PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Connor McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pieter Pieter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McManus comes into the arena with Jeff Danna - 'The Blood of Cú Chulainn' blaring out of the sound system. Connor McManus has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McManus
vs
Pieter

177 cm
21
167 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

175 cm
21
165 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Intelligent

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%
SAVE A FIGHTER

SAVE A FIGHTER
Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Connor McManus!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pieter Pieter!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pieter misses with a takedown attempt
and McManus counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

McManus closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Pieter prevents McManus from moving into mount.
Pieter takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
McManus misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
McManus trying to control the action but Pieter is working from the bottom.
Pieter being controlled for a moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McManus trying to control the action but Pieter is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus in side control, throwing shots but Pieter defends.
McManus grinds an elbow into Pieter's temple.
Pieter is looking to regain half guard here but McManus keeps moving and retains side control.
McManus creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Pieter sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
McManus remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pieter struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pieter might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McManus kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pieter can do anything to dispel that myth.
McManus in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
McManus working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McManus trying to control the action but Pieter is working from the bottom.
McManus landing a few strikes.
McManus has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

McManus is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pieter has escaped the position, nice work there.
Pieter looking for a sweep but McManus has passed into full mount! Oh no!
McManus with a couple of short strikes.
McManus landing strikes from the mount and Pieter is in trouble!
BOOM! McManus connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Pieter is rocked!
McManus lands a big shot to the head and Pieter winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Connor McManus!
Connor McManus is the new lightweight champion!
Connor McManus thanked the fans post fight for their support.