from side control.
Black wants to lay and pray for a moment but Musa keeps working.
Musa is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Black asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Musa on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Musa tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Musa prevents Black from moving into mount.

Black wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Musa, who protects the arm well.
Black is putting a hurting on Musa here, landing some big shots from side control.
Black is looking to take a break and control but Musa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Black lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's two 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.
Musa wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Black is looking to take a break and control but Musa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Black passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Musa!
Black lands with some strikes.
Black pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Musa is bucking up trying to escape but Black cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Musa is squirming around, avoiding Black's attempts to control the action.
Black lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Black controlling the pace for now.
Musa is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Black postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Musa looks a forlorn figure.
Black content just to control the position here.
Black working the ground and pound effectively.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Black landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black scoring with strikes but Musa is staying in there.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Black cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Black landing strikes from the mount and Musa is in trouble!

Musa is rocked!
You get the feeling that Musa really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Oh Musa is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Black working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Black wants to control the pace but Musa is squirming around nicely.
Musa seems to have got his legs back now.
Black landing strikes, looking to finish!
Black tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Black punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Black dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Black chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Musa can pounce on him.
A low kick from Musa is predictable there

and Black counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Black seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Black moves into full mount! Musa won't be happy about that!
Black putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Musa is trying to stand.
Musa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Black on the ground.
Black raining down shots from the mount!
Black pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Black punishing his opponent with strikes.
The referee warns Musa that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Black scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Black pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Black sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Musa taking shots to the head.
Black is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Musa can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Black raining down hammerfists from mount.
Black working the ground and pound effectively.
Musa is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Black has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Black cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Black landing strikes, looking to finish!
Black landing strikes, looking to finish!
Black trying to control but Musa is having none of it.
Black with a couple of short strikes.
Black tries to control but Musa wriggling away.
Black working Musa over with strikes here.
Francis Black has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Musa is trying to stand.
Black lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Musa really wants to buck Black off and get back to his feet.
Black breaks from Musa's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Black lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Musa really wants to buck Black off and get back to his feet.
Black lands a big shot there that rocks Musa but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Black lands a big elbow.
Black putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Black raining down hammerfists from mount.

Black looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Black controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Musa taking shots to the head.
Black wants to control the pace but Musa is squirming around nicely.
Musa is in a horrible position here. Black smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Black cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Black controlling from mount.
You get the feeling that Musa really doesn't like being in this position too much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Black showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Black misses with a hook.
Musa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Black throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Musa thows a leg kick but Black checks it

and Black counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Black is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Black forces his way into half guard.
Black looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ground and pound from Black.
Black lands with a punch from half guard.
Black controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black working Musa over with strikes.
Black scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Black controlling the action here.
Black seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Black is trying to control. Musa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Black passes the guard and advances to mount!
Francis Black is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Musa wants to try and get back to his feet.
Black looking to control but Musa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Musa's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Black connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Black takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Black cracks Musa with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Black looking to secure an arm triangle but Musa defends it well.
Black controlling from mount.
Black fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Black connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Black pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Black scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Musa?
Black controlling from mount.
Musa is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black dominating with strikes here.
Musa is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Black cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Musa squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Black controlling from the full mount.
Black putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Musa taking shots to the head.
Black pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mansa Musa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Musa is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francis Black comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Black winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 25:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 25:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Francis Black!