PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Justin Case (ranked 1376 p4p, 1078 weight class) and Graham Mantle (ranked 130 p4p, 103 weight class). 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?

Case
vs
Mantle

166 cm
31
143
16 - 9 - 0

169 cm
31
145
19 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Threads

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Justin Case!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Graham Mantle!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Chris Edwards and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mantle is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Case takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Mantle rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Case counters with a nice low kick that buckles Mantle's knee momentarily.
Mantle with a hook.
Case throws a lazy right hand but Mantle sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mantle with a lazy takedown attempt
and Case counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Case misses with an uppercut
and Mantle counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Case thinking.
Mantle throws a sloppy body shot
enabling Case to counter with a crisp jab.
Mantle misses with a hook
and Case cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mantle misses with a right hand
and Case connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantle looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mantle throws a jab when Case was well out of range.
Case walks into a jab.
Mantle cracks Case with a right hand to the side of the head.
Case dips to his left and cracks Mantle with an uppercut!
Case ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mantle moves away.
Mantle tries to clinch up but Case circles away and keeps his distance.
Case changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Mantle's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Mantle duly obliges.
Mantle shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Case as he avoids it easily.
Graham Mantle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mantle will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mantle misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mantle closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mantle seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Case does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Case looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mantle seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Case does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Well, if Mantle 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.
Case blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mantle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantle is controlling the pace.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Case slips under a jab from Mantle.
Mantle lands the left hand.
The crowd cheers as Mantle lands an impressive looking overhand right. Case doesn't seem phased though.
Case misses with a leg kick

and Mantle counters with a takedown into side control.
Mantle lands a decent elbow from side control.
Case takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Mantle working the ground and pound but Case is defending the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mantle controls the position.
Mantle working the ground and pound.
Case is working to avoid the ground and pound but Mantle connects with a decent elbow.
Mantle in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Case stops Mantle from passing to mount.
Mantle working the ground and pound.
Mantle connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Case some visible discomfort.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Mantle is looking to take a break and control but Case is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Graham Mantle dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Case throws a leg kick
and Case takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Justin Case has been cut.
Case misses with an uppercut
enabling Mantle to counter with a crisp jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Case. Mantle does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mantle steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Case.
Mantle misses with a hook.
Mantle connects with the punch.
Graham Mantle seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mantle fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mantle fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Case sprawls well initially but Mantle persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mantle prevents Case from standing back up.
Mantle lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantle trying to control the pace.
Mantle throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ground and pound from Mantle.
Case taking some punishment here, with Mantle in his half guard.
Mantle stops Case from getting back to his feet.
Mantle performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Mantle missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

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.
Case is staying active underneath Mantle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mantle passes to full mount!
Mantle has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mantle dominating with strikes here.
Mantle has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mantle throws some wild stikes that Case manages to avoid easily.
Mantle with a couple of short strikes.
Case is trying to stand.
Mantle throws some wild stikes that Case manages to avoid easily.
Mantle is trying to control here but Case has managed to regain half guard.
Mantle looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantle is trying to control. Case wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Still in half guard, Mantle seems content to control.
Mantle working the head and body with strikes.
Mantle not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mantle sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Case defending well though.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Mantle working his ground and pound in the gym.
Mantle is trying to control. Case wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

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.
Mantle throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Case keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mantle in particular looking to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mantle dives in and grabs Case's left leg, looking for a takedown. Case pushes down on Mantle's head and hops out.
Case half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Mantle connects with a body shot.
Case throws a leg kick

and Mantle counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Case blocks a body shot from Mantle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Case manages to break the clinch.
A lazy left from Mantle finds it's target.
Mantle just misses with a punch to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Graham Mantle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Justin Case's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Case misses the shot to the body.
Mantle lands an overhand right.
Case thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Mantle if he has to take too many more of those.
Case takes one to the side of the head.
Case misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mantle.
Mantle swings away with a body shot that misses
and Case counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Mantle shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mantle was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Mantle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Case keeps working.
Case is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Mantle asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantle working the head and body with strikes.
Case is pushing Mantle's head away, looking to escape. Mantle manages to hold on to the position though.
Mantle is working Case over with some ground and pound from side control.
Mantle working the head with strikes.
Case gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Case takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mantle lands a couple of good shots and Case has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Mantle lands punches and elbows.
Graham Mantle is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Case covers up after that shot from Mantle.
Case trying to get back to his feet but Mantle is in full control for now.
Mantle is working the ground and pound. Can Case escape?
Will Mantle go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Case grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Mantle is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Case. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Mantle struggling to keep hold of the position.
Mantle controls the position.
Mantle lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Case.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantle lands shots from the back.
Well, with Mantle on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Case is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Good control from Mantle.
Justin Case has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Case is trapped and Mantle is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Mantle misses with a punch to the head.
Mantle biding his time, controlling Case.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mantle is punishing Case with strikes - can he finish him?!
Mantle connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Case to escape the position.
Mantle biding his time, controlling Case.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Mantle's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Case is trying to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Graham Mantle comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mantle has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Graham Mantle!
After winning the bout, Graham Mantle thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.