PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sasha Rhyno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt manningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). manningham has chosen hard as a rock as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Rhyno
vs
manningham

190 cm
18
192 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sasha Rhyno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kurt manningham!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

manningham fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rhyno, pushing him back against the cage.
manningham stops a takedown attempt from Rhyno.
The is referee keeping an eye on manningham - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
manningham prevents a takedown attempt there.

manningham has clasped his hands together around Rhyno's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

manningham swings around for an armbar but Rhyno sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into manningham's guard.
Rhyno is breathing heavily.
Rhyno tries to free his leg and advance position but manningham is retaining full guard.
manningham managing to control the position.
manningham is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
manningham has control of Rhyno's left arm, preventing Rhyno from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhyno has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of manningham is proving hard to escape from.
manningham seems keen to control Rhyno's posture.
manningham tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rhyno slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
manningham can't do much from the bottom here.
manningham gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
manningham wants to get back to full guard.

manningham looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
manningham is looking to improve his position.
Rhyno is trying to control. manningham wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rhyno prevents manningham from improving his position.
Rhyno missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

manningham scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
manningham moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
manningham working the head with strikes.

manningham tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rhyno is looking to work his way out of this bad position but manningham is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhyno is looking to regain half guard here but manningham keeps moving and retains side control.
manningham lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Rhyno sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
manningham is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
manningham passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rhyno!
manningham lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt manningham dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A slapping leg kick lands for Rhyno.
manningham swinging wilding here.
Rhyno misses with a takedown attempt

and manningham counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
manningham throwing strikes but missing.

manningham drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and manningham jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rhyno keeping moving, preventing manningham from controlling successfully.

Rhyno isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. manningham stacks Rhyno on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by manningham!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

manningham decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
manningham shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rhyno counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
manningham is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Rhyno is trying to control. manningham wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
manningham punching from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. manningham manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kurt manningham has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rhyno being controlled here momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
manningham controls Rhyno momentarily but Rhyno frees himself.
manningham keeping full guard, as Rhyno tries to pass.

Rhyno avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
manningham is looking to stand up but Rhyno isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

manningham is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rhyno defends well.
Rhyno trying to control the position from guard on top but manningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
manningham wants to clinch but Rhyno slips to the side
and Rhyno finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

manningham fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rhyno, pushing him back against the cage.

manningham's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

manningham shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rhyno manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
manninghamis looking to pass into half guard but Rhyno pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Rhyno is in guard.
Rhyno looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
manningham is looking to stand up but Rhyno isn't so interested in that idea.
Rhyno missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
manningham controls Rhyno momentarily but Rhyno frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt manningham showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

manningham shoots in and bounces Rhyno off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
manningham tries to free his leg and advance position but Rhyno is retaining full guard.
Rhyno can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as manningham controls the pace.
manningham is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
manningham works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rhyno trying to hold on to manningham's head to control him but manningham postures up.
Rhyno taking some punishment here, with manningham in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rhyno is looking to escape.
Rhyno is staying active underneath manningham, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rhyno has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. manningham is working away from the top position though.
manningham works his way into side control.

manningham goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rhyno rolls with the submission and now he's on top in manningham's guard! Nice work there by Rhyno!

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.
manningham controlling Rhyno's posture.
Rhyno is looking to stand up but manningham won't let him.
manningham keeping moving, preventing Rhyno from controlling successfully.
manningham wants to stand but Rhyno is controlling the position.
manningham utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
manningham being controlled here, momentarily.
manningham looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rhyno is one step ahead there.

manningham is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rhyno is aware though and is defending well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

manningham shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rhyno manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rhyno controls manningham momentarily but manningham frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
manningham wants to pass the guard but Rhyno is keeping the position.

Rhyno has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes manningham off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Rhyno misses with an attempted mid kick.

manningham darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with manningham in particular looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurt manningham comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got manningham 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurt manningham!