PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rylee Mannion (ranked 25294 p4p, 5128 weight class) and LaDaniel Strong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Mannion
vs
Strong

171 cm
20
150
2 - 3 - 0

179 cm
19
151
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rylee Mannion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, LaDaniel Strong!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Strong lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Strong throws a left and a right that both miss

and Mannion counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Strong pushes Mannion off looking to stand but Mannion dives back in and keeps control.
Strong really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mannion. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mannion scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Strong is trying to stand.
Mannion seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Strong wants to get back to his feet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Strong swinging wildly here.
Left hook, right uppercut from Strong.
Strong scores with a three punch combo!
Strong throws a one two combo.
Mannion dodges the punch combination from Strong.
Strong misses with a jab, cross combination.
Strong has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Mannion is landing a low percentage of strikes.
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!
Mannion throws a shot to the body.
Strong swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Strong gets caught napping as Mannion dives in and scores a takedown. Strong manages to retain guard.
Strong is looking to stand back up but Mannion counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Strong.

Mannion stops Strong from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mannion scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Strong wants to stand back up but Mannion manages to pass into side control.
Strong is trying to escape the position but Mannion is controlling the position.
Strong tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Mannion controlling the position well here. Strong rolled but Mannion kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Strong is trying to get back to his feet but Mannion has full control of the position and if anything, Strong has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mannion has good solid back control here.

Strong manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Mannion throws a sloppy head kick and Strong moves out of range easily.
Strong moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Strong will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Strong lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A left and a right from Strong both land. Nice combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strong goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mannion takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Mannion is rocked!
LaDaniel Strong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strong misses with a two punch combination.
A little feinted left hand from Mannion on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Oh Mannion is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Strong looks winded!
Strong moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mannion looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Strong looks to land a combination but Mannion avoids it well.
Mannion seems to have got his legs back now.
Strong throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mannion is looking to counter with head kicks.
Sloppy strikes from Strong. Those never looked like landing.
Mannion misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Mannion drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Strong throws Mannion to one side and escapes!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mannion has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Mannion drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Strong explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LaDaniel Strong dominated that round.
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.

Strong lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mannion backs up against the cage.
Strong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sloppy strikes from Strong. Those never looked like landing.
Strong misses with a two punch combination.
A combination from Strong does no damage.
Strong throws a nice looking combination but Mannion bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Strong moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Strong misses with a double jab
and Mannion makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Mannion closes the distance and clinches.
Strong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Strong lands a nice uppercut.
Mannion wants to break free but Strong has control.
Strong doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Strong.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mannion.
Strong prevents the takedown attempt.
Strong cracks Mannion with a nice body shot.
Mannion trying to control the position but instead, Strong has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mannion into the cage.
Strong tries a body shot but Mannion blocks it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Strong.

Mannion breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Strong scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Strong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Strong throws a right and a left that both miss.
Strong is breathing heavily.
Strong pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Mannion back to the cage. Strong follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Strong scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Strong goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Strong throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mannion.
Strong has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Strong throws a combination that misses

and Mannion counters by moving into the clinch.
Strong swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Strong lands with a left to the head.
Mannion drops down looking for an ankle pick but Strong pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mannion showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Strong.
LaDaniel Strong seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Strong will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mannion attempts a counter takedown but Strong avoids it well and moves away.
Mannion tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mannion misses with a takedown attempt - Strong sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rylee Mannion. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Strong pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Mannion back to the cage. Strong follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strong lands a jab-cross combination.
Strong throws a combination. Mannion tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Strong will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mannion has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Strong stalks Mannion and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mannion's face. Mannion staggers backwards, shaken.

Mannion drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Strong manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Mannion wants a takedown but no success here.
Strong lands a nice uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Strong.
A short left from Strong.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strong struggles to land a body shot inside as Mannion controls his hands.
Strong prevents the takedown attempt.
A shot in the inside from Strong.
A short right from Strong.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Strong creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mannion looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Strong pushes Mannion back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Strong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Strong struggles to land a body shot inside as Mannion controls his hands.
Good body shot from Strong.
Strong lands an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Strong.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strong gets underhooks to prevent Mannion's takedown attempt.
Mannion takes a shot to the head.
Strong scores with a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

LaDaniel Strong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mannion has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A nice combination there by Strong.
Mannion pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Strong throws a combination that misses

and Mannion counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Strong manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Mannion keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Mannion breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Strong lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Strong.
Strong throws a right and a left that Mannion avoids nicely.
Mannion is looking to counter the offense by Strong and move into the clinch.
Strong rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Mannion moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Strong throws a right hand that Mannion ducks under and follows up with a left that Mannion also avoids with ease.

Mannion looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Strong!
Strong tries to escape but Mannion is in control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mannion decides to stand up, so the ref orders Strong to his feet.
Strong lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mannion backs up against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Strong throws a combination. Mannion tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Mannion looking to score a takedown here. Strong is defending well but Mannion drives through and ends up in Strong's guard.

Strong is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Strong throws a punch but it's blocked by Mannion.
A nice right hand lands inside from Strong.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mannion is trying to pull guard but Strong has him pressed against the cage.
LaDaniel Strong seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Strong presses Mannion against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short left from Strong.
Strong is leaning against Mannion and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Strong lands with a right to the head.
Strong lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strong lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Strong lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Strong lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short left from Strong.
Strong lands a body shot in the clinch.
A short left from Strong.
Strong working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Mannion goes for a takedown attempt but Strong pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Strong looks to land a combination. Mannion sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Strong lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mannion backs up against the cage.
Strong throws a one two combo.
Strong throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Strong throws a left jab followed by a right to the body, Oh Mannion colapses and takes a barrage of punches from Strong as he moves to mount! the ref stops the fight and Mannion is left battered and dazed whilst Strong and his camp cheer!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). LaDaniel Strong!
LaDaniel Strong really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Conviction logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.