PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justice McManus (ranked 3814 p4p, 5116 weight class) and Luther Socippo (ranked 468 p4p, 565 weight class). McManus's entrance music is Pat Murphy of the Irish Brigade. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McManus
vs
Socippo

191 cm
24
225
2 - 9 - 0

189 cm
19
215
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL ALL Shorts!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Justice McManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luther Socippo!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McManus staying out of range there.
Socippo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Socippo thuds a left hand into McManus's body.
Socippo throws a jab but it's blocked by McManus.
McManus has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Socippo finds it's way round the side to connect with McManus's head.
McManus looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Luther Socippo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Socippo feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits McManuss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Socippo scores with the left hand. McManus knows he should have avoided that one.
Socippo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McManus manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Socippo does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Socippo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Socippo throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Socippo works McManus's body with a nice hook.
McManus uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Socippo.
As Socippo tries to get set, McManus tries to push him back and clinch up but Socippo manages to avoid the attempt.
McManus moves away from the strike by Socippo.
As Socippo backs away, McManus returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
A leg kick checked by McManus.
McManus avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
McManus moves in looking to clinch but Socippo pushes him off.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Socippo! But no joy.
Socippo lands with a nice body punch.
Socippo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Socippo works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A slow jab from Socippo misses its intended target.
Socippo throws an off balance right hand
and McManus counters with a thumping low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Socippo swings widly with a right hand
and McManus counters with a nice leg kick.
Socippo scores with a crisp jab that stopped McManus in his tracks.
McManus slips a jab from Socippo.
McManus doesn't manage to clinch there - Socippo circles away.
A punch lands to the side of McManus 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Socippo throws a big shot that misses.
Socippo looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Socippo throws a series of punches but McManus avoids them all with ease.
Socippo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McManus tried to counter with a leg kick but Socippo avoided it.
Socippo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McManus ducks under a wild hook from Socippo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Socippo throws a hook but McManus avoids it easily.
It looked like McManus was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Socippo swings for the body but McManus moves out of range.
It looked like McManus was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
McManus blocks a head kick by Socippo.
Socippo swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Socippo misses with a body shot

and McManus moves into the clinch.

McManus breaks the clinch.
McManus takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Socippo throws a right hand that McManus ducks under and follows up with a left that McManus also avoids with ease.
McManus lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Jab from Socippo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Socippo jabs McManus to the body, keeping him at a distance.
McManus takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McManus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Socippo scores with a jab to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Socippo throws a predictable looking body shot
and McManus counters with a slapping leg kick.
Socippo lands a body shot.
Socippo thumps McManus with a low kick.
Socippo misses with a hook.
McManus takes one on the chin but seems OK.
McManus moves in looking to clinch but Socippo pushes him off.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Socippo lands a lovely overhand right.
McManus is looking to chop away at Socippo's legs.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Socippo! But no joy.
McManus ducks under a wild hook from Socippo.
Socippo misses the shot to the body.
McManus needs to keep his hands up - Socippo had a free shot at his head there.
Socippo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping McManus at a distance.
McManus fails in his attempt to clinch.
Donk. Socippo catches McManus right on the button with a cross.
McManus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Socippo misses with a shot to the body
and McManus counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Socippo thinking.
Socippo lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Socippo throws a predictable looking body shot
and McManus counters with a slapping leg kick.
Socippo misses with an uppercut
and McManus counters with a one-two to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Socippo scores with a shot to the body.
Socippo takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Socippo misses with an uppercut.
McManus feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Socippo takes a swing at McManus's ribcage but misses.
Socippo misses with a hook
and McManus counters with a nice leg kick.

McManus has closed the distance and engaged Socippo in a clinch.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Socippo tries to break the clinch but McManus is controlling the position.

Socippo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Socippo swings for the body but McManus moves out of range.
A jab from Socippo misses.
Socippo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Socippo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Socippo throws a shot from downtown. McManus moves away and avoids it.
Socippo misses with a few strikes there.
McManus throws a big counter combination but Socippo scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Socippo scores with a hook to the body. McManus takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
McManus avoids the head kick by Socippo.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Socippo throws a hook but McManus blocks it.
Socippo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McManus.
As Socippo tries to get set, McManus tries to push him back and clinch up but Socippo manages to avoid the attempt.
Socippo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Socippo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McManus fires out a quick counter leg kick but Socippo just manages to avoid it.
Socippo misses with a wild combination.
McManus takes one to the side of the head.
Socippo throws a hook but McManus avoids it easily.
McManus was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McManus closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
McManus throws out a leg kick but Socippo moves out of range and McManus only half commits.
Socippo throws a series of punches but McManus moves out of range.
McManus takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
McManus showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Socippo.
McManus tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Socippo manages to circle out of the way.
Some wild striking there from Socippo.
Socippo misses with a wild body shot.
Socippo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent McManus stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
McManus misses with a body kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luther Socippo dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A jab from Socippo finds it's way through McManus's defenses.
Socippo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McManus.
Socippo lands a jab to McManus's midsection.

McManus clinches up with Socippo and pushes him back against the cage.
McManus misses with a hook from the clinch.

Socippo breaks from the clinch.
Socippo throws a hook to the side of McManus's head but McManus sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McManus is looking to counter the offense by Socippo and move into the clinch.
McManus doesn't manage to clinch there - Socippo circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Socippo misses with a straight right.
A left and a right from Socippo both land. Nice combination.
Socippo throws out a loose jab but McManus uses good head movement to avoid it.
McManus half committed to a counter leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus wants to clinch up but Socippo keeps it at a distance.
Socippo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McManus.
Socippo throws a body punch but McManus moves out of range.
Socippo throws a nice looking combination but McManus bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Luther Socippo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Socippo scores with a sloppy right hand. McManus should have avoided that one.
McManus tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Socippo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
McManus uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Socippo.
A right-left combo lands from Socippo.
McManus takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
McManus moves out of range of the strikes.
McManus looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
McManus has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Socippo misses with a jab to the body
and McManus counters with an outside leg kick.
Socippo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Socippo throws a hook to the side of McManus's head but McManus sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McManus looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Socippo misses with a straight right.
Socippo misses with a head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big right from Socippo misses.
As Socippo looks to move away, McManus throws a big counter combo but Socippo just gets out of the way.
McManus tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Socippo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McManus closes the distance looking to clinch
and Socippo counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Socippo throws a lazy head kick
and McManus counters with a one-two to the body.
Socippo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McManus manages to avoid it.
Socippo throws a shot from downtown. McManus moves away and avoids it.
McManus takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
McManus wants to clinch.
Socippo throws a sloppy head kick and McManus moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Socippo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McManus.
McManus thinks about countering with a head kick.
Socippo lands a head kick!
Socippo wants to slow McManus down by chopping away at his legs.
Socippo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Good exchange - Socippo coming out on top.
Socippo takes a swing at McManus's ribcage but misses.
McManus tries to counter by clinching up but Socippo breaks away and moves out of range.
Socippo misses with a double jab
and McManus counters with a right hand to the body.
Socippo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Socippo lands a lovely overhand right.
Socippo throws a big shot that misses.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
McManus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Socippo loads up on a big right hand but McManus slips the punch.
A big right from Socippo misses.
McManus tries to close the distance and clinch but Socippo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Socippo goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Socippo looks to score with a jab to the body but McManus is just out of range.
McManus avoids the body shot from Socippo.
McManus looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
McManus slips under a jab from Socippo.
Socippo tries to land a front kick but McManus steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
McManus displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Socippo throws out the jab.
Socippo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Socippo.
Socippo throws a hook to the side of McManus's head but McManus sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Socippo with a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - McManus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A little jabbing left from Socippo on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Socippo checks the leg kick.
A nice side step and Socippo releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
McManus blocks a jab.
As Socippo backs away, McManus returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Socippo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
McManus is looking to counter with head kicks.
Socippo scores with a jab to the body.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Socippo misses with a lunging right hand
and McManus counters with a slapping leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Socippo checks a leg kick.
Socippo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McManus fires out a quick counter leg kick but Socippo just manages to avoid it.
McManus avoids the body shot from Socippo.
Socippo pivots, looking for a leg kick but McManus is out of range and Socippo settles back down.
McManus wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
McManus ducks under a wild hook from Socippo.
McManus avoids the body shot from Socippo.
Socippo misses with a body shot.
As Socippo looks to move away, McManus throws a big counter combo but Socippo just gets out of the way.
Socippo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
McManus throwing a counter right hand but Socippo manages to avoid it.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Socippo lunges at McManus with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by McManus's hand.
McManus connects with an inside leg kick.
Socippo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McManus was well out of range. Poor timing from Socippo.
Socippo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
McManus appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Socippo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Socippo just misses with a punch to the body.
Socippo misses with a double jab

and McManus holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Socippo manages to break the clinch.
Socippo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Socippo just misses with a punch to the body.
McManus feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Socippo connects with the punch.
Socippo fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but McManus is out of range.
Socippo connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Socippo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Socippo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Socippo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The fight stays on the outside here - McManus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Socippo throws out a counter right but McManus avoids it with no problem.
McManus tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McManus tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luther Socippo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McManus looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Socippo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Socippo throws the left hand but McManus avoids the punch easily.
McManus feinted there with a counter leg kick.
McManus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Socippo.
McManus went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Socippo digs a good body shot into McManus's ribs.
Socippo throws a right hand that misses
and McManus counters with an outside leg kick.
McManus slips a straight right by Socippo.
McManus feinted there with a counter leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Socippo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
McManus connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Socippo misses with a lunging right hand
enabling McManus to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Socippo throws the left hand but McManus avoids the punch easily.
McManus throwing a counter right hand but Socippo manages to avoid it.
Good shot there by Socippo.
McManus checks a leg kick.
McManus tries to counter by clinching up but Socippo breaks away and moves out of range.
Socippo needs to keep his hands up - McManus had a free shot at his head there.
Socippo throws a combination. McManus tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Socippo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McManus was well out of range. Poor timing from Socippo.
And McManus counters with a quick kick to the body but Socippo blocks it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Socippo. McManus does a little dance to reset his feet.
McManus is looking to counter with head kicks.
Socippo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McManus throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Socippo throws a hook to the side of McManus's head but McManus sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
As Socippo tries to get set, McManus tries to push him back and clinch up but Socippo manages to avoid the attempt.
Socippo misses with a lunging right hand
and McManus counters with an inside leg kick.
Nice defenses there by McManus.
McManus appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Socippo's corner calls for a 1-2. Socippo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A swing and a miss from Socippo.
McManus is looking to counter the offense by Socippo and move into the clinch.
McManus takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McManus tries to clinch there but Socippo circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Socippo! But no joy.
A swing and a miss from Socippo.
McManus looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Socippo throws a hook but McManus blocks it.
McManus throws a quick counter head kick but Socippo was just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Socippo throws a body punch but McManus moves out of range.
Socippo swats away the attempt to clinch by McManus.
Socippo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
McManus on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Socippo's jab looks to have found its range, popping McManus under the eye.
McManus dodges the punch combination from Socippo.
Socippo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus tries to clinch up.

McManus clinches up against the cage.

McManus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Socippo jabs McManus to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Socippo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Socippo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Socippo swings and misses with a shot to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Socippo throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
As Socippo looks to move away, McManus throws a big counter combo but Socippo just gets out of the way.
Socippo throws a body punch but McManus moves out of range.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Socippo tries to work over McManus's front leg with a kick but McManus checks it.
Nice defenses there by McManus.
Socippo throws a body shot but no joy.
Socippo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
McManus has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Socippo finds it's way round the side to connect with McManus's head.
Socippo thows a left - swing and a miss!
A looping hook to the body misses from Socippo. McManus does a little dance to reset his feet.
A counter left hand to the body from McManus misses its target.
Socippo lands with a right hand.
Socippo misses with a body shot
and McManus counters with a nice low kick that buckles Socippo's knee momentarily.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Socippo cracks McManus with a good jab.
Socippo throws a hook to the side of McManus's head but McManus sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Socippo throws a poor cross that misses
and McManus counters with a good low kick that Socippo was not able to check.
McManus uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Socippo.
McManus was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
McManus steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Socippo.
McManus seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Socippo misses with a body kick.
McManus lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Socippo avoids the head kick by McManus.
A countering left hand to the body from Socippo misses.
A jab from Socippo misses.
A little feinted left hand from McManus on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Socippo dips to his left and cracks McManus with an uppercut!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Socippo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Socippo tries to bum rush McManus with a series of wild strikes but McManus uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A leg kick checked by McManus.
A counter left hand to the body from McManus misses its target.
McManus with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Socippo to score with a decent uppercut.
Socippo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McManus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A lazy left from Socippo finds it's target.
Socippo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McManus moves away.
Socippo swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
McManus tries to clinch up.
Socippo throws a lazy head kick
and McManus counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Socippo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Socippo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
As Socippo tries to get set, McManus tries to push him back and clinch up but Socippo manages to avoid the attempt.
Socippo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Socippo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McManus was well out of range. Poor timing from Socippo.
Socippo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Socippo jabs McManus right on the nose. McManus blinks but takes it well.
Socippo misses with a low kick.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
McManus moves to clinch but Socippo breaks away
and Socippo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Justice McManus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Socippo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Socippo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. McManus looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
McManus ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McManus blocks a head kick by Socippo.
McManus wants to clinch up but Socippo keeps it at a distance.
Socippo tries a quick counter leg kick but McManus is wise to it.
Socippo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Socippo lands a nice shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luther Socippo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Socippo 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luther Socippo!
A victorious Luther Socippo thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.