PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Halliday (ranked 2270 p4p, 285 weight class) and Matt Manners (ranked 3556 p4p, 405 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Matt Manners was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Halliday
vs
Manners

194 cm
20
215 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

200 cm
20
215 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Halliday!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Manners!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, John Kavanagh and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halliday throws a half hearted mid kick.
Halliday tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fighters circling - Halliday throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Halliday just misses with a punch to the body.
Halliday shoots in but no luck this time.

Manners takes the fight into the clinch.
Manners tries to land knees in the clinch but Halliday avoids the damage to the body.
Halliday is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Manners lands a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halliday takes a knee to the side of the body.
Manners will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Halliday up against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Manners scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halliday fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Manners.

It looks like Stephen Halliday has been cut.
Halliday wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Knees to the body from Manners.
Halliday is breathing heavily.
Manners lands an elbow inside that Halliday shrugs off.
Manners stalling.
Nice elbow from Manners.
A hook to the body from Manners.
Manners cracks Halliday with a nice body shot.
Manners landing knees to the body.
Good body shot from Manners.
Manners comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Stephen Halliday's cut is getting worse.
Manners creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Halliday's defenses.

Stephen Halliday's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Manners lands a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manners manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Manners lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short body shot lands from Manners as the two fighters clinch.
Manners throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Manners works on Halliday's body with a couple of short punches.
Manners unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Halliday has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Still in the clinch, Manners scores with a nice short uppercut.
Manners is leaning against Halliday and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Manners lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Jeez, Stephen Halliday's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Manners takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Manners leaning against his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manners tries to work over Halliday's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Manners landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Halliday takes a knee to the side of the body.
Manners lands with a short shot to the head.
Halliday can't get the takedown.
Manners dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Halliday looking to slow down the pace here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Manners.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Stephen Halliday's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Matt Manners!