PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Manalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Helllman (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.

Manalo
vs
Helllman

170 cm
25
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

151 cm
25
131 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 Los Angeles, James Manalo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steven Helllman!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manalo lands a head shot.
Manalo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Manalo gets a clinch.
Manalo jumps guard but Helllman stands there with Manalo around his waist. Manalo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Manalo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Manalo lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Helllman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Manalo shoots in for a takedown but Helllman shows good takedown defense.
Manalo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manalo shoots in but Helllman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Manalo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Manalo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Manalo wants to break the clinch but can't.

Manalo breaks from the clinch.
Manalo listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Helllman walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Manalo catches Helllman right on the button with a cross.
Manalo misses with a takedown attempt - Helllman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Steven Helllman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Manalo scores with a jab to the jaw.
Helllman takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Helllman takes a shot right to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manalo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Helllman tries to avoid it but Manalo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Helllman to the ground. Helllman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Manalo tries a low kick but Helllman avoids it.
Manalo wants to clinch.
Manalo scores with a body shot.
Helllman should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Manalo throws a one two combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manalo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Helllman circles away.
Helllman is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Manalo.
Manalo digs a good hook to Helllman's body.
Helllman moves out of range of the leg kick from Manalo.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Helllman blocks the body kick.
Helllman takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Manalo dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Helllman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Manalo.
Helllman on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Helllman walks into a stiff left hand from Manalo.
Manalo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Helllman blocks a low kick nicely.
A clash of legs there as Helllman blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manalo scores with a jab.
Manalo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Manalo drives through and clinches with Helllman against the cage.

Helllman breaks the clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Manalo!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Manalo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manalo throws a solid leg kick but Helllman takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Manalo.
Manalo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Helllman avoids it really well and circles away.
Manalo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Manalo throws a head kick that misses.
Helllman walks into a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manalo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Helllman is out of range and Manalo settles back down.
Manalo misses with a wild body shot.

Manalo instigates a clinch.
Manalo misses with the head strike.

Helllman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Manalo clinches up with Helllman and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Helllman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Manalo lands a head shot.
Manalo connects with the punch.
James Manalo is winning the standup battle so far.
Manalo throws a series of punches but Helllman avoids them all with ease.

Manalo darts in and clinches Helllman up against the cage.

Helllman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Manalo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Manalo dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Manalo thuds a left hand into Helllman's body.
Helllman takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Manalo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Helllman swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Manalo wants to clinch up but Helllman keeps it at a distance.
Manalo scores with a jab.
A punch combination from Manalo misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice cross by Manalo.
James Manalo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A clash of legs there as Helllman blocks the low kick.
Manalo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Manalo.
Manalo looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A left and a right from Manalo both land. Nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manalo lands with a straight right. Helllman didn't see that one coming.

Manalo has closed the distance and engaged Helllman in a clinch.

Helllman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A jab from Manalo finds it's way through Helllman's defenses.
Manalo lands with a nice body punch.
Manalo scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helllman is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Manalo thuds a left hand into Helllman's body.
Manalo tries to bum rush Helllman with a series of wild strikes but Helllman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Manalo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Manalo tries to clinch up but Helllman circles away and keeps his distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Manalo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manalo doesn't manage to clinch there - Helllman circles away.
Helllman walks into a left hand.
Nice sprawl there from Helllman as Manalo shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Manalo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manalo fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manalo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Manalo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Manalo has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Manalo!