PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Napoleon Panda (ranked 6079 p4p, 2542 weight class) and CG Mannheim (ranked 270 p4p, 128 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Panda
vs
Mannheim

150 cm
18
135
2 - 1 - 0

163 cm
18
143
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Vegan Gains

Vegan Gains
FF Gear

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Napoleon Panda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, CG Mannheim!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Jorge Garcia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panda is looking to clinch.
Panda with a poor takedown
and Mannheim counters with a left to the body.
Mannheim fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mannheim cracks Panda with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Mannheim has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Mannheim leaves Panda with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mannheim fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mannheim stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mannheim punishes Panda's body with a nice straight punch.
Mannheim scores with a crisp jab that stopped Panda in his tracks.
Mannheim connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Panda momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mannheim digs a good body shot into Panda's ribs.
Panda shoots and misses
and Mannheim counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Napoleon Panda. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Panda takes one to the chin there.
Panda has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Panda moves into the clinch.

Panda pulls guard successfully.
Mannheim trying to control the position from guard on top but Panda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mannheim postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
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.
Mannheim trying to control the position from guard on top but Panda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Panda throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Panda might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mannheim trying to control the position from guard on top but Panda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mannheim lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Panda has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Mannheim has passed into side control.
Panda sneaks back into half guard.

Panda actively working from the bottom here.
Panda trying to hold on to Mannheim's head to control him but Mannheim postures up.
Panda slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mannheim advances to half guard.
Ground and pound from Mannheim.
Panda tries to roll over but Mannheim keeps him under control.

Panda is defending against the submission attempts here by Mannheim.

Panda is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mannheim pulls his head out easily.
Mannheim missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mannheim missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Panda looking for submissions off his back.
Mannheim working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Panda actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mannheim is trying to control the action in half guard but Panda is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mannheim is thwarting Panda's attempts to control the position.

Panda looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Mannheim pushes past his half guard into mount!
Panda is squirming around, avoiding Mannheim's attempts to control the action.

Mannheim wants to finish this one by submission but Panda is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Mannheim.
Panda tries to improve his position but instead Mannheim has taken his back!
Panda could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Mannheim. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Panda is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Panda fending off the submission attempt from Mannheim.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panda tries to roll but Mannheim sticks to his back.
Mannheim lands a shot to the body.
Mannheim gets his hands free as Panda looks to control.
Panda tries to escape the position.

Mannheim has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Panda has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Mannheim is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Panda looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Panda tries to escape but Mannheim has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

CG Mannheim dominated that round.
That's time! Panda's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Nice uppercut there from Mannheim.
Mannheim scores with the left hand. Panda knows he should have avoided that one.
Panda is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Panda fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mannheim getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Panda misses with a takedown attempt
and Mannheim counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Panda thinking.
Mannheim closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mannheim ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Panda needs to keep his hands up - Mannheim had a free shot at his head there.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Panda fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Panda is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mannheim's half guard.
Panda is thwarting Mannheim's attempts to control the position.
Mannheim keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mannheim trying to control but Panda postures up.

Panda is looking for a kimura but Mannheim is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Panda to get the leverage.
Mannheim has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Panda is working away from the top position though.

Panda is working for an americana but Mannheim has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Panda was thinking about the submission.
Mannheim tries to strike from the bottom.
Mannheim throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Panda drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Panda jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Mannheim looking for a guillotine here but Panda defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Mannheim looking for a guillotine here but Panda defends easily.

Panda 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.
CG Mannheim has got the better of the ground game so far.

Panda 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.

Panda drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Panda jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panda is looking to advance position but Mannheim has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Mannheim trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Panda sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Mannheim lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Panda looking for submissions off his back.
Mannheim is keen to just control but Panda is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Panda actively working from the bottom here.

Mannheim is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Panda defends it well.

Panda looking for submissions off his back.
Panda is looking for a sweep. Mannheim is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Panda actively working from the bottom here.

Panda looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Panda is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mannheim pulls his head out easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

CG Mannheim showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mannheim scores with a body shot.
Panda tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Mannheim cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Panda closes the distance looking to clinch
and Mannheim counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Mannheim scores with a crisp jab that stopped Panda in his tracks.
Mannheim has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Panda with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Mannheim to score with a decent uppercut.
Mannheim is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Mannheim scores with a hook to the body. Panda takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Panda gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Mannheim thuds his right hand into Panda's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Panda drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Panda is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mannheim is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Panda is looking to take a break and control but Mannheim is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mannheim has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Panda tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Panda goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Mannheim rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Panda's guard! Nice work there by Mannheim!
Mannheim keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Panda's head.

Panda has his foot on Mannheim's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mannheim works his way back into a safe position though.
Mannheim lands a couple of digs.

Mannheim avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mannheim is in close to Panda's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mannheim trying to control the position from guard on top but Panda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Panda can't keep his opponent in guard - Mannheim advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mannheim trying to control the action but Panda is working from the bottom.

Panda looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Panda looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Panda wants to get back to full guard but Mannheim has mounted him!
Panda really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Panda tries to improve his position but instead Mannheim has taken his back!
Mannheim keeps control of the position as Panda tries to break free.

Mannheim is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Panda has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Panda is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Mannheim gets his way!
Panda is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Mannheim working for the choke.
Mannheim is trying to stick to Panda's back but Panda is turning into Mannheim. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Mannheim's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Panda.
Mannheim throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mannheim 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.
Mannheim not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Panda trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Panda engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Panda trying to control but Mannheim is working from the bottom.
Mannheim controls Panda momentarily but Panda frees himself.
Panda trying to control the position from guard on top but Mannheim is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Napoleon Panda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
CG Mannheim is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mannheim working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
CG Mannheim comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mannheim winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... CG Mannheim!
A relieved looking CG Mannheim thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.