PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Victor Craig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Craig
vs
McManus

170 cm
20
143 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

170 cm
24
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Victor Craig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jeff McManus!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McManus rushes Craig and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McManus on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
McManus avoiding damage as Craig throws knees to the body.
Craig putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has McManus in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
McManus fails to pull guard.
McManus fails to pull the fight into his guard.
McManus has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Craig avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Victor Craig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff McManus.
McManus tries to throw a body punch but Craig avoids it by throwing McManus back against the cage.
Craig prevents the takedown attempt.
McManus takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Jeff McManus has been cut.

McManus gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McManus throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Craig is holding on to half guard well.

McManus is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
McManus not landing any meaningful shots this time.
McManus not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig is looking to control McManus's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Craig avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McManus missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Craig wants to control but McManus is keeping busy.
Craig is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Craig wants to control but McManus is keeping busy.
McManus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
McManus is controlling the pace.
McManus missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. McManus connects with a nice short shot to Craig's temple.
Craig is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Craig wants to control but McManus is keeping busy.
McManus throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Craig has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McManus is working away from the top position though.
McManus lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

McManus looking for a submission but Craig manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
McManus throwing strikes from guard but Craig blocks nicely.
McManus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Craig is keeping the position for now.
Craig is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Craig keeping moving, preventing McManus from controlling successfully.
Craig manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Craig stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Craig throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

McManus closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Craig looking to throw knees to the head but McManus is blocking nicely.
McManus is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

McManus turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McManus creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Craig sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Craig takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Craig throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
McManus in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jeff McManus will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jeff McManus's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Craig tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. McManus manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Craig looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McManus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

McManus moves into the clinch successfully.
Craig lands an elbow just above McManus 's eye.
Craig gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from McManus.
McManus dodges an elbow strike from Craig.

McManus lands a takedown into guard.
McManus has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McManus throwing strikes from guard but Craig blocks nicely.
Craig is trying to control the position from the bottom.
McManus stands and throws Craig's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
You can see the frustration on Craig's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

McManus is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Craig is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Craig is trying to control McManus's posture but McManus avoids it.

McManus tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Craig is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Craig tries to get to full guard but McManus has control of the leg.

Craig is defending against the submission attempts here by McManus.
McManus is breathing heavily.
Craig regains full guard. Nicely done.
McManus wants to control from the top but Craig keeps moving.
Craig looking to control.
Craig has McManus pulled in close to control his posture.
Craig tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig is pulling down on McManus's head. It's preventing any offense from McManus, at least for the moment.
Jeff McManus has got the better of the ground game so far.

Craig working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McManus doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McManus manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Craig keeping full guard, as McManus tries to pass.
Craig knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McManus on the ground.
McManus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Craig works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Craig is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Craig tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Craig works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Craig keeping moving, preventing McManus from controlling successfully.
McManus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Craig is trying to control the position from the bottom.
McManus tries to free his leg and advance position but Craig is retaining full guard.
Craig looking for a sweep. Not yet Craig, not yet.

Craig has his foot on McManus's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McManus works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McManus with a flurry of punches that miss.

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

Craig is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jeff McManus will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jeff McManus's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McManus moves into the clinch.
Craig misses with an elbow strike.
Craig with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
McManus on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Craig lands a knee to the body.
McManus looking for a takedown.
Craig throws an elbow but it misses.
Craig lands a knee to the body.
McManus is looking for a takedown.
Craig working McManus over with knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Craig comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Craig using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McManus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McManus takes an elbow to the temple.
McManus fails to pull guard.
Victor Craig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff McManus.
Craig lands a nice elbow.
McManus takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Craig comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craig lands an elbow inside.
Knees in the clinch landing for Craig.
Craig utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Craig lands an elbow just above McManus 's eye.
Craig looking to throw knees to the head but McManus is blocking nicely.
Craig lands an elbow inside.
Craig lands an elbow inside.
McManus avoiding damage as Craig throws knees to the body.
Craig tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McManus avoids it.
Victor Craig has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Craig gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from McManus.
Craig gets underhooks to prevent McManus's takedown attempt.
Craig throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but McManus blocks it with crossed arms.
Craig lands an elbow inside.
Craig tries a knee to the head but McManus blocks it.
McManus has Craig pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Craig manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Craig.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Craig lands a damaging elbow.
Craig misses with an elbow strike.
Craig unloads a knee to the mid-section. McManus lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Craig lands an elbow that stopped McManus in his tracks for a moment.
Craig lands a nice knee to the body.
Craig connects with a knee to the head.
Craig lands an elbow inside.
Craig lands a knee to the body.
Craig lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from Craig.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Craig.
McManus tries to score a body lock takedown but Craig shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
McManus blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Nice elbow from Craig.
Craig lands an elbow just above McManus 's eye.
Craig landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Craig comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
McManus blocks an elbow strike from Craig.
Craig misses with a knee strike.
McManus blocks an elbow strike.
Craig lands a good knee to the midsection. McManus won't want to take too many of those.
Craig lands an elbow just above McManus 's eye.
McManus looking for a takedown.
Craig lands a nice elbow.
Craig scores a nice knee to the body.
Nice elbow from Craig.
McManus avoids the elbow strike from Craig, against the cage.
McManus takes an elbow to the forehead.
McManus tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nice elbow from Craig.
Craig lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Craig lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Craig unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craig missing with knees to the body.
Craig throws a knee to the head but misses.
Craig tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and McManus avoids it.
Craig lands a good knee to the midsection. McManus won't want to take too many of those.
McManus has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Craig is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Craig.
Craig lands an elbow just above McManus 's eye.
McManus on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Craig with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
McManus blocks an elbow strike from Craig.
McManus avoiding damage as Craig throws knees to the body.

McManus breaks from the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Craig clinches with his opponent.

Craig is fighting off a takedown attempt but McManus is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Craig to the mat. Craig regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Craig is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Victor Craig has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jeff McManus is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Craig keeping moving, preventing McManus from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Victor Craig showed his dominance in that final round.
I think McManus 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 Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff McManus!
Jeff McManus thanked the fans post fight for their support.