PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frankin Bruisevelt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bruisevelt
vs
McManus

183 cm
23
162 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
167 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good gas tank

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frankin Bruisevelt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Connor McManus!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Lou da Vinci and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bruisevelt dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McManus slips a jab and a cross from Bruisevelt.

Bruisevelt closes the distance and clinches.

Bruisevelt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bruisevelt is looking to clinch but McManus is avoiding it.
McManus tries to clinch up but Bruisevelt circles away and keeps his distance.

Bruisevelt has taken the fight to the clinch.
McManus has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bruisevelt is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Good body shot from McManus.

McManus has hold of one of Bruisevelt's legs. Bruisevelt is fighting the takedown attempt but McManus gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Bruisevelt is looking to stand up but McManus isn't so interested in that idea.
McManus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bruisevelt is controlling McManus's posture.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McManus landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McManus throwing strikes from guard but Bruisevelt blocks nicely.
Bruisevelt trying to control the position.
Bruisevelt wants to stand but McManus is controlling the position.

Bruisevelt has his feet on McManus's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Bruisevelt moves out of range as McManus throws a body kick.
Bruisevelt slaps away a takedown attempt from McManus, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bruisevelt misses with a low kick.
Bruisevelt fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruisevelt misses with a low kick.
Bruisevelt throws a sloppy head kick and McManus moves out of range easily.
Bruisevelt circles away from the clinch attempt.
A low kick from McManus misses
and Bruisevelt counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. McManus is lucky that one didn't land flush.
McManus will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
McManus tries to clinch up but Bruisevelt circles away and keeps his distance.

McManus closes the distance and clinches.
McManus takes an elbow to the forehead.
McManus is stalling here.
McManus wants to take the fight to the mat but Bruisevelt manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Frankin Bruisevelt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor McManus.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bruisevelt putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has McManus in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Bruisevelt is trying to break the clinch but McManus is controlling him.
Bruisevelt misses with an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruisevelt wants to break free but McManus has control.
McManus drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bruisevelt gets the underhooks and prevents it.
McManus's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Bruisevelt tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McManus trying to control the position but instead, Bruisevelt has worked for underhooks and has pushed McManus into the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Bruisevelt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruisevelt missing with knees to the body.
Bruisevelt taking a breather.
McManus's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Bruisevelt working hard to break the clinch.
Bruisevelt tries a knee to the head but McManus blocks it.
Bruisevelt blocks an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bruisevelt prevents a takedown attempt there.
McManus lands a hook to the side of the head.
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 Frankin Bruisevelt will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McManus wants to clinch up but Bruisevelt keeps it at a distance.
McManus lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Connor McManus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McManus ducks right into an uppercut from Bruisevelt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bruisevelt circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bruisevelt blocks a head kick by McManus.
McManus tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bruisevelt paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bruisevelt tries a head kick but it misses.
Bruisevelt thuds his shin into the meat of McManus's side.

Bruisevelt has managed to clinch.
McManus tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
McManus fails to pull guard.
Bruisevelt throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Bruisevelt breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bruisevelt fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bruisevelt tries to clinch up but McManus circles away and keeps his distance.
Bruisevelt keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruisevelt misses with a few strikes there.
McManus fails with a takedown attempt.
McManus tries to clinch but Bruisevelt is having none of it.
Frankin Bruisevelt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McManus shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bruisevelt as he jumps to the side.
Frankin Bruisevelt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Connor McManus.
McManus fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McManus blocks a head kick by Bruisevelt.
McManus shoots in for a takedown but Bruisevelt shows good takedown defense.
McManus moves in looking to clinch but Bruisevelt pushes him off.
McManus fails with an attempt to clinch.
McManus moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
McManus shoots in for a takedown but Bruisevelt shows good takedown defense.
Bruisevelt throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Bruisevelt misses with a wild body shot.
Bruisevelt will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McManus fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bruisevelt fails to land with a series of punches.
Frankin Bruisevelt is winning the standup battle so far.
McManus looks to land a body kick but Bruisevelt moved away.
Bruisevelt moves out of range of the leg kick from McManus.
McManus tries to land a leg kick but Bruisevelt saw it coming and moves away.

Bruisevelt moves into range and clinches up with McManus.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
McManus drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bruisevelt gets the underhooks and prevents it.
McManus is working for takedown but Bruisevelt is calmly controlling the position for now.
Bruisevelt is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bruisevelt looks to throw an elbow but misses.
McManus has a couple of punches blocked by Bruisevelt.
Bruisevelt is trying to break the clinch but McManus has him pressed against the cage.
McManus changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bruisevelt fights it off and pushes away nicely.
McManus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McManus tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bruisevelt sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten McManus somewhat.
Bruisevelt thuds his shin into the meat of McManus's side.
Bruisevelt wants to clinch.
Bruisevelt is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruisevelt lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nice cross by Bruisevelt.
McManus throws a sloppy head kick and Bruisevelt moves out of range easily.
Bruisevelt wants to clinch.
McManus misses with a takedown attempt - Bruisevelt sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McManus wants to clinch up but Bruisevelt keeps it at a distance.
Bruisevelt slaps away a takedown attempt from McManus, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bruisevelt wants to clinch.
McManus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bruisevelt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McManus avoids a punch combination nicely.

Bruisevelt instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankin Bruisevelt dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Bruisevelt lands with a nice combination. McManus backs away looking to recover.

McManus drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
McManus throws a big elbow that misses.
McManus postures up in Bruisevelt's guard and throws a big left but Bruisevelt blocks it.
McManus wants to control from the top but Bruisevelt keeps moving.
McManus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McManus seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
McManus stands and throws Bruisevelt's legs to the side, diving into side control.
McManus throwing strikes but Bruisevelt manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruisevelt wants to lay and pray for a moment but McManus keeps working.
McManus sneaks back into half guard.
Bruisevelt wants to stand but his hand is trapped. McManus uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
McManus preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bruisevelt would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Bruisevelt postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bruisevelt decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

McManus clinches.
A bit of stalling here from McManus.
Bruisevelt unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Bruisevelt throws an elbow that misses.
McManus throws a punch but it's blocked by Bruisevelt.

Bruisevelt's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McManus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bruisevelt swats him away and circles back towards the center.

McManus fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bruisevelt to the ground. McManus is now in Bruisevelt's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus trying to control but Bruisevelt is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McManus won't allow Bruisevelt to get back to his feet.
Bruisevelt not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bruisevelt keeping moving, preventing McManus from controlling successfully.
McManus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McManus wants to control from the top but Bruisevelt keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McManus accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McManus postures up in Bruisevelt's guard and throws a big left but Bruisevelt blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bruisevelt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McManus trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Connor McManus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McManus advances position into side control!
Bruisevelt is pushing McManus's head away, looking to escape. McManus manages to hold on to the position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bruisevelt is trying to control McManus's posture but McManus avoids it.
McManus tries to score with some ground and pound. Bruisevelt controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
McManus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bruisevelt keeps working.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McManus misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Frankin Bruisevelt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McManus throws an elbow but Bruisevelt slips to the side and avoids it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor McManus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bruisevelt 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 John Roberts scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Frankin Bruisevelt!