PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mike Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Manheim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ward
vs
Manheim

183 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

163 cm
25
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes comics

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Brute

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Ward!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Frank Manheim!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Colin Fotheringham and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manheim misses with a double jab.
Ward looks for a takedown but Manheim sprawls well.
Manheim stalks Ward and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ward's face. Ward staggers backwards, shaken.

Ward closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Ward is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Manheim is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Ward tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ward has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ward lands a nice forearm strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manheim gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ward knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Manheim on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward is looking for a kimura here.
Ward not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ward frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Manheim tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ward will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ward dominating with strikes here.
Ward dominating with strikes here.
Ward content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Manheim is wriggling around trying to escape.
Ward has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Manheim's face.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ward controlling the position easily from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manheim is trying desperately to improve position.
Manheim bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Manheim won't allow Ward to get back to his feet.
Ward on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ward tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manheim passes into half guard.
Ward is trying to escape back to his feet but Manheim uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Ward is breathing heavily.
Ward tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

Manheim goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ward is on top in guard.

Manheim isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ward stacks Manheim on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Ward!
Manheim taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward cracks Manheim with a big elbow.
Manheim is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Manheim is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ward's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ward not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Manheim makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Manheim.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manheim looking for a sweep. Not yet Manheim, not yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Manheim looking for a guillotine here but Ward defends easily.
Ward wants to control from the top but Manheim keeps moving.
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 Mike Ward will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ward fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Ward shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Manheim's guard.
Ward wants to pass the guard but Manheim is keeping the position.
Ward postures up and lands a big shot to Manheim's brow.
Ward engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ward postures up and lands a big shot to Manheim's brow.
Ward is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ward with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manheim is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Ward rolls with it to try and escape but Manheim cranks on the arm and Ward is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Frank Manheim!
Our winner, Frank Manheim, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.