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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thad Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Manalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!
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| 169 cm
25
151 lbs
1 - 6 - 1 |
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170 cm
26
143 lbs
3 - 1 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
1 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thad Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Manalo!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hunter misses with a head kick.
Manalo looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Hunter fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Manalo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Manalo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hunter as he jumps to the side.
Hunter fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hunter tries to clinch but Manalo moves out of range.
Manalo leaves Hunter with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Manalo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thad Hunter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Hunter.
Manalo closes the distance and clinches.
Hunter avoids a wild elbow strike from Manalo.
Hunter has Manalo pressed against the cage.
Hunter gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter tries to pull guard but Manalo holds him up against the cage and eventually Hunter drops back down to his feet.
Manalo wants to break free but Hunter has control.
Manalo tries to break the clinch but Hunter is controlling the position.
Hunter tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Manalo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hunter blocks an elbow strike from Manalo.
Hunter manages to pull guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Manalo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Manalo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Manalo tries to free his leg and advance position but Hunter is retaining full guard.
Hunter is working an open guard so Manalo takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Hunter looks for a takedown but Manalo sprawls well.
Hunter gets in close and instigates a clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Manalo smiles and moves away.
Manalo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hunter shoots in for a takedown but Manalo shows good takedown defense.
Hunter shoots for a takedown but Manalo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hunter throws a head kick but Manalo moves out of range.
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 Thad Hunter will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!
Hunter dives in for a single leg takedown but Manalo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Hunter tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Manalo smiles and moves away.
Manalo throws a nice looking combination but Hunter bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Hunter rushes Manalo and presses him up against the cage.
Hunter lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Manalo backwards.
Manalo is breathing heavily.
Hunter keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Manalo's efforts to push away.
Manalo misses with an elbow over the top.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Manalo works on Hunter's body with a couple of short punches.
Manalo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hunter avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hunter tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Manalo just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thad Hunter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hunter keeps control of Manalo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hunter manages to break the clinch.
Manalo throws out a loose jab but Hunter uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hunter fails with a takedown attempt.
James Manalo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manalo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Manalo misses the body punch
and Hunter counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hunter has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Manalo uses from the top position.
Manalo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hunter is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter keeping moving, preventing Manalo from controlling successfully.
My spies in Weed Nation inform me that Manalo has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunter working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Manalo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Manalo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Manalo won't allow Hunter to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James Manalo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hunter changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Manalo tries to avoid it but Hunter manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Manalo to the ground. Manalo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hunter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hunter gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hunter keeps control of Manalo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hunter is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Manalo to keep the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Thad Hunter dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!
Hunter tries for a takedown but Manalo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hunter is defended easily by Manalo.
A swing and a miss from Manalo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunter blocks a jab.
Manalo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Manalo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hunter defends it nicely.
Manalo swats away the attempt to clinch by Hunter.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
Manalo is trying to break the clinch but Hunter has him pressed against the cage.
Hunter is trying to pull guard but Manalo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thad Hunter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manalo tries to circle away but Hunter has him pinned against the cage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hunter takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A frustrated look appears on Manalo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hunter jumps guard and drags Manalo to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Hunter wants to stand and escape but Manalo is having none of it.
Hunter looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hunter is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Manalo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hunter looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Manalo trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hunter's guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manalo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hunter has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Manalo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hunter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Manalo defends well.
And that's the end of the fight!
Thad Hunter showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hunter 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thad Hunter!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
23% |
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