PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between nat north (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). nat north has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

north
vs
Manhoef

188 cm
28
212 lbs
14 - 15 - 0

173 cm
25
205 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 14 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, nat north!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Melvin Manhoef!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Atkins and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
north showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Manhoef.
Manhoef swats away the attempt to clinch by north.
Manhoef misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Manhoef circles away from the clinch attempt.

Manhoef lands a big head kick that sends north tumbling to the mat! Manhoef takes a step backwards and waves north back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like nat north has been cut.

north throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Manhoef tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. north is in Manhoef's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
north wants to pass the guard but Manhoef is keeping the position.

north drops back looking for a leg! Manhoef is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Manhoef manages to kick north off! north jumps back into Manhoef's guard.
north looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
north postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Manhoef wants to stand up but north is controlling him.

north drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and north jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

north postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Manhoef is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of north, into his guard.
Manhoef is looking to stand up but north won't let him.
north lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Manhoef!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

north is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Manhoef has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Manhoef!
north is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

north is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
north prevents Manhoef from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

north is looking for a kimura here.
north trying to pass the guard but Manhoef defending well.
north is trying to control the action in half guard but Manhoef is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four 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.

north is working for a kimura but Manhoef is defending it quite comfortably.
north thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Manhoef's head.

north is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
north is looking to advance position but Manhoef won't allow it.

north is looking for a kimura but Manhoef is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for north to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melvin Manhoef dominated that round.
The cut man is working on nat north's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Manhoef moves out of range of the leg kick from north.
nat north is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
north showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Manhoef.
Manhoef tries to bum rush north with a series of wild strikes but north uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
north slips a jab and a cross from Manhoef.
Manhoef throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

north shoots in and bounces Manhoef off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manhoef keeping moving, preventing north from controlling successfully.

north drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and north jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
north pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Manhoef is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
north missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
north trying to control the position from guard on top but Manhoef is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manhoef utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

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.
north won't allow Manhoef to get back to his feet.

north 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.
Manhoef wants to stand up but north is controlling him.
north distracts Manhoef with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
north trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
north wants to control from the top but Manhoef keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
north trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

north 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.

north drops back looking for a leg! Manhoef is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Manhoef manages to kick north off! north jumps back into Manhoef's guard.
Manhoef can't keep his opponent in guard - north advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

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.

north is looking for a kimura here.

north is working for a kimura but Manhoef is defending it quite comfortably.

north seems to be working for a kimura but Manhoef defends the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

nat north dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on nat north's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Manhoef scores with a crisp jab that stopped north in his tracks.
north blocks a jab.
Manhoef moves out of range of the body kick.
Manhoef lands a hook that stumbles north back into the cage. Manhoef follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping north to the canvas! Manhoef pounces and lands several unanswered shots - north has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Melvin Manhoef!