PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between wanderlei manuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Gervais (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). manuel's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5n2fL6dL_8. wanderlei manuel looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

manuel
vs
Gervais

200 cm
22
285 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

204 cm
19
300 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, wanderlei manuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricky Gervais!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Luis Engracia and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gervais slaps away a takedown attempt from manuel, before circling back to the center of the mat.
manuel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gervais but Gervais pushes him off and we're back to square one.
manuel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gervais.
manuel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for wanderlei manuel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab by manuel.

manuel closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gervais is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but manuel has just dragged him back down to the mat.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Gervais stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Gervais wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Gervais tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but manuel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gervais wants to get back to his feet but manuel is dominant here and he's now got Gervais's back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gervais turns into manuel and is now in his guard.
manuel is breathing heavily.
Gervais wants to stand but manuel has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
manuel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gervais is looking to stand up but manuel won't let him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Gervais fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. manuel sprawls well initially but Gervais persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
manuel trying to control from the bottom.
manuel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
manuel trying to control here.
Gervais thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed manuel's head.
manuel tries to roll over but Gervais keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gervais stands up and beckons manuel to join him on the feet.
Gervais shoots in for a double leg but manuel sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
manuel fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gervais throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gervais misses with a looping left.
manuel scores with a nice right hand.
Gervais misses with a body shot.
Gervais throws a wild body kick that manuel sees coming a mile off.
manuel shoots in but no luck this time.

Gervais looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
manuel controls Gervais momentarily but Gervais frees himself.

Gervais stands and steps away. manuel gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
manuel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gervais as he jumps to the side.
A leg kick checked by manuel.
manuel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Gervais drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
manuel is trying to control the position but Gervais postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Gervais dominated that round.
That's time! manuel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

manuel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gervais swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gervais lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Gervais throws a solid leg kick but manuel takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Gervais.
Gervais tries to clinch up.
A left and a right from Gervais both land. Nice combination.

It looks like wanderlei manuel has been cut.
Gervais is looking to clinch.

Gervais changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. manuel looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gervais decides to stand back up.
Gervais misses with a straight right.
manuel gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gervais counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
manuel shoots in but no luck this time.
manuel tries to clinch up.
wanderlei manuel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gervais decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Gervais tries to stand but can't do so whilst manuel controls his leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. manuel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gervais wants to stand and escape but instead manuel has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Gervais keeping moving, preventing manuel from controlling successfully.

Gervais has his foot on manuel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. manuel works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gervais looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gervais kicks manuel off and gets to his feet.
Gervais moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
manuel shoots and misses

and Gervais counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for wanderlei manuel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

manuel working for a triangle but Gervais defends it easily.

Gervais stands up from manuel's guard - Gervais perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gervais closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Gervais working away.
manuel tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Gervais wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gervais prevents manuel from escaping the position.

Gervais stands up.

manuel shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
manuel stops Gervais from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

manuel is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Gervais kicks manuel off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Gervais showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on wanderlei manuel's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

manuel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gervais as he avoids it easily.
Gervais missing with a left hand there. manuel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Gervais swings for the body but manuel moves out of range.
Gervais throws a shot to the body.

Gervais feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
manuel looking to control.
manuel wants to sweep but no luck.
Gervais postures up.
manuel keeping moving, preventing Gervais from controlling successfully.
manuel controls Gervais momentarily but Gervais frees himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
manuel wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Gervais is now in half guard.
Gervais seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Ricky Gervais is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Gervais clinches up with manuel and pushes him back against the cage.
manuel is trying to drag Gervais to the mat but Gervais just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gervais is struggling to control the position.
manuel wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for wanderlei manuel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gervais jumps guard.
Gervais seems keen to control manuel's posture.
Gervais keeping full guard, as manuel tries to pass.
manuel won't allow Gervais to sweep him here.
manuel prevents Gervais from getting back to his feet.

That's four 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.
manuel trying to control the position from guard on top but Gervais is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gervais wants to stand up but manuel is controlling him.
Gervais is adopting a defensive guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A head kick misses from manuel.
Gervais tries a low kick but manuel avoids it.
Gervais throws a left and a right that both miss

and manuel counters with a takedown into side control.
Gervais holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Gervais is not content to let manuel control the position.
wanderlei manuel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gervais parries the strikes from manuel easily there. manuel is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gervais to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ricky Gervais.
Well Gervais 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Gervais!