PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ray Mancini (ranked 3491 p4p, 376 weight class) and Elmore James (ranked 1423 p4p, 167 weight class). James comes into a darkened arena with his song building. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aMfD2O9Gds kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mancini
vs
James

178 cm
31
126 lbs
19 - 16 - 0

172 cm
27
167 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Groove Gear

Voodoo Nutrition

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 19 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Mancini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elmore James!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mancini.
James thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mancini seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
James lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Ray Mancini has been cut.
James has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Mancini is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Good standup being displayed there by James as he connects with a hook.

Mancini is rocked!
Mancini goes for a double leg but James avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as James continues to drive forward.
Oh Mancini is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
James fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mancini has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
James stuns Mancini with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mancini dives in and grabs James's left leg, looking for a takedown. James pushes down on Mancini's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Mancini. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mancini avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from James.
Nice defenses there by Mancini.
Mancini seems to have got his legs back now.
Horrible takedown attempt by Mancini or perhaps it was just good defense by James, which made it look bad.

James moves into range and throws a big uppercut. OH! Mancini goes down! Can James finish him!?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Mancini had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.
James controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mancini looking to control but James passes into half guard.
James is looking to take a break and control but Mancini is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

James is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
James prevents Mancini from improving his position.

James is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Mancini is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but James pulls his head out easily.
Mancini has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. James is working away from the top position though.

James is working for a kimura but Mancini is defending it quite comfortably.

James seems to be working for a kimura but Mancini defends the submission attempt.

James 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mancini wants to get back to full guard.

James is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mancini sees it coming and defends easily.
Mancini is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mancini is controlling James's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Mancini's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

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.

James is working for a kimura but Mancini is defending it quite comfortably.
Mancini is looking for a sweep. James is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Mancini makes his way to full guard, as James worked for a kimura.
Mancini not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mancini looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elmore James dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ray Mancini's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mancini fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
James throws out a counter right but Mancini avoids it with no problem.
Mancini moves out of range as James strikes.
Mancini throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
James thuds a left hand into Mancini's body.
James has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mancini shoots in looking for a takedown but James manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mancini's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
James digs a good hook to Mancini's body.
Mancini really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Horrible takedown attempt by Mancini or perhaps it was just good defense by James, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Mancini. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mancini scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

James looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

James looking for submissions off his back.
Mancini wants to control but James is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James actively working from the bottom here.

James looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

James is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mancini pulls his head out easily.
Mancini scoring with strikes to the body and head.

James is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mancini pulls his head out easily.

James actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mancini seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but James does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
James slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mancini with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mancini looking to pass the guard.
Mancini has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mancini lands a couple of decent looking shots.

James has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mancini is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for James.
James is looking to regain half guard here but Mancini keeps moving and retains side control.
Mancini trying to control the position but James is working away.
James is trying to work for a sweep but Mancini has mounted him!
James tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mancini avoids the attempt from James to control.
Mancini with shots to the head and body - James looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mancini raining down hammerfists from mount.
James wants to control but Mancini is having none of it.
Mancini tries to control but James wriggling away.
James tries to lock up and control but Mancini gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
BOOM! Mancini connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Mancini looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
James tries to lock up and control but Mancini gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mancini with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mancini pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
James sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
James makes his way to full guard. A much better position for James.
Mancini stands up over James, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mancini is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Mancini throws a strike but James rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

James wants to pass the guard but Mancini is keeping the position.
Mancini is trying to control the position but James postures up.
Mancini keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
Mancini trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.

Mancini working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. James doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. James manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Mancini dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ray Mancini's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

James works Mancini's body with a nice hook.

Mancini gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows James to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mancini not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mancini pulls James in to control the position.

Mancini looking for a guillotine here but James defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mancini keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mancini had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. James defends it easily.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mancini is keeping the position for now.
James wants to control from the top but Mancini keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
James misses with a looping right.
Elmore James seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mancini throws a body punch but James moves out of range.
The fighters circling - James throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mancini shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and James counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mancini doesn't succeed with the takedown
and James counters with a stiff right hand.
James lands a nice shot to the body.
James connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Mancini slips under a jab from James.
James drops Mancini with a huge uppercut! Mancini drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. James is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Elmore James!
Elmore James decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.