PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Montana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manu Tuilagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Montana comes to the cage accompanied by Push It To The Limit. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Montana
vs
Tuilagi

186 cm
39
176 lbs
43 - 21 - 0

174 cm
29
183 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 43 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Antonio Montana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manu Tuilagi!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Montana dips to his left and cracks Tuilagi with an uppercut!
Montana throws a hook but Tuilagi avoids it easily.
Montana lands a jab.

Tuilagi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Montana napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Montana tries to bench press Tuilagi off him but Tuilagi keeps the position.
Tuilagi landing a few strikes.
Tuilagi has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Montana manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Montana keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tuilagi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Tuilagi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Montana is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tuilagi pulls his head out easily.
Montana trying to hold on to Tuilagi's head to control him but Tuilagi postures up.
Tuilagi winds up and cracks Montana with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Tuilagi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Montana is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tuilagi pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tuilagi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Montana is refusing to be controlled, as Tuilagi sits in half guard.
Tuilagi trying to control the pace.
Tuilagi scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuilagi not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tuilagi tries to pass to full mount but Montana defends it.
Tuilagi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Tuilagi is trying to control the action in half guard but Montana is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Montana actively working from the bottom here.
Tuilagi lands with a punch from half guard.
Tuilagi throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tuilagi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Montana does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Montana is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tuilagi scores with a couple of nice shots.
Montana blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tuilagi.
Tuilagi is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Montana!
Montana is looking to improve his position but Tuilagi isn't that keen on the idea.
Montana tries to lock up and control but Tuilagi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuilagi trying to control but Montana is having none of it.
Tuilagi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Montana looks a forlorn figure.

Tuilagi with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Tuilagi pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Montana is working to get back to half guard.
Montana is in a horrible position here. Tuilagi smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Montana keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Montana tries to hold on but Tuilagi postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuilagi lands a heavy elbow.
Tuilagi pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Montana taking shots to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Montana working to try and regain half guard.
Tuilagi avoids the attempt from Montana to control.
Tuilagi with a couple of short strikes.
Montana wants to hold on but Tuilagi pushes him away.
Tuilagi with the ground and pound from mount.
Montana tries to hold on but Tuilagi pushes him away.
Tuilagi lands a big elbow.
BOOM! Tuilagi connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Tuilagi working Montana over with strikes here.

Montana is rocked!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Tuilagi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Montana keeps Tuilagi at a distance using the push kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Tuilagi.

Tuilagi closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Montana quickly recovers to half guard.
Montana tries to get to full guard but Tuilagi has control of the leg.
Tuilagi is keen to just control but Montana is a slippery customer.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tuilagi lands a nice short elbow.
Tuilagi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tuilagi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Montana does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tuilagi prevents Montana from improving his position.
Tuilagi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Montana on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuilagi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Montana gets back to full guard.
Tuilagi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tuilagi throws a big elbow that misses.
Tuilagi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Montana looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tuilagi is one step ahead there.
Tuilagi postures up and lands a big shot to Montana's brow.
Montana has momentary wrist control but Tuilagi slips an elbow through the middle.
Tuilagi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Tuilagi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Montana looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tuilagi lands a couple of elbows.
Montana will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tuilagi works over Montana with some ground and pound from guard.
Manu Tuilagi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Montana avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Montana looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tuilagi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tuilagi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tuilagi lands a couple of elbows.
Tuilagi working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Montana trying to keep a closed guard but Tuilagi is proving a slippery customer.
Tuilagi cracks Montana with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Montana throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Montana is trying to control the position but Tuilagi postures up.
Tuilagi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Montana keeping moving, preventing Tuilagi from controlling successfully.
Tuilagi not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tuilagi scoring with some ground and pound.
Tuilagi is in close to Montana's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tuilagi cracks Montana with a solid left hand.
Tuilagi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Montana swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuilagi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tuilagi sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Montana looking for a sweep. Not yet Montana, not yet.
Montana looking to control.
Tuilagi trying to control but Montana is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Montana keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Montana cracks the inside of Tuilagi's front leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Tuilagi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Montana dips to his left and cracks Tuilagi with an uppercut!
Montana takes a swing at Tuilagi's ribcage but misses.
Antonio Montana seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Montana pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And Tuilagi tries to counter it with a takedown but Montana pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Montana throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tuilagi.
Tuilagi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Tuilagi avoids the head kick by Montana.
And Tuilagi tries to counter it with a takedown but Montana pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Montana tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tuilagi is able to avoid easily.
Montana jabs at Tuilagi's body.
A jab from Montana misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tuilagi's jab looks to have found its range, popping Montana under the eye.
Montana fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tuilagi on the side of the head.
Montana pushes Tuilagi away with a front kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montana feints and then cracks Tuilagi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tuilagi down.
Tuilagi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Montana is fending him off so far but Tuilagi persists. Nope, Montana circles away and we're back to standing.
Tuilagi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Montana misses with a head kick.
Tuilagi shoots in for a takedown but Montana shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Montana is looking to counter punch.

Tuilagi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Montana's half guard.

Montana looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Montana wants to improve his position but Tuilagi is controlling well.
Tuilagi is trying to control. Montana wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tuilagi scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Antonio Montana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Montana is looking to control Tuilagi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Montana avoid being mounted?
Tuilagi is trying to control. Montana wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tuilagi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Tuilagi is trying to control. Montana wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tuilagi scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Montana is looking for a sweep. Tuilagi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Montana is trying to maintain the position but Tuilagi is very close to passing his half guard.
Montana is staying active underneath Tuilagi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tuilagi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Montana trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montana is looking for a sweep. Tuilagi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tuilagi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Tuilagi lands with a punch from half guard.
Tuilagi is keen to just control but Montana is a slippery customer.
Tuilagi content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Montana avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tuilagi.
Montana trying to control but Tuilagi postures up.
Tuilagi is keen to just control but Montana is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Tuilagi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Tuilagi working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Montana's thigh. Montana counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Manu Tuilagi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tuilagi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tuilagi trying to control the position from guard on top but Montana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tuilagi content to stall in guard here.
Tuilagi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tuilagi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Antonio Montana.
I think Tuilagi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manu Tuilagi!
Manu Tuilagi really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that HERITAGE Threads logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.