PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reni Manfield (ranked 189 p4p, 433 weight class) and The Royal Savage (ranked 32 p4p, 66 weight class). The Royal Savage will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Manfield
vs
Savage

163 cm
22
153
12 - 2 - 1

175 cm
31
162
16 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Threads
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Bondi MMA 🏝️
HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Reni Manfield!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, The Royal Savage!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savage connects with a single shot there.

It looks like Reni Manfield has been cut.
Manfield uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Savage.
Manfield takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Savage ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Manfield moves away.
Savage misses with a looping right.
Savage scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Savage cracks Manfield with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Savage has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Manfield to stand back up!

Manfield is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Manfield closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Manfield lands in his opponent's guard.
Oh Manfield is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Manfield tries to free his leg and advance position but Savage is retaining full guard.
Manfield seems to have got his legs back now.
Manfield with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Manfield might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Manfield wants to pass the guard but Savage is keeping the position.
Manfield has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Manfield wants to control from the top but Savage keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manfield trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Manfield loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Manfield passes Savage's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Manfield is pressing down on Savage's thigh, looking to free his foot. Savage is holding on for now.
Manfield wants to advance to full mount but Savage doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Manfield throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two 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.
Savage keeping full guard, as Manfield tries to pass.
Manfield trying to control the position from guard on top but Savage is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manfield throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Manfield trying to control but Savage is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Savage wants to get back to his feet but Manfield passes into half guard.

Manfield is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manfield is trying to control the action in half guard but Savage is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Manfield is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Savage is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Savage gets tackled into the cage by Manfield. Manfield maintains the clinch.
Manfield blocking some punches.
Manfield drops down looking for an ankle pick but Savage pulls his leg out and moves away.
Manfield gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Savage.
Manfield lands with a nice body punch.
Savage throws a big shot that misses.
The Royal Savage seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Savage avoids a kick to the body.
Savage fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage digs a good body shot into Manfield's ribs.
Savage scores with a sloppy right hand. Manfield should have avoided that one.

Manfield fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Savage to the ground. Manfield is now in Savage's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Manfield throws a big right hand that misses.
Manfield prevents Savage from getting back to his feet.
Manfield throws a big right hand that misses.
Manfield passes into half guard.
Manfield works his way into side control.
Savage regains half guard, as Manfield was trying to land strikes.
Manfield passes to side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

The Royal Savage dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Reni Manfield's cut.
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.

Savage with a jab.
Manfield ducks under a wild hook from Savage.
Manfield ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Savage looks to land a left hand but Manfield moved out of range nicely.
Manfield swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Savage throws a right and a left that Manfield avoids nicely.
Manfield tries to counter by clinching up but Savage breaks away and moves out of range.
Manfield looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Manfield looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Savage has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Manfield accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manfield wants to control from the top but Savage keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage is looking to stand up but Manfield isn't so interested in that idea.
Manfield wants to control from the top but Savage keeps moving.
Savage keeping full guard, as Manfield tries to pass.
Manfield trying to control but Savage is working from the bottom.
Savage wants to stand up but Manfield is controlling him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Savage misses with a wild combination.

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.
A looping hook to the body misses from Savage. Manfield does a little dance to reset his feet.
Savage has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Manfield walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Savage scores with a nice strike.
Savage will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The Royal Savage is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manfield ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The Royal Savage is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A punch combination from Savage misses.
Some wild striking there from Savage.
A slow jab from Savage misses its intended target.
Savage misses with the combination.
Manfield misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savage lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Manfield circles away quickly and effectively.
Savage misses with a jab, cross combination.
Savage pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Manfield attempts a counter takedown but Savage avoids it well and moves away.
Manfield misses with a body kick.
Savage throws a hook to the side of Manfield's head but Manfield sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Savage throws a hook but Manfield avoids it easily.
Manfield feinted with a counter takedown.
Manfield scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Manfield slips under a jab from Savage.
Manfield keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Savage.
Savage cracks Manfield with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A solid leg kick lands there for Manfield.
Savage waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Manfield.
Manfield slips a jab and a cross from Savage.
Manfield appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Savage throws a series of punches but Manfield avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Savage throws a hook but Manfield avoids it easily.

Manfield has Savage up against the cage in a clinch.
Savage misses with a hook from the clinch.
Manfield digs a right hand underneath Savage's ribcage. Savage let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Savage tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Savage working aggressively here.
Savage fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Manfield lands a takedown into guard.
Manfield throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Savage works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Manfield wants to pass the guard but Savage is keeping the position.
Reni Manfield overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Manfield throws an elbow that misses. Savage uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Manfield's guard. Nice move by Savage!

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

The Royal Savage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Reni Manfield's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Savage throws an overhand right that lands on Manfield's shoulder, as Manfield tries to avoid the shot.
A counter left hand to the body from Manfield misses its target.
Manfield lands a nice looking body shot.
Savage swings widly with a right hand
and Manfield counters with a low kick, right behind Savage 's knee.
Savage takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Savage throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Manfield is looking to clinch.

Manfield drives through and clinches with Savage against the cage.
Savage misses with a hook to the ribs.
Manfield looking for a takedown.
Savage lands a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savage misses with a punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Savage scores with a nice short uppercut.
Savage tries to work over Manfield's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Savage swings wildly with an uppercut but Manfield uses good head movement to avoid it.
Manfield is trying to drag Savage to the mat but Savage just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice left hand lands by Savage.
Manfield wants to break the clinch but can't.
Manfield misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Savage.
Manfield has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Savage is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reni Manfield. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Savage fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Savage fails to land.
Good body shot from Manfield.
Savage misses with the head strike.
Savage tries to work over Manfield's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Savage working aggressively here.
Savage lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manfield gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Savage wants to get back to his feet.
Manfield wants to lay and pray for a moment but Savage keeps working.
Manfield not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Manfield is looking to advance position but Savage won't allow it.
Manfield trying to control from half guard but Savage is working away.

Manfield looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Manfield is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Savage has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manfield thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Manfield is looking to advance position but Savage won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Manfield wants to lay and pray for a moment but Savage keeps working.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Savage is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Manfield gets a takedown into half guard.
Manfield stops Savage from getting back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manfield tries to pass to full mount but Savage defends it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but The Royal Savage just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Reni Manfield's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Manfield shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Savage sprawls well. Savage wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Manfield gets slowly back to his feet.
Savage walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Savage takes a swing at Manfield's ribcage but misses.
The Royal Savage seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Manfield shoots in and gets a takedown into Savage's guard.
Savage wants to stand but Manfield is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manfield slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Manfield tries to advance to mount but Savage denies him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savage pushes Manfield away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Manfield gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Savage dodges the ground and pound from Manfield.

Manfield tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Manfield has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manfield throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Savage works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Manfield wants to pass the guard but Savage is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Manfield throwing shots but Savage is blocking nicely.
Manfield seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Savage does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Manfield not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Manfield is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Manfield scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Savage?
Savage blocking the ground and pound.
Manfield punching from mount but Savage doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manfield misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Manfield raining down shots from the mount!
Savage is trying to stand up.
Manfield looking to ground and pound but Savage is blocking nicely.
Savage is squirming around, avoiding Manfield's attempts to control the action.
Manfield sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Manfield is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Savage has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Savage!
Manfield working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savage won't allow Manfield to sweep him here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Savage's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Manfield bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Savage's guard.

Manfield looking to pass the guard.
Savage wants to stand and escape but Manfield is having none of it.
Manfield missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manfield pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Savage is keeping the position for now.
Manfield prevents Savage from getting back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Reni Manfield had his way with The Royal Savage in that round.
The cut man is working on Reni Manfield'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. This is the final round!

Savage takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Manfield blocks a jab.
Manfield avoids the body shot from Savage.
Some wild striking there from Savage.
Savage throws a lazy uppercut
and Manfield cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Savage rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Manfield makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Savage really felt that one!
Savage throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Manfield misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manfield connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Savage takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Savage throws a right hand that Manfield ducks under and follows up with a left that Manfield also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manfield misses with a body shot.
Despite the aggression on Savage's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Manfield takes a swing at Savage's ribcage but misses.
Manfield walks into a jab.
Manfield dodges the punch combination from Savage.
Manfield lands with a shot to the body.
Savage throws a body punch but Manfield moves out of range.
Manfield ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A big right from Savage misses.
Savage keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Savage unleashes a big counter combination but Manfield bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Savage cracks Manfield with a right hand to the side of the head.
Manfield moves out of range as Savage strikes.
Manfield appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Reni Manfield has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manfield jabs Savage right on the nose. Savage blinks but takes it well.
Manfield digs a good body shot into Savage's ribs.
Manfield throws a body punch but Savage moves out of range.
Savage connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manfield uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Savage.
The fighters circling - Savage throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Manfield throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Savage slips a jab and a cross from Manfield.
Savage scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Manfield thumps Savage with a low kick.
Manfield moves in looking to clinch but Savage pushes him off.

Manfield scores with a takedown into Savage's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manfield forces his way into half guard.
Savage avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Manfield.
Manfield throwing shots but Savage is blocking nicely.

Manfield has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Savage defend it? Manfield steps over the head and cranks it - Savage is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Manfield!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Reni Manfield!
Reni Manfield retains his lightweight title!
Our winner, Reni Manfield, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.