PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sala Manteri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tempelton Shire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tempelton Shire told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Manteri
vs
Shire

170 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

174 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sala Manteri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tempelton Shire!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, John Kavanagh and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shire tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Manteri paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shire shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Manteri pinned against the cage. Manteri gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Manteri shoots for a takedown but Shire saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Manteri tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shire looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Manteri is fending him off so far but Shire persists. Nope, Manteri circles away and we're back to standing.
The fight stays on the outside here - Manteri looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shire doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Manteri holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sala Manteri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tempelton Shire.

Shire jumps guard and drags Manteri to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Shire keeping moving, preventing Manteri from controlling successfully.
Manteri slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Manteri pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shire is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manteri gets to his feet. Shire looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A swing and a miss from Manteri.
Shire tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Manteri swivels and escapes.

Manteri moves into the clinch successfully.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Manteri jumps guard and drags Shire to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Manteri is on top in guard.
Manteri trying to control but Shire is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manteri passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manteri is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Shire has escaped the position, nice work there.

Manteri tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Manteri has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Manteri is breathing heavily.
Shire is trying to control Manteri's posture but Manteri avoids it.
Manteri wants to control but Shire is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shire tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Manteri is looking to take a break and control but Shire is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Manteri slaps away a takedown attempt from Shire, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Manteri shoots in for a takedown but Shire shows good takedown defense.
Shire throws a head kick but Manteri moves out of range.
Manteri throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Shire sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Shire misses with a head kick.

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.

Shire closes the distance and pushes Manteri back into the cage.
Shire tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Manteri just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shire pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Shire wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Manteri wants a takedown but no success here.
Shire tries for a takedown. No joy.
Shire has Manteri pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Manteri manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A shot in the inside from Shire.
Shire tries to break the clinch but Manteri is controlling the position.
Manteri changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Shire fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Shire looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Manteri is fending him off so far but Shire persists. Nope, Manteri circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shire throws a head kick but Manteri moves out of range.
Shire shoots for a double leg takedown but Manteri sprawls well. He's pushed Shire's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shire moves in looking to clinch but Manteri pushes him off.
Shire stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shire wants it to stay on the feet.
Manteri tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Shire counters with a nice body shot.
Manteri shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shire sprawls well. Shire wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Manteri gets slowly back to his feet.
Shire dives in and grabs Manteri's left leg, looking for a takedown. Manteri pushes down on Shire's head and hops out.
Shire shoots in for a double leg but Manteri sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Shire wants to land a leg kick but Manteri is out of range.
Manteri keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Shire shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Manteri pinned against the cage. Manteri gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sala Manteri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tempelton Shire.
Shire throws and low kick but Manteri moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shire tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shire tries to score a power double leg takedown but Manteri sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Shire somewhat.

Shire rushes Manteri and presses him up against the cage.

Manteri pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sala Manteri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manteri keeps the fight on the outside.
Shire tries to clinch but Manteri moves out of range.
Manteri shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shire as he avoids it easily.
Shire tries to clinch up but Manteri circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Manteri keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

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.

Shire closes the distance and pushes Manteri back into the cage.
Shire wants to get back to striking at distance but Manteri won't allow it.

Shire jumps guard and drags Manteri to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Shire wants to stand but Manteri is controlling the position.
Manteri with a flurry of punches that miss.

Manteri decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Shire changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Manteri tries to avoid it but Shire manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Manteri to the ground. Manteri escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Shire gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shire is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Manteri trying to stall but Shire improves his position.
Shire fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shire lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Manteri.
Shire looking to slow down the pace here.

Shire manages to break the clinch.
Shire looks for a takedown but Manteri sprawls well.
Shire shoots in looking for a takedown. Manteri tries to sprawl out of it but Shire keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Manteri manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shire thuds a left hand into Manteri's body.
Shire wants to clinch.

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.
Manteri leaves Shire with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shire fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Manteri takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Shire tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Manteri swivels and escapes.
Manteri moves in looking to clinch but Shire pushes him off.

Manteri closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Manteri lands in his opponent's guard.
Shire keeping moving, preventing Manteri from controlling successfully.
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 Sala Manteri will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Shire shoots in for a takedown but Manteri shows good takedown defense.
Shire moves out of range of the leg kick from Manteri.
Shire is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Manteri shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shire but Shire pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shire stuffs the takedown attempt from Manteri. Manteri gets slowly back to his feet.
Manteri throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shire's waist but Shire gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manteri off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sala Manteri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shire drives through and clinches with Manteri against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Shire manages to break the clinch.
Shire looks to clinch

and Manteri counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Manteri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shire tries to pull guard but Manteri holds him up against the cage and eventually Shire drops back down to his feet.
Shire lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Sala Manteri has been cut.
Manteri tries to pull guard but Shire won't allow it.
Shire looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
With the fighters up against the cage, Shire throws an elbow but misses.
Manteri is looking to control Shire's arms but Shire gets an underhook and turns him. Now Manteri has his back to the cage.
Shire goes for a takedown in the clinch but Manteri prevents it.
Manteri has Shire pressed against the cage, preventing Shire from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Shire tries to pull guard but Manteri won't allow it.
Manteri fails to pull guard.
Shire fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Manteri tries to score a body lock takedown but Shire shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Shire tries to pull guard but Manteri holds him up against the cage and eventually Shire drops back down to his feet.
Shire has had enough of the clinch but Manteri keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shire drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Manteri gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Shire.
Shire tries to circle away but Manteri has him pinned against the cage.
Manteri swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shire drops down looking for an ankle pick but Manteri pulls his leg out and moves away.

Shire clinches with his opponent.
Shire tries to pull guard but Manteri won't allow it.
Manteri tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shire smiles and moves away.
Shire tries for a takedown but Manteri sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shire closes the distance and clinches up with Manteri, looking for a takedown. Shire pushes Manteri against the cage but Manteri circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shire shoots in for a double leg but Manteri sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Manteri fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Manteri with that takedown attempt.
A clash of legs there as Manteri blocks the low kick.
Horrible takedown by Shire or perhaps it was just good defense by Manteri which made him look bad.
Shire shoots in and drives through. Manteri sprawls well.
Shire stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shire wants it to stay on the feet.

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.
Shire swats away the attempt to clinch by Manteri.
Manteri blocks a head kick by Shire.
Shire digs a good body shot into Manteri's ribs.
Shire has a takedown stuffed.
Shire tries to clinch but Manteri is having none of it.
Shire lands with an uppercut that bounces Manteri off the cage and back into rage.
Shire tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manteri swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shire fails in his attempt to clinch.
Manteri stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Manteri wants it to stay on the feet.
Tempelton Shire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sala Manteri is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Manteri.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tempelton Shire.
I think Manteri 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Sala Manteri!