PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Iggy Manley (ranked 2014 p4p, 240 weight class) and Horatius McDaniels (ranked 1635 p4p, 195 weight class). Manley comes to the cage accompanied by Born in the USA. Horatius McDaniels told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Manley
vs
McDaniels

180 cm
30
192 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

188 cm
20
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Iggy Manley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Horatius McDaniels!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Sergei Dronov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDaniels throws a body kick that misses

and Manley counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McDaniels tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Manley manages to move to mount!
McDaniels wants to try and get back to his feet.
Manley punching from mount but McDaniels doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Manley with a couple of short strikes.
You get the feeling that McDaniels really doesn't like being in this position too much.
McDaniels told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Manley trying to control but McDaniels is having none of it.
Manley controlling the position easily from mount.
McDaniels is in a horrible position here. Manley smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
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!
Manley looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
McDaniels is trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manley landing punches.
Manley controlling from the full mount.

Manley looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
McDaniels wants to get back to his feet.

McDaniels somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Manley fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McDaniels throws a head kick that Manley semi-blocks.
Manley is trying hard to land a takedown here. McDaniels sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A head kick misses from Manley.
McDaniels will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
McDaniels looks to land a body kick but Manley moved away.
McDaniels throws out a loose jab but Manley uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Manley takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
McDaniels cracks a nice hook into Manley's ribs.
McDaniels throws a combination. Manley tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Manley showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from McDaniels.
Manley tries to counter with a takedown but McDaniels is quick to defend against it.
McDaniels's corner calls for a 1-2. McDaniels obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Manley closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd cheers as McDaniels lands an impressive looking overhand right. Manley doesn't seem phased though.
McDaniels feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Manleys jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A punch combination from McDaniels misses.
McDaniels throws a body shot but no joy.
Manley displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McDaniels throws out the jab.
Manley avoids the head kick by McDaniels.
McDaniels misses with a series of wild punches.
Manley attempts a counter takedown but McDaniels avoids it well and moves away.
Manley shoots in and drives through. McDaniels sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iggy Manley. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Manley scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
McDaniels tries to kick Manley off in order to stand up. Manley Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Manley prevents McDaniels from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDaniels taking a bit of punishment here - Manley scoring with strikes.
Manley working the body and head with strikes.
McDaniels is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Manley asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Manley is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McDaniels knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Manley wants to lay and pray for a moment but McDaniels keeps working.
McDaniels is trying to get back to his feet.
Manley is looking to take a break and control but McDaniels is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McDaniels is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Manley is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manley throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Check out the look on Manley's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
An elbow from Manley crashes against the mat.
We've been hearing good reports from Manley'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.
Manley prevents McDaniels from escaping the position.
Manley trying to control the position but McDaniels is working away.
Manley tries to score with some ground and pound. McDaniels controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
McDaniels is trying to get back to his feet.
Manley throws a strike aimed at the side of McDaniels's head but McDaniels avoids it well.
Manley prevents McDaniels from escaping the position.
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 Iggy Manley will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McDaniels misses with a double jab.
McDaniels throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
McDaniels dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McDaniels throws a hook but Manley avoids it easily.
Manley shoots in but no luck this time.
McDaniels misses with an attempted mid kick.
Manley moves out of range of the body kick.
McDaniels fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Manley manages to avoid it.
Manley walks into a straight right hand from McDaniels.
McDaniels throws a right hand that Manley ducks under and follows up with a left that Manley also avoids with ease.
McDaniels misses with a straight left.
Manley misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDaniels misses the shot to the body.
McDaniels comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Manley misses with a few strikes there.
McDaniels just misses with a punch to the body.

Manley is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in McDaniels's half guard.
McDaniels scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Manley manages to mount him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manley won't let McDaniels get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Manley trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Manley postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. McDaniels looks a forlorn figure.
McDaniels is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
McDaniels is squirming around, avoiding Manley's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDaniels is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Manley with shots to the head and body - McDaniels looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDaniels is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Manley trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McDaniels wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Iggy Manley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Manley lands a couple of good shots and McDaniels has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manley lands with a hammerfist to the side of McDaniels's head.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Manley gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
McDaniels is trying to stand back up.
McDaniels is trying to remain composed but Manley is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
McDaniels is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Manley slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
McDaniels is trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDaniels is trapped and Manley is scoring with shots to the head and body.
McDaniels takes a big shot to the side of the head.

McDaniels is rocked!
Manley is scoring with a succession of shots from the back. McDaniels is covering up - he's had enough and the ref steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Iggy Manley!
In his post fight interview, Iggy Manley started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.