PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Manfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Robertson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). William Robertson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Manfield
vs
Robertson

210 cm
22
295 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
22
290 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Manfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, William Robertson!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Robertson shoots for a takedown but Manfield saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Robertson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Robertson lands in his opponent's guard.
Robertson looks gassed!

Manfield working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Robertson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Robertson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Manfield looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Manfield looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Robertson pushing down on Manfield's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Manfield has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Robertson is working away from the top position though.
Manfield is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Manfield is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manfield missing with punches from the bottom.
Manfield manages to get to full guard.
Manfield 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.
Robertson wants to pass the guard but Manfield is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manfield is trying to control the position but Robertson postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Robertson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Robertson slips under a jab.
Manfield comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Manfield as Robertson shoots in.
Manfield stuns Robertson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Robertson shoots in and drives through. Manfield sprawls well.
Mike Manfield has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Robertson.
Manfield pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manfield cracks Robertson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Manfield keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A big right from Manfield misses.
Robertson tries for a takedown but Manfield sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Manfield swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big left from Manfield misses.
Robertson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Manfield throws out the jab.

Robertson gets a takedown into half guard.
Manfield might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Manfield is in trouble now - Robertson has advanced to mount!
Manfield is trying to escape the mount.
Robertson working Manfield over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Robertson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Manfield is looking to improve his position but Robertson isn't that keen on the idea.
Robertson with good strikes from the mount here!
Manfield is looking to improve his position but Robertson isn't that keen on the idea.
Robertson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Manfield looks a forlorn figure.
Manfield wants to hold on but Robertson pushes him away.
Robertson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Manfield tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Manfield gets back to half guard.
Robertson slips a nice elbow through Manfield's hands, connecting with Manfield's forehead.
Robertson stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manfield won't allow Robertson to pass to mount.

Manfield looking for submissions off his back.
Robertson uses his free foot to push down on Manfield's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Manfield.
Robertson working the ground and pound effectively.
Manfield really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Robertson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Robertson working the ground and pound effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Robertson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Manfield tests Robertson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Manfield misses the jab.
Robertson has a takedown stuffed.
Manfield getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Manfield changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Robertson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Manfield thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Manfield misses with the ground and pound.
Robertson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Robertson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Manfield's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Manfield's back!
Robertson is trying to stick to Manfield's back but Manfield is turning into Robertson. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Robertson's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Manfield.
Manfield throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Manfield trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robertson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Robertson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Robertson controls Manfield momentarily but Manfield frees himself.
Robertson 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.
Robertson trying to strike off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Robertson ducks under a wild hook from Manfield.
Manfield dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Robertson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Robertson tries to free his leg and advance position but Manfield is retaining full guard.
Robertson trying to control the position from guard on top but Manfield is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Robertson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Robertson chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manfield looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Robertson lands a couple of elbows.
Robertson trying to control but Manfield is working from the bottom.

Manfield is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Robertson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Manfield tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Robertson is putting a hurting on Manfield here, landing some big shots from side control.
Manfield tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Robertson just content to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robertson is chipping away with strikes.
Robertson landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Robertson controlling the position from side mount.
Robertson working the body and head with strikes.
Manfield takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Check out the look on Robertson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Robertson working away.
Robertson trying to control the position but Manfield is working away.
William Robertson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Manfield wants to control but Robertson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Robertson in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Robertson creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Robertson working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Manfield scores with a takedown into Robertson's guard.
Robertson pulls Manfield in close to prevent any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Robertson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Manfield is pushing down on Robertson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Robertson is fighting to maintain full guard but Manfield has managed to sneak the leg through.
Manfield thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Robertson's head.
Robertson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Robertson.
Manfield won't allow Robertson to sweep him here.
Manfield postures up.
Manfield throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Robertson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mike Manfield will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Robertson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Manfield counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Robertson wants to improve his position but Manfield is controlling well.
Manfield thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Robertson wants to get back to full guard.
Manfield slips a nice elbow through Robertson's hands, connecting with Robertson's forehead.

Robertson is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Manfield pulls his head out easily.
Robertson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Manfield's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Manfield's back!
Robertson is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Manfield wants to control his opponent's hands but Robertson gets his hands free.
Manfield breaks Robertson's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Robertson wants to sweep here but Manfield controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manfield throws a big right hand that misses.
Robertson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Manfield's guard.
Robertson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Robertson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Manfield preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Manfield striking off his back but it's not causing Robertson any problems.

Manfield is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Manfield throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Robertson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Manfield looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Robertson avoids a kick to the body.
A big right from Manfield misses.

Robertson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Robertson wants to control from the top but Manfield keeps moving.
Robertson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Manfield throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Robertson trying to control the position from guard on top but Manfield is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manfield throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robertson connects with a couple of short punches.
Manfield utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Robertson stands up over Manfield, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Manfield tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Manfield fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Robertson fails with the takedown
and Manfield counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Robertson gets caught flat footed, as Manfield shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Manfield throws a big right hand that misses.
Manfield in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Robertson is striking from the bottom but Manfield uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Robertson wants to get back to full guard.
Manfield lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robertson gets back to full guard.
Manfield is looking to stand up but Robertson won't let him.
Manfield trying to control the position from guard on top but Robertson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Robertson is on top in guard.

Manfield is looking for a triangle but Robertson pushes his legs off easily.
Robertson lands a couple of digs.
Robertson stands up over Manfield, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Robertson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Manfield had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Robertson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Manfield Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Robertson's back instead.
Manfield throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mike Manfield.
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 William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!