PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Goran Manevski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Craven Morehead (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Morehead has chosen Effigy of the Forgotten as his entrance music. 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 Craven Morehead was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Manevski
vs
Morehead

187 cm
18
186 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Goran Manevski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Craven Morehead!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morehead drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Manevski wants to sweep here but Morehead controlling him for the moment.
Manevski wants to stand up but Morehead is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morehead loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Morehead trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Manevski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Morehead throwing strikes from guard but Manevski blocks nicely.
Morehead won't allow Manevski to sweep him here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Manevski takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Morehead thuds a left hand into Manevski's body.
Morehead tries to clinch there but Manevski circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morehead looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Manevski tries to clinch but Morehead is having none of it.

Morehead moves into the clinch.
Morehead changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Manevski fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Morehead doesn't manage to clinch there - Manevski circles away.
Morehead wants to clinch but Manevski slips to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Manevski fails to land with a series of punches.
Morehead looks to land a combination but Manevski avoids it well.
Goran Manevski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morehead tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Manevski counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Morehead!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morehead is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Manevski controlling his opponent.
Morehead avoids a series of strikes thrown by Manevski.
Manevski dominating with strikes here.
Morehead is squirming around, avoiding Manevski's attempts to control the action.
Morehead really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morehead is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Manevski can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Morehead is looking to escape.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Manevski in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

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.
Manevski trying to control but Morehead is having none of it.
Manevski sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Manevski is trying to control here but Morehead has managed to regain half guard.
Manevski stalling away here and it's allowed Morehead to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Goran Manevski 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.

Manevski looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Morehead is fending him off so far but Manevski persists. Nope, Morehead circles away and we're back to standing.
Manevski misses with a shot to the body

and Morehead counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Morehead works over Manevski with some ground and pound from guard.
Manevski 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.

Morehead thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Manevski throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Morehead pushes down on Manevski's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Manevski pushes Morehead off but Morehead dives into side control.

Morehead stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morehead has taken the fight to the clinch.
Morehead managing to block the knees to the body from Manevski.
Morehead tries for a takedown. No joy.
Morehead is looking to break free of the clinch but Manevski has double underhooks.
Manevski jumps guard but Morehead stands there with Manevski around his waist. Manevski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Morehead leaning against his opponent.
Manevski goes for a takedown in the clinch but Morehead prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Goran Manevski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Morehead tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Manevski slowing the pace effectively.

Morehead jumps into guard, dragging Manevski to the mat.
Manevski postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manevski looking to sit in guard and control but Morehead gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Morehead pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Manevski is keeping the position for now.
Morehead throws a big right hand that misses.
Manevski trying to keep a closed guard but Morehead is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manevski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Morehead wants to clinch but Manevski slips to the side

and Manevski counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Manevski.
Manevski wants to break the clinch but can't.

Morehead pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Morehead will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Morehead is looking to clinch but Manevski is avoiding it.
Morehead tries to clinch but Manevski moves away

and Manevski moves into the clinch.

Morehead jumps guard and drags Manevski to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Morehead throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Morehead keeping full guard, as Manevski tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manevski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Morehead working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Manevski.

Morehead looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Morehead 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.
Morehead keeping moving, preventing Manevski from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craven Morehead showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Morehead closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Morehead drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Morehead lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Manevski is working for takedown but Morehead is calmly controlling the position for now.
Morehead stalling the fight.

Morehead manages to pull guard.
Manevski thows a big elbow that misses.
Morehead is adopting a defensive guard.

Morehead had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Manevski is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Morehead Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Manevski's back instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morehead takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Morehead working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Manevski just trying to survive but Morehead is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Manevski looking very determined here, making life difficult for Morehead.

Morehead is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's two 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.
Morehead doesn't have the hooks in and Manevski manages to turn into his guard.
Morehead is trying to control the position but Manevski postures up.
Manevski throws and elbow that misses. Morehead uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Manevski's guard. Nice move by Morehead!
Manevski tries to strike from the bottom.

Morehead avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Manevski manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manevski working the ground and pound effectively.
Morehead wants to control but Manevski is having none of it.
Manevski takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Morehead wants to hold on but Manevski pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Manevski prevents Morehead from getting the reversal.
Manevski wants to control the pace but Morehead is squirming around nicely.
Manevski controlling from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Morehead regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Craven Morehead comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Morehead has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craven Morehead!