PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Reni Manfield (ranked 1007 p4p, 2922 weight class) and Ed Bridger (ranked 89 p4p, 234 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Manfield
vs
Bridger

163 cm
25
153
16 - 7 - 2

178 cm
28
158
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Brooklyn Threads
Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

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 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reni Manfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ed Bridger!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Bridger.
Bridger connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Bridger on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Manfield. Manfield obviously looking to wear him down.
Manfield throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Manfield fails to land the takedown.
Bridger was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Bridger tries to clinch up.
Manfield drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bridger sprawls and moves away.
Manfield throws a hook but Bridger avoids it easily.
Bridger lands the left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bridger misses with an attempted mid kick.
Manfield scores with a crisp jab that stopped Bridger in his tracks.
Bridger blocks a low kick nicely.
Bridger appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Manfield throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manfield throws a leg kick which misses Bridger's front leg but catches the back leg as Bridger tries to avoid it.
Manfield tried to score with a low kick but Bridger checks it.
Manfield dives in and grabs Bridger's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bridger pushes down on Manfield's head and hops out.
Manfield with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Bridger keeps the fight on the outside.
Bridger is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Bridger takes the fight into the clinch.
Bridger misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manfield.
Bridger tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bridger misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manfield.
Bridger scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Manfield breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manfield avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Manfield closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bridger did well to prevent Manfield getting side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Manfield wants to work for an arm triangle but Bridger is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manfield trying to control the action but Bridger is working from the bottom.
Manfield works his way into side control.
Bridger defending against the ground and pound.
Manfield throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The strikes coming from Manfield are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manfield controlling from side mount.
Manfield is looking to take a break and control but Bridger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Check out the look on Manfield's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Manfield tries to move into full mount but can't pass Bridger's legs.
Bridger has one of Manfield's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Manfield working the ground and pound but Bridger is defending the strikes.
Bridger seems a little lost for a moment, as Manfield dominates the positioning.
Bridger stops Manfield from passing to mount.

Manfield wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bridger, who protects the arm well.
Manfield working the head with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manfield taking a break here but Bridger is having none of it and regains half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Reni Manfield dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bridger is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Manfield.
Manfield throws a sloppy head kick
and Bridger makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Manfield walks into a straight right hand from Bridger.
Manfield ducks under a wild hook from Bridger.
Bridger throws a wild body kick that Manfield sees coming a mile off.
Manfield ducks under a wild hook from Bridger.
Bridger misses with a hook.
Bridger throws the kick towards the body but Manfield avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bridger throws a jab but it's blocked by Manfield.
Manfield blocks a jab.
Manfield tries a low kick but Bridger avoids it.
Bridger swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Manfield lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bridger enables Manfield to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bridger manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Manfield throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Manfield is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bridger can do to turn this around?
Manfield throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Reni Manfield overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Manfield trying to control but Bridger is working from the bottom.
Manfield might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bridger controls Manfield momentarily but Manfield frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridger wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Bridger keeping moving, preventing Manfield from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Bridger is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bridger throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A clash of legs there as Manfield blocks the low kick.
Bridger pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manfield pulls out of a head kick attempt.
It seemed like Bridger was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Manfield moves out of range of the body kick from Bridger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manfield shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice shot by Manfield.
Bridger throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Manfield looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Manfield keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Manfield connects with a solid leg kick.
Manfield slips a straight right by Bridger.
Manfield shoots for a double leg takedown but Bridger sprawls well. He's pushed Manfield's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ed Bridger seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A nice leg kick lands there from Manfield.
Bridger checks a leg kick nicely.
Bridger is trying to counter with his kicks.
Manfield defending well as Bridger loads up on a big left hand.
Bridger lands a high kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manfield throws a low kick but it's checked well by Bridger.
The fighters circling - Bridger throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
As Bridger backs away, Manfield returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Manfield throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bridger stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Bridger tries to land a front kick but Manfield steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Manfield lands a nice shot that snaps Bridger's head back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manfield blocks a jab.
Bridger misses with a left hand
and Manfield counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Bridger smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Bridger misses with a right hand
and Manfield counters with a nice body kick.
Bridger takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bridger swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ed Bridger will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Manfield feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Manfield trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Manfield trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Manfield postures up in Bridger's guard and throws a big left but Bridger blocks it.
Manfield trying to control but Bridger is working from the bottom.
Manfield missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manfield throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bridger 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.
Manfield lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manfield tries to free his leg and advance position but Bridger is retaining full guard.
Bridger working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Manfield.
Bridger keeping moving, preventing Manfield from controlling successfully.
Manfield is in close to Bridger's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bridger working a defensive guard here.
Manfield trying to control the position from guard on top but Bridger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Manfield looks for a takedown but Bridger sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Manfield lands a nice looking kick to the body. Bridger takes a step back to recover.
Manfield uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bridger.
Manfield moves in looking to clinch but Bridger pushes him off.
Manfield ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bridger moves away.
Manfield shoots in for a takedown but Bridger shows good takedown defense.
Bridger lets loose with a powerful body kick. Manfield will feel that in the morning.
Bridger tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Manfield manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Manfield dives in and scores a takedown into Bridger's guard.
Manfield stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bridger swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manfield being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manfield showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Manfield looking to pass the guard.
Bridger controlling the position.

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.
Manfield with a nice head shot there.
Manfield is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Manfield throws a big elbow that misses.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Bridger looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Bridger tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Manfield paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Manfield was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Manfield tries to clinch but Bridger moves away
and Bridger counters with a thumping low kick.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bridger avoids the body shot from Manfield.
Ed Bridger is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bridger on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Manfield. Manfield obviously looking to wear him down.
Bridger's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Bridger swings for the body but Manfield moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reni Manfield showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Manfield has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reni Manfield!
Reni Manfield seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.