PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mark Lewis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jrock Mandela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Lewis
vs
Mandela

186 cm
19
194 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
195 lbs
8 - 5 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Lewis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jrock Mandela!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lewis waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Mandela.
Mandela shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lewis pinned against the cage. Lewis gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lewis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mandela is looking to clinch.
Lewis slips a jab and a cross from Mandela.

Lewis tries to keep at a distance but Mandela has taken the fight into the clinch.

Lewis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lewis lands a nice looking body shot.
Mandela takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Jrock Mandela has been cut.
Lewis cracks Mandela with an uppercut from hell and Mandela crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Lewis's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

Mandela is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lewis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mandela is still in real trouble! Can Lewis finish him?
Lewis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mandela swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lewis passes Mandela's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Lewis is looking for a kimura but Mandela is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lewis to get the leverage.
Mandela seems to have recovered his senses.

Lewis decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Mark Lewis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lewis throws a right and a left that Mandela avoids nicely.

Lewis clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis can't break the clinch.

Lewis breaks from the clinch.
Lewis throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mandela throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lewis's waist but Lewis gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mandela off to one side.
Lewis scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lewis throws a shot from downtown. Mandela moves away and avoids it.
Lewis smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Lewis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mandela avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lewis swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mandela counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Mandela.
Lewis is breathing heavily.
Mandela tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lewis has had enough of the clinch but Mandela keeps him there for the moment.

Mandela jumps into guard, dragging Lewis to the mat.
Lewis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mandela not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lewis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mandela is keeping the position for now.
Mandela has a closed guard, preventing Lewis from standing up.
Lewis passes Mandela's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lewis is looking for a kimura but Mandela is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lewis to get the leverage.
Mandela trying to hold on to Lewis's head to control him but Lewis postures up.

Lewis is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mandela defends it well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A big left from Lewis misses.
Mark Lewis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Mandela has closed the distance and engaged Lewis in a clinch.
Lewis is looking to break free of the clinch but Mandela has double underhooks.
Lewis is trying to break the clinch but Mandela has him pressed against the cage.
Mandela keeps control of Lewis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lewis tries to break the clinch but Mandela is controlling the position.
Lewis can't break the clinch.

Mandela pulls Lewis into guard.
Lewis trying to control but Mandela is working from the bottom.
Mandela trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandela wants to sweep but no luck.
Lewis wants to pass the guard but Mandela is keeping the position.

Mandela throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lewis is pushing down on Mandela's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mandela is fighting to maintain full guard but Lewis has managed to sneak the leg through.

Lewis is working for a kimura but Mandela is defending it quite comfortably.

Lewis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mandela keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Lewis is looking for a kimura here.
Mandela moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mandela tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lewis works over Mandela with some ground and pound from guard.
Mandela is trying to keep Lewis in close.
Mandela looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lewis wants to control from the top but Mandela keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mandela working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Lewis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jrock Mandela's cut.
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.

Lewis scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Lewis swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Mandela moves into the clinch.
Lewis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mandela has him pressed against the cage.
Lewis can't break the clinch.
Mandela keeps control of Lewis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Lewis wants to get back to striking at distance but Mandela won't allow it.
Mandela keeps control of Lewis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mandela just leaning against Lewis, taking a breather.
Lewis can't break the clinch.
Lewis wants to get back to striking at distance but Mandela won't allow it.
Lewis tries to break the clinch but Mandela is controlling the position.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Mandela takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Lewis goes for a takedown attempt but Mandela pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A combination from Lewis does no damage.
Mandela is looking to clinch.
Lewis misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lewis throws an overhand right that lands on Mandela's shoulder, as Mandela tries to avoid the shot.
A jab from Lewis misses.
Lewis uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mandela has time to react.
Nice combo by Lewis! Oh, that's hurt him - Mandela falls to the canvas and Lewis follows him into side control.

Lewis wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mandela, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Lewis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mandela knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mandela sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Lewis wants to pass to mount but Mandela is defending the position.
Mandela keeping control of the position.
Mandela is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lewis is looking for a kimura but Mandela is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lewis to get the leverage.
Lewis blocks the strikes from Mandela.

Mandela looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lewis has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Lewis goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Mandela turns into him and now he's in Lewis's guard.
Lewis has momentary wrist control but Mandela slips an elbow through the middle.
Lewis tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mandela not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandela postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Lewis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mandela doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mandela manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mandela trying to control the position from guard on top but Lewis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mandela avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lewis manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Lewis prevents Mandela from getting the reversal.
A nice elbow there by Lewis.

Lewis has hold of Mandela's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Mandela manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mandela wants to control but Lewis is having none of it.

Lewis is working for a guillotine from mount but Mandela frees his head quite easily.
Mandela tries to hold on but Lewis postures up.

Lewis gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
A jab from Lewis misses.
Mandela keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lewis.
A left and a right from Lewis both land. Nice combination.
Mandela fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lewis keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Lewis dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jrock Mandela's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mandela is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lewis throws an overhand right that lands on Mandela's shoulder, as Mandela tries to avoid the shot.
Mandela takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Mandela slips under a jab from Lewis.
Mandela moves out of range of the strikes.

Mandela has managed to clinch.

Lewis breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lewis slow jab from Mandela misses its intended target.
Mark Lewis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mandela misses with a few strikes there.
Mandela throws a jab but it's blocked by Lewis.
Mandela tries to close the distance and clinch but Lewis swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lewis throws a series of punches but Mandela avoids them all with ease.
Mandela fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lewis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Danga de danga de dang - Lewis scores with a four punch combination!
Lewis lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nice shot lands for Lewis.

Mandela fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lewis, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandela prevents Lewis from breaking the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mandela tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lewis smiles and moves away.
Lewis is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Mandela tries to clinch but Lewis is having none of it.
Mandela on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Mark Lewis is winning the standup battle so far.
Lewis throws a hook to the side of Mandela's head but Mandela sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Mandela rushes Lewis and presses him up against the cage.
Lewis is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lewis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Lewis drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mandela gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Lewis breaks from the clinch.
Lewis scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Lewis keeps the fight on the outside.
Lewis thows a body shot but no joy.
Mandela slips a jab and a cross from Lewis.
Lewis scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mandela throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lewis throws a good cross that connects.
Mandela cracks Lewis with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Mandela walks into a stiff left hand from Lewis.
Mandela shoots in but Lewis avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mandela staying out of range there.
Lewis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mandela manages to avoid it.
Lewis scores with a jab to the body.
Mandela takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A clash of legs there as Lewis blocks the low kick.
Lewis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A jab from Lewis does it's job there.
Lewis throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lewis throws a series of punches but Mandela avoids them all with ease.
Mandela looks for a takedown but Lewis sprawls well.
Mark Lewis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jrock Mandela.
Lewis throws a nice looking combination but Mandela bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lewis misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mandela is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Mandela takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Mandela drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Lewis manages to get back to half guard.
Lewis tries to roll over but Mandela keeps him under control.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lewis manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lewis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Mandela manages to get to full guard.

Lewis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Jrock Mandela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mandela 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lewis passes Mandela's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mandela is trying to stand back up but Lewis is controlling him

Lewis gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Lewis throws a combination that misses
and Mandela counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lewis lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That has opened up Jrock Mandela's cut even more.
A swing and a miss from Lewis.
Mandela takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lewis misses with a few strikes there.
Lewis misses with a double jab.
Lewis throws the left hand but Mandela avoids the punch easily.
Lewis slow jab from Mandela misses its intended target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lewis scores with a shot to the body.
Mandela takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Mandela uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lewis.
Lewis works over Mandela's head and body with a nice combination.
Lewis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Lewis showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lewis, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight for Mark Lewis!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Mark Lewis!
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight for Mark Lewis!

Mark Lewis wins by unanimous decision!