PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zack Newman (ranked 3941 p4p, 5500 weight class) and Mr Mangan (ranked 201 p4p, 231 weight class). Mangan has chosen Xie hua piao piao as his entrance music. Zack Newman could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mr Mangan's chin.

Newman
vs
Mangan

175 cm
25
140
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
140
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Zack Newman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mr Mangan!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Dirk Anderson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mangan.

Newman bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Newman darts in and clinches Mangan up against the cage.

Mangan manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Newman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Newman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mangan wants to control the position but Newman says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Newman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mangan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Newman controlling the action here.
Mangan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Newman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mangan is trying to get back to full guard.
Mangan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Newman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Newman decides to return to a standing position.

Mangan feints and as Newman raises his hands in defense, Mangan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Newman is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Mangan presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Newman is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mangan is defending well for now.
Newman is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Mangan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Mangan breaks from the clinch.
Newman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Newman instigates a clinch.
Newman trying to land knees to the body.

Newman is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mangan is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Newman to the mat. Newman regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Newman pushes Mangan off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Newman is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Mangan has picked Newman up - he's going for a ride! Mangan dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Newman manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Newman throws a leg kick but Mangan checks it.

Mangan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Mangan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mangan throws a big elbow that misses.

Newman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mangan defends well.
Mangan is looking to work some ground and pound but Newman has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newman is trying to control the position but Mangan postures up.

Newman pushes Mangan off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Mangan swats away the attempt to clinch by Newman.

Newman has taken the fight to the clinch.
Newman looking for a takedown.

Newman successfully pulls guard.
Mangan is looking to stand up but Newman won't let him.
Newman seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mangan trying to control the position from guard on top but Newman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mangan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newman controls Mangan momentarily but Mangan frees himself.
Newman keeping moving, preventing Mangan from controlling successfully.
Mangan tries to free his leg and advance position but Newman is retaining full guard.
Newman keeping moving, preventing Mangan from controlling successfully.
Newman is trying to control the position but Mangan postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mangan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Newman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zack Newman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mangan is looking to chop away at Newman's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Newman dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice body kick there by Mangan.

Newman rushes Mangan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Newman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mangan can do to turn this around?
Newman lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Mangan has hold of one of Newman's legs. Newman is fighting the takedown attempt but Mangan gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Newman has his feet on Mangan's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Nice takedown defense from Mangan. No joy for Newman on that attempt.
Mangan raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Zack Newman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Mangan changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Newman looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Mangan stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Newman tries a head kick but it misses.

Newman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mangan, pushing him back against the cage.
Good body shot from Newman.
Newman lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Newman successfully pulls guard.
Mangan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mangan is looking to stand up but Newman won't let him.

Newman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mangan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Newman keeping moving, preventing Mangan from controlling successfully.

Newman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Newman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mangan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Newman is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two 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.
Mangan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Newman keeping moving, preventing Mangan from controlling successfully.

Newman is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mangan looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Newman dives in and grabs Mangan's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mangan pushes down on Newman's head and hops out.

Mangan closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Newman quickly recovers to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mangan wants to take a breather but Newman is having none of it.
Mangan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mangan is just content to waste time from the top position. Newman takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Newman can't keep his opponent in guard - Mangan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mangan throwing shots but Newman is blocking nicely.
Newman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Newman looking for a guillotine here but Mangan defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mangan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Newman trying to control the position.
Newman can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mangan controls the pace.

Newman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mangan is aware though and is defending well.
Newman is pulling down on Mangan's head. It's preventing any offense from Mangan, at least for the moment.

Newman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zack Newman dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mangan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Mangan gets the takedown into side control.

Mangan decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Mangan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Newman sprawls well initially but Mangan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Mangan is trying to work for a kimura but Newman is defending well.
Newman is trying to maintain the position but Mangan is very close to passing his half guard.
Newman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Newman wants to control but Mangan is keeping busy.
Newman is trying to stand back up but Mangan is controlling him
Zack Newman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mangan with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Mangan is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Newman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Mangan not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Newman looking for submissions off his back.
Newman is looking to control Mangan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Newman avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mangan prevents Newman from improving his position.
Newman gets back to full guard.

Mangan decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Mangan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mangan lands in his opponent's guard.

Newman is looking for a triangle but Mangan pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Newman is controlling Mangan's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Newman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mangan can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Mangan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Newman is on top in guard.

Mangan kicks Newman off and gets to his feet.

Mangan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Newman to the mat! Newman manages to get full guard.

Newman uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Zack Newman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mangan tries to clinch but Newman is having none of it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mangan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Newman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Newman appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Newman avoids the head kick by Mangan.
Mangan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Newman attempts a counter takedown but Mangan avoids it well and moves away.

Mangan scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Newman sneaks out the side door and pushes Mangan away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
No joy there for Mangan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Newman seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Newman slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Newman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mangan pinned against the cage. Mangan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mr Mangan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zack Newman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mangan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zack Newman.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Newman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zack Newman!
The defeated Mr Mangan had this to say: 'Ah thats hot, thats hot'.