PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Denis Denisov (ranked 5332 p4p, 208 weight class) and Thundering Mantis (ranked 2617 p4p, 128 weight class). Thundering Mantis has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Denis Denisov's chin.

Denisov
vs
Mantis

167 cm
19
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Denis Denisov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Thundering Mantis!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Winston Alpacca and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mantis just misses with a punch to the body.

Mantis clinches up against the cage.
Mantis tries a body shot but Denisov blocks it.
Denisov prevents a body shot from Mantis.

Denisov has Mantis pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Denisov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Mantis tumbling to the mat - Denisov dives into Mantis's guard.
Denisov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Denisov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Denisov working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denisov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mantis looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Denisov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Denisov works over Mantis with some ground and pound from guard.
Denisov wants to control from the top but Mantis keeps moving.
Denisov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Denisov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mantis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mantis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Denisov is one step ahead there.
Denisov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Denisov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Denisov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Denisov postures up in Mantis's guard and throws a big left but Mantis blocks it.
Denisov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Denisov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Denisov throwing strikes from guard but Mantis blocks nicely.
Denisov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mantis's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Denisov dominated that 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.

Denisov pushes Mantis up against the cage in a clinch.
Mantis lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Denisov backwards.
Mantis misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Denisov.
Denisov wants to take the fight to the mat but Mantis manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Mantis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Denisov avoids it.
Mantis connects with a nasty looking knee right to Denisov's face.
Mantis lands an uppercut.
Denisov can't get the takedown.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Denisov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Mantis fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denis Denisov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mantis cracks the inside of Denisov's front leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mantis rushes Denisov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Mantis lands a right hand.
Mantis lands a nice uppercut.
Mantis looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
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!
Mantis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Denisov is trying to pull guard but Mantis has him pressed against the cage.
Mantis struggles to land a body shot inside as Denisov controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Denisov's elbow.
Denisov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mantis misses with a body punch.
Mantis displaying some good clinch control by pressing Denisov up against the cage.
Denisov is trying to break the clinch but Mantis has him pressed against the cage.
Mantis landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mantis throws a head punch that misses.
Mantis struggles to land a body shot inside as Denisov controls his hands.
Denisov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mantis just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mantis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Mantis stalling.
Mantis tries to work over Denisov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mantis misses with a body punch.
Denisov looking for a takedown.
Denisov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A hook to the body from Mantis.
Mantis taking a breather.
Denisov is trying to pull guard but Mantis has him pressed against the cage.
Mantis lands a body punch in the clinch.
Mantis looking to stall.
Mantis digs a right hand underneath Denisov's ribcage. Denisov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Mantis scores with a nice hook to the head.
Thundering Mantis seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Denisov prevents a body shot from Mantis.
Denisov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Denisov is trying to pull guard but Mantis turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Denisov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mantis to keep the fight standing.
Denisov jumps guard but Mantis stands there with Denisov around his waist. Denisov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Mantis stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thundering Mantis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Mantis jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Mantis moves into the clinch.
Mantis is struggling to control the position.
Mantis working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mantis misses with a body punch.
Denisov wants a takedown.
Mantis makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mantis obliges.
Thundering Mantis is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mantis obliges.
Denisov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Denis Denisov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mantis tries to land knees in the clinch but Denisov avoids the damage to the body.
Mantis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Denisov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mantis is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denis Denisov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mantis tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Mantis tries to work over Denisov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denisov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mantis smiles and moves away.

Mantis moves into the clinch.
Denisov tries to land a knee to the head but Mantis blocks with his arms.
Mantis tries to throw a body punch but Denisov avoids it by throwing Mantis back against the cage.
Mantis misses with a punch to the body.
Mantis lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Mantis misses with a body punch.
Mantis lands with a left to the head.
Mantis avoids a wild elbow strike from Denisov.
Mantis misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mantis gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Denisov working hard to break the clinch.
Mantis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Denisov.
Denisov throws a head punch that misses.
Mantis working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Denisov goes for a takedown attempt but Mantis pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mantis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Denis Denisov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mantis darts in and clinches Denisov up against the cage.
Denisov works on Mantis's body with a couple of short punches.
Mantis digs a right hand underneath Denisov's ribcage. Denisov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Denisov missing with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thundering Mantis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mantis has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight for Thundering Mantis!
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight for Thundering Mantis!
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight for Thundering Mantis!

Thundering Mantis wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Thundering Mantis made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.