PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Diol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Carl Diol was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

McManus
vs
Diol

179 cm
22
135 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

187 cm
23
134 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John McManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carl Diol!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Diol is defended easily by McManus.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Diol.

Diol shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
McManus trying to control from the bottom.
Diol not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

McManus is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Diol pulls his head out easily.
McManus wants to control but Diol is keeping busy.
Still in half guard, Diol seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I looks like Diol might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
McManus is controlling Diol's position as best he can from this difficult position.
McManus wants to control but Diol is keeping busy.
McManus is pressing down on Diol's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Diol wants to control from the top but McManus keeps moving.
Diol trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McManus trying to control the position.
Diol tries to free his leg and advance position but McManus is retaining full guard.
McManus trying to strike off his back.
Diol trying to control but McManus is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Diol bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Diol wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Diol is chipping away with strikes.
McManus tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Diol landing strikes.
Diol scores with a couple of short elbows.
Diol taking a breather here.
Diol trying to control the action but McManus is working from the bottom.
McManus struggling a bit here.
McManus is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
You can see the frustration on McManus's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Diol trying to control the position but McManus is working away.
Diol lands a few punches from side control.
McManus is looking to regain half guard here but Diol keeps moving and retains side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McManus has his takedown stuffed

and Diol counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McManus wants to get back to full guard.
Diol trying to control the action but McManus is working from the bottom.
McManus tries to kick Diol off but Diol keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
McManus is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus tries to roll over but Diol keeps him under control.
Diol passes to full mount!
Diol tries to control but McManus wriggling away.
Diol controlling from the full mount.

Diol is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. McManus can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
McManus keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
McManus really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Diol dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

McManus throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Diol gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and McManus counters with a thumping low kick.
McManus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McManus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Diol counters with a nice double leg into side control. McManus won't be happy with that.
Diol is staying tight to McManus's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Diol wants to lay and pray for a moment but McManus keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diol blocks the strikes from McManus.
McManus manages to work his way to half guard, despite Diol's best efforts.
McManus scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Diol manages to mount him!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Diol scoring with strikes but McManus is staying in there.
Carl Diol has got the better of the ground game so far.
McManus can't escape the position.
McManus is squirming around, avoiding Diol's attempts to control the action.
McManus manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Diol passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus is trying to work for a sweep but Diol has mounted him!
Diol lands a big shot there that rocks McManus but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Diol is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. McManus can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
McManus tries to hold on but Diol pushes him away.
McManus is wriggling around trying to escape.
Diol pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Diol with the ground and pound from mount.
Diol in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
McManus working to try and regain half guard.
Diol content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus trying desperately to get to his feet.
Diol takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Diol trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McManus is in all sorts of trouble here.
Diol controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Diol cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Diol.
Diol wants to control the pace but McManus is squirming around nicely.
McManus is looking to improve his position but Diol isn't that keen on the idea.
McManus is bucking up trying to escape but Diol cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McManus wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Diol lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Diol.
Diol has McManus flattened out and is raining down punches.

McManus fending off the submission attempt from Diol.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Diol 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! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McManus has his takedown stuffed

and Diol counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
McManus is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Diol is looking to take a break and control but McManus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Diol.
Diol wants to pass the guard but McManus is defending well.
McManus is trying to maintain the position but Diol is very close to passing his half guard.

Diol is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, McManus has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diol is keen to just control but McManus is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus wants to improve his position but Diol is controlling well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
McManus displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Diol.
McManus with a poor takedown

and Diol decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McManus's guard.
McManus working a defensive guard here.

Diol drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but McManus manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Diol has McManus in his guard.
McManus preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diol working for a triangle but McManus defends it easily.

McManus is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
McManus passes Diol's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
McManus looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Diol has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McManus is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McManus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Diol counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John McManus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McManus has momentary wrist control but Diol slips an elbow through the middle.
Diol preventing the sweep.
Diol stands and throws McManus's legs to the side, diving into side control.
McManus is looking for a sweep.
Diol wants to lay and pray for a moment but McManus keeps working.
McManus is trying to buck Diol off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Diol looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Diol is chipping away with strikes.
Diol working away.
Diol cracks McManus with an elbow. That is naaassty.
McManus sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
McManus is trying to stand back up but Diol is controlling him
McManus flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
John McManus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Diol prevents McManus from improving his position.
Diol controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carl Diol comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Diol 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carl Diol!