PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Habi George (ranked 7041 p4p, 23267 weight class) and Ruben Ruiz Mangas (ranked 629 p4p, 668 weight class). Mangas is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by I'm a Soldier. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

George
vs
Mangas

188 cm
23
217
5 - 2 - 1

187 cm
21
209
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

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 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Habi George!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Ruben Ruiz Mangas!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Radbod Blank and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
George tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
George looks to throw the jab but Mangas is out of range.
George has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from George there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mangas closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
George blocks a head kick by Mangas.
George fails with an attempt to clinch.
Both fighters circling a little - George finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by George.
George moves to clinch but Mangas breaks away
and Mangas counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Habi George has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
George tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mangas swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mangas throws a shot to the body.
Mangas lands an overhand right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
George moves out of range of the strikes.
George looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Mangas has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mangas throws the kick towards the body but George avoids it.
As Mangas tries to get set, George tries to push him back and clinch up but Mangas manages to avoid the attempt.
Mangas misses with a low kick.
George lands a jab.
George throws a nice outside leg kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for George.
Mangas dodges the punch combination from George.
Mangas keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Mangas replies with a solid counter kick to the body but George blocks it well.
Mangas chopping away at his opponent's legs.
George throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

George fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mangas, pushing him back against the cage.
Mangas misses with a short punch on the inside.
Mangas gets through George's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Mangas misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Mangas.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mangas misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mangas softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Mangas struggles to land a body shot inside as George controls his hands.
Mangas lands a shot to the body.
Mangas misses with the head strike.
George is looking to break free of the clinch but Mangas has double underhooks.
George tries to break the clinch but Mangas is controlling the position.
George tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mangas's elbow.
Mangas blocking some punches.
Mangas works on George's body with a couple of short punches.
Mangas throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
George tries to circle away but Mangas has him pinned against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Mangas.
Mangas working some nice short punches in the clinch.

George breaks the clinch.
Mangas stuns George with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
George is breathing heavily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Mangas.
George's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Mangas connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! George scrambles back to his feet.
Jab, jab by George - just one landing.
Habi George is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangas lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - George scores with a four punch combination!
George walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
George throws a nice inside leg kick.
Mangas connects with a jab.
George takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Habi George's cut is getting worse.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mangas. George does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mangas fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and George has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
George throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mangas! But no joy.
George on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mangas. Mangas obviously looking to wear him down.
George misses the body punch
and Mangas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
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!
George throws a sloppy head kick and Mangas moves out of range easily.
Habi George seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mangas is looking to chop away at George's legs.
George wants to clinch up but Mangas keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
George misses with a left hand

and Mangas counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Well, if Mangas is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
George is trying to get back to full guard.
Mangas keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
George wants to control but Mangas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mangas with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Mangas is looking for a kimura but George is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mangas to get the leverage.
George wants to control but Mangas is keeping busy.

Mangas wants to work for an arm triangle but George is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mangas performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
It looks like Mangas might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruben Ruiz Mangas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Habi George's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

George is looking to clinch but Mangas is avoiding it.
George connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Mangas momentarily.
George throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
George wants to clinch up but Mangas keeps it at a distance.
George throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
George just misses with a punch to the body.
Mangas walks into a straight right hand from George.
It looks like George has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
A low kick from George misses
and Mangas makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. George really felt that one!
George ducks under a wild hook from Mangas.
George misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mangas has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from George.
George swings for the body but Mangas moves out of range.
Mangas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
George throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Mangas on the side of the head.
George fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mangas has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
George tries to clinch up but Mangas circles away and keeps his distance.

George has Mangas up against the cage in a clinch.
Mangas pushes George back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
George has a couple of punches blocked by Mangas.
George scores with a shoulder strike.
Mangas blocking some punches.
George prevents the takedown attempt.
George misses with some punches.
Mangas lands with a light punch inside.
Mangas tries to work over George's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
George working aggressively here.
Mangas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
George blocks a body shot from Mangas.
Mangas lands a left hand that snaps the head of George backwards.
Mangas tries to throw a body punch but George avoids it by throwing Mangas back against the cage.
George dodges an elbow strike from Mangas.
Ruben Ruiz Mangas seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Mangas.
Mangas lands an uppercut.
Mangas prevents a body shot from George.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

George breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
George is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mangas.
Mangas replies with a solid counter kick to the body but George blocks it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
George takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
George throws a head kick that misses
and Mangas makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Mangas jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
George misses with a leg kick
and Mangas counters with a nice low kick that buckles George's knee momentarily.
George misses the jab.
Mangas lands with a good body shot.
Mangas fails in his attempt to clinch.
George moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
George dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
George takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mangas takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mangas thuds his shin into the meat of George's side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
George tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mangas scores with a jab to the jaw.
The fight stays on the outside here - George looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
George wants to clinch
and Mangas counters with a nice body shot.
George takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
George throws a leg kick
and Mangas counters with a thumping low kick.
Mangas bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
George throws a jab when Mangas was well out of range.
Mangas throws out a counter right but George avoids it with no problem.
Mangas throws a sloppy head kick and George moves out of range easily.
George throws a sloppy head kick
and Mangas counters with a left to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mangas keeps the fight on the outside.
Mangas drops down looking to force a counter takedown but George defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
George throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mangas throws out a counter right but George avoids it with no problem.
Mangas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Mangas lands with a nice body punch.
Mangas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by George.
George rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Mangas counters with a straight right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slow jab from George misses its intended target.
Mangas throws out a counter right but George avoids it with no problem.
George steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mangas.
Mangas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but George avoids it really well and circles away.
George throws a body kick that misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Mangas.
George throws a head kick that Mangas semi-blocks.
George misses with a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ruben Ruiz Mangas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Habi George's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

George is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Mangas scores with a takedown into George's guard.

George looking for a guillotine here but Mangas defends easily.
Mangas trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
George is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
George is really struggling to control Mangas but he's trying to hold on to the position.
George on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if George tries to get out of the position.
Mangas pushes down on George's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Mangas is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mangas takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
George is controlling Mangas's trapped leg to prevent Mangas from advancing to side control.

Mangas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mangas sitting and controlling from the half guard.
George is doing well to control the position and prevent Mangas from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mangas passes to side control.
Mangas gets to mount! George was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
George knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mangas on the ground.
George is looking to improve his position but Mangas isn't that keen on the idea.

George is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Mangas locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! George is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ruben Ruiz Mangas!
In his post fight interview, Ruben Ruiz Mangas started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
In defeat, Habi George stepped up to the mic, saying '6.15 That's a decent/fast learner you got there. With good hiddens, you may have yourself an org ID restricted beast!'.