PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mandla Ibubesi (ranked 2520 p4p, 3070 weight class) and Aaron Deuce (ranked 302 p4p, 352 weight class). Mandla Ibubesi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Aaron Deuce's chin.

Ibubesi
vs
Deuce

176 cm
19
165
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
160
4 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mandla Ibubesi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Aaron Deuce!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ibubesi throws a hook but Deuce avoids it easily.
Deuce wants to counter the offense by Ibubesi and move into the clinch position.
Ibubesi swings widly with a right hand

and Deuce counters with a shoot takedown. Ibubesi fights it but they end up in guard.
Ibubesi controls Deuce momentarily but Deuce frees himself.
Deuce working some strikes from top position.

Ibubesi is looking for a triangle but Deuce pushes his legs off easily.
Ibubesi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Deuce is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Ibubesi is adopting a defensive guard.
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.
Deuce lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ibubesi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ibubesi seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Deuce trying to control the position from guard on top but Ibubesi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ibubesi is trying to keep Deuce in close.

Ibubesi working for a triangle but Deuce defends it easily.
Deuce wants to control from the top but Ibubesi keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

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.
Ibubesi looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ibubesi closes the distance and clinches.
Ibubesi throws a punch but it's blocked by Deuce.
Ibubesi swings wildly with an uppercut but Deuce uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ibubesi lands a left hand.
Ibubesi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ibubesi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ibubesi is pressed up against the cage. Deuce has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ibubesi down to the mat. Ibubesi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Ibubesi moves into the clinch.
Ibubesi is pressed up against the cage. Deuce has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ibubesi down to the mat. Ibubesi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Ibubesi closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Ibubesi on the inside.
Ibubesi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ibubesi throws a head punch that misses.
Deuce wants a takedown but no success here.
Mandla Ibubesi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Deuce.
Ibubesi lands with a short shot to the head.
Ibubesi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ibubesi lands a left hand.

It looks like Aaron Deuce has been cut.
Ibubesi working aggressively here.
Deuce is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ibubesi misses with a punch on the inside.

Deuce turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Deuce manages to end up in side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ibubesi tries to improve position but can't.
Ibubesi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Deuce on the ground.

Deuce wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ibubesi, who protects the arm well.
Ibubesi struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Deuce tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Ibubesi is trying to control Deuce's posture but Deuce avoids it.
Ibubesi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ibubesi tries to get out of the position.
Ibubesi tries to improve position but can't.
Deuce working away.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Deuce working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mandla Ibubesi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aaron Deuce'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.

Ibubesi instigates a clinch.
Deuce blocks a body shot from Ibubesi.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Ibubesi swings wildly with an uppercut but Deuce uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right hook to the body lands for Ibubesi.
Ibubesi swings wildly with an uppercut but Deuce uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ibubesi misses with a body punch.
Deuce blocks a body shot from Ibubesi.
Ibubesi misses with the head strike.
Ibubesi lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Ibubesi fails to land.
Ibubesi throws a punch but it's blocked by Deuce.
Deuce blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ibubesi lands with a light punch inside.
Deuce blocking some punches.
Deuce is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ibubesi is defending well.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ibubesi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Deuce wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ibubesi has him pressed against the cage.
Ibubesi lands an uppercut.
Ibubesi pushes Deuce back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ibubesi lands a nice uppercut.
Ibubesi is struggling to control the position.
Ibubesi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Deuce backwards.
Ibubesi tries a body shot but Deuce blocks it.
Deuce has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ibubesi after a bit of a struggle.
Ibubesi misses with a punch on the inside.
Ibubesi pushes Deuce back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ibubesi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Deuce backwards.
Ibubesi gets through Deuce's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Deuce is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ibubesi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mandla Ibubesi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aaron Deuce.
Ibubesi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ibubesi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Deuce.
Deuce is breathing heavily.
Ibubesi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Deuce backwards.
Mandla Ibubesi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short right from Ibubesi on the inside.

Deuce is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ibubesi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Deuce is still on wobbly legs! Can Ibubesi finish him?
Ibubesi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short body shot lands from Ibubesi as the two fighters clinch.
Ibubesi lands with a left to the head.
Ibubesi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ibubesi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Deuce can do to turn this around?
Ibubesi slowing the pace effectively.
Ibubesi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ibubesi creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Deuce with a big uppercut! Deuce tries to clinch up but Ibubesi pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Deuce to the mat! Deuce covers up and Ibubesi unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Mandla Ibubesi!
A very excited looking Mandla Ibubesi rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.