PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Murphy MacManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leon Bridges (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bridges has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

MacManus
vs
Bridges

185 cm
28
196 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

184 cm
21
196 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%
[WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry)

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Murphy MacManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Leon Bridges!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bridges shoots for a takedown but MacManus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bridges keeps the fight on the outside.
Bridges swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
MacManus tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bridges was well out of range. Poor timing from MacManus.
Bridges swats away the attempt to clinch by MacManus.
MacManus is looking to clinch.
MacManus doesn't manage to clinch there - Bridges circles away.
MacManus avoids the body shot from Bridges.
MacManus defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bridges.
MacManus throws a combination that misses
and Bridges counters with a nice body shot.
Bridges fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nice defenses there by MacManus.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacManus misses with a few strikes there.
MacManus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bridges swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bridges throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around MacManus's waist but MacManus gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bridges off to one side.
Murphy MacManus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Bridges.
MacManus tries to close the distance and clinch but Bridges swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bridges is trying hard to land a takedown here. MacManus sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bridges looks gassed!
MacManus moves in looking to clinch but Bridges pushes him off.
MacManus tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Bridges counters with a shoot takedown. MacManus fights it but they end up in guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bridges postures up.
Bridges throwing strikes from guard but MacManus blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridges stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. MacManus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bridges stopping the sweep attempt from MacManus.
MacManus is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bridges stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. MacManus swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bridges controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bridges postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Murphy MacManus.
Bridges dives in and grabs MacManus's left leg, looking for a takedown. MacManus pushes down on Bridges's head and hops out.

MacManus gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Bridges breaks from the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bridges.
MacManus moves in looking to clinch but Bridges pushes him off.
Bridges keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacManus moves away from the strike by Bridges.

Bridges closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. MacManus quickly recovers to half guard.
MacManus wants to control but Bridges is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bridges not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bridges thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bridges is trying to control. MacManus wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
MacManus is holding on to half guard well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bridges performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Bridges dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bridges swats away the attempt to clinch by MacManus.
Bridges fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Murphy MacManus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
MacManus tries to clinch but Bridges moves out of range.
Bridges connects with a body shot that sends MacManus's belly button to the back.
Bridges staying out of range there.
Bridges swats away the attempt to clinch by MacManus.
Bridges keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacManus takes a shot right to the bread basket.
MacManus doesn't manage to clinch there - Bridges circles away.
MacManus tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Bridges counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
MacManus tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bridges paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bridges closes the distance and clinches up with MacManus, looking for a takedown. Bridges pushes MacManus against the cage but MacManus circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bridges is breathing heavily.
Bridges showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from MacManus.
MacManus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bridges.
MacManus doesn't manage to clinch there - Bridges circles away.

Bridges feints and as MacManus raises his hands in defense, Bridges changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridges tries to free his leg and advance position but MacManus is retaining full guard.
Bridges throws an elbow that misses. MacManus uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bridges's guard. Nice move by MacManus!
Bridges controls MacManus momentarily but MacManus frees himself.
Bridges wants to sweep but no luck.
Bridges is pulling down on MacManus's head to control his posture.
Bridges looking for a sweep. Not yet Bridges, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Leon Bridges hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
The fight stays on the outside here - MacManus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bridges is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down MacManus rather than just go for the knockout.
MacManus wants to clinch.
MacManus throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bridges.
MacManus tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Bridges decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in MacManus's guard.
Bridges controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
MacManus is trying to keep Bridges in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bridges working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bridges trying to control but MacManus is working from the bottom.
MacManus is trying to keep Bridges in close.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bridges with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon Bridges showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

MacManus uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bridges.
MacManus fails with an attempt to clinch.
MacManus fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bridges swats away the attempt to clinch by MacManus.
MacManus misses the shot to the body.
Bridges avoids the body shot from MacManus.
Bridges shoots in but no luck this time.
MacManus is looking to clinch but Bridges is avoiding it.
Bridges takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
MacManus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
MacManus doesn't manage to clinch there - Bridges circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

MacManus clinches up with Bridges and pushes him back against the cage.
MacManus works on Bridges's body with a couple of short punches.
MacManus tries to work over Bridges's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
MacManus misses with a hook to the ribs.

Bridges's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bridges dips to his left and cracks MacManus with an uppercut!
MacManus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

MacManus clinches up with Bridges and pushes him back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Bridges misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bridges scores with a hook to the body.
MacManus misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bridges.

Bridges breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

MacManus moves into the clinch.
MacManus misses with a hook from the clinch.
Good body shot from Bridges.
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!

MacManus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bridges shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as MacManus sprawls well. MacManus wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bridges gets slowly back to his feet.
MacManus throws a hook but Bridges avoids it easily.
A punch combination from MacManus misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacManus moves to clinch but Bridges breaks away
and Bridges counters with a left to the body.
MacManus misses with a two punch combination.
MacManus is looking to clinch but Bridges is avoiding it.
MacManus misses with a combination
and Bridges connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
MacManus tries to close the distance and clinch but Bridges swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murphy MacManus is winning the standup battle so far.
MacManus closes the distance looking to clinch
and Bridges counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacManus throws a right and a left that Bridges avoids nicely.
Bridges lands a body shot.
MacManus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bridges swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bridges shoots for a takedown but MacManus saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Murphy MacManus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leon Bridges.
Bridges shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has MacManus pinned against the cage. MacManus gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
MacManus looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Murphy MacManus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

MacManus gets caught flat footed, as Bridges shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Murphy MacManus.
I think Bridges 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 28:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leon Bridges!
Leon Bridges bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.