PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between LeBron Manhaes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mod Afra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Manhaes
vs
Afra

203 cm
19
250 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
239 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, LeBron Manhaes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mod Afra!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Damien Edna and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Afra has managed to clinch.
Manhaes tries to break the clinch but Afra is controlling the position.
Manhaes wants to break free but Afra has control.
Manhaes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Afra has him pressed against the cage.
Manhaes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Manhaes drops down looking for an ankle pick but Afra pulls his leg out and moves away.
Afra shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Manhaes as he jumps to the side.

Afra gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Manhaes has had enough of the clinch but Afra keeps him there for the moment.
Manhaes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Manhaes tries to break free but Afra pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manhaes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Afra has him pressed against the cage.
Manhaes keeps control of Afra as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Afra should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Manhaes manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Manhaes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Afra.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manhaes uses the cage to get back to his feet.
No luck for Manhaes with that takedown attempt.
Afra avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Manhaes tries to clinch up.

Afra darts in and clinches Manhaes up against the cage.
Afra is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Manhaes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Manhaes is stalling here.
Manhaes tries to pull guard but Afra holds him up against the cage and eventually Manhaes drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for LeBron Manhaes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manhaes tries for a takedown. No joy.
Afra drops down looking for an ankle pick but Manhaes pulls his leg out and moves away.

Afra closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhaes prevents the takedown attempt.
Manhaes misses with the head strike.
Manhaes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Afra tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Manhaes misses with a punch on the inside.
Manhaes is trying to break the clinch but Afra is controlling him.
Afra wants to get back to striking at distance but Manhaes won't allow it.
Manhaes wants to get back to striking at distance but Afra won't allow it.
Afra blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Manhaes tries to throw a body punch but Afra avoids it by throwing Manhaes back against the cage.
Manhaes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Manhaes tries to work over Afra's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Manhaes tries to pull guard but Afra won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Afra stops a takedown attempt from Manhaes.
Manhaes tries to pull guard but Afra holds him up against the cage and eventually Manhaes drops back down to his feet.
Manhaes gets underhooks to prevent Afra's takedown attempt.

Afra has Manhaes pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Afra pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Manhaes tumbling to the mat - Afra dives into Manhaes's guard.
Manhaes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Afra looks gassed!
Manhaes seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Manhaes is on top in guard.
Manhaes trying to control the position from guard on top but Afra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manhaes passes into half guard.
Manhaes sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Manhaes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mod Afra will probably get the nod.
That's time! Manhaes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Afra gets a clinch.
Afra with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Afra keeps control of Manhaes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Manhaes's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Manhaes drops down looking for an ankle pick but Afra pulls his leg out and moves away.
LeBron Manhaes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Manhaes gets caught flat footed, as Afra shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Manhaes controlling the position.
Afra stopping the sweep attempt from Manhaes.
Manhaes is trying to keep Afra in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhaes is adopting a defensive guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

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

Afra closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Afra pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Afra stuffs the takedown.
Afra moves in looking to clinch but Manhaes pushes him off.

Afra throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Manhaes tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Afra is in Manhaes's guard.
Afra is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhaes seems keen to control Afra's posture.
Manhaes looking for a sweep. Not yet Manhaes, not yet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Manhaes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Afra pinned against the cage. Afra gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for LeBron Manhaes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Afra lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Mod Afra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhaes wants to clinch up but Afra keeps it at a distance.
Manhaes doesn't manage to clinch there - Afra circles away.
Manhaes closes the distance and clinches up with Afra, looking for a takedown. Manhaes pushes Afra against the cage but Afra circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Afra pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Manhaes shoots for a takedown but Afra saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Afra closes this distance looking for a takedown but Manhaes circles away.
Manhaes fails in his attempt to clinch.

Afra is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Manhaes's half guard.
Manhaes keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Afra throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhaes gets full guard.
Manhaes pulls Afra in close to prevent any damage.
Manhaes has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mod Afra showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Manhaes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Manhaes is looking to clinch but Afra is avoiding it.
Afra shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Manhaes pinned against the cage. Manhaes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Afra tries to score a power double leg takedown but Manhaes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Afra somewhat.
Manhaes tries to clinch up.
Manhaes tries to clinch up but Afra circles away and keeps his distance.
Afra shoots in for a takedown but Manhaes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
LeBron Manhaes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mod Afra.
Manhaes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Afra tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manhaes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Manhaes fails to land with a series of punches.

Afra has closed the distance and engaged Manhaes in a clinch.
Afra prevents Manhaes from breaking the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manhaes looking for a takedown.
Afra takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Manhaes fails to pull guard.
Manhaes is looking to break free of the clinch but Afra has double underhooks.
Manhaes tries to work over Afra's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhaes wants to break free but Afra has control.
Manhaes tries to pull guard but Afra won't allow it.
Manhaes swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Manhaes tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Afra smiles and moves away.
Manhaes tries to close the distance and clinch but Afra swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Afra circles away from the clinch attempt.
Manhaes closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Mod Afra has been cut.
Manhaes looks for a takedown but Afra sprawls well.
Manhaes throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Afra on the side of the head.
Manhaes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Manhaes closes the distance and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Afra prevents a takedown attempt there.
Manhaes is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Afra prevents Manhaes from breaking the clinch.
Manhaes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Afra wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Manhaes gets through Afra's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Afra has Manhaes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Manhaes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Manhaes looking for a takedown.
Manhaes misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Manhaes fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Manhaes tries a body shot but Afra blocks it.
Manhaes swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Manhaes is trying to force a seperation but Afra has the dominant position.
Afra looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhaes misses with the head strike.
Manhaes trying to stall but Afra improves his position.

Manhaes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Manhaes tries to clinch there but Afra circles away.
No luck for Afra with that takedown attempt.
Afra circles away from the clinch attempt.

Manhaes drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Afra keeping moving, preventing Manhaes from controlling successfully.
Afra trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Manhaes works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Manhaes controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhaes wants to pass to mount but Afra is defending the position.
Afra throws a strike from the bottom but Manhaes passes into side control!
Manhaes misses with the ground and pound.
Afra seems a little lost for a moment, as Manhaes dominates the positioning.
Manhaes moves into full mount!

Manhaes is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Afra is surviving well by controlling Manhaes's body position as best he can.
Manhaes looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
LeBron Manhaes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Afra has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mod Afra!