PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Vang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Manoel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Vang
vs
Manoel

177 cm
24
161 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

175 cm
21
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joshua Vang!
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, Carlos Manoel!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vang scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Manoel pushes Vang off and gets back to his feet.

Manoel clinches up with Vang and pushes him back against the cage.

Manoel jumps guard and drags Vang to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Vang stopping the sweep attempt from Manoel.
Vang throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Manoel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Manoel pulls Vang in close to prevent any damage.

Vang got a little sloppy there for a moment and Manoel has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vang has managed to get both his arms back between Manoel's legs - danger averted.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vang working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manoel has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Vang off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Vang will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Manoel misses the body punch
and Vang counters with a nice body shot.

Manoel throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Vang was covering up waiting for the punch and Manoel finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Manoel's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Let's hope that Manoel has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Manoel stands and steps away. Vang gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Manoel closes the distance and clinches.
Vang working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manoel jumps into guard, dragging Vang to the mat.
Manoel working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vang.
Manoel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vang lands a couple of elbows.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vang trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Manoel has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Manoel's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Vang throws an elbow that misses. Manoel uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vang's guard. Nice move by Manoel!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vang wants to get back to his feet but Manoel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Vang is working an open guard so Manoel takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Manoel moves into the clinch.

Manoel breaks from the clinch.

Vang gets a takedown into half guard.

Manoel has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Vang is on him like a limpet, forcing Manoel back against the cage.
Vang is breathing heavily.
Manoel has Vang pushed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Manoel breaks from the clinch.
Manoel leaves Vang with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Manoel changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Vang gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vang not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vang being controlled here, momentarily.
Manoel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vang keeping moving, preventing Manoel from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Manoel dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Vang enables Manoel to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Vang manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Manoel wants to control from the top but Vang keeps moving.
Manoel keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Vang's head.
Manoel showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Vang lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Vang has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manoel looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Vang puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Vang throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manoel regains full guard. Nicely done.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vang accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Manoel looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Vang throwing strikes but missing.
Vang working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Manoel controlling the position.
Vang working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Manoel controls Vang momentarily but Vang frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Manoel has his foot on Vang's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vang works his way back into a safe position though.

Manoel looking for subs off his back but Vang has passed one foot through into half guard.
Manoel is breathing heavily.
Manoel throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Vang manages to pass to side control.
Manoel is looking for a sweep.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Manoel looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Vang has one foot on Manoel's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Carlos Manoel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vang bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Manoel's head backwards.

Manoel shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Vang has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Manoel is on him like a limpet, forcing Vang back against the cage.

Manoel has hold of one of Vang's legs. Vang is fighting the takedown attempt but Manoel gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vang lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Manoel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Manoel controlling Vang's posture.
Vang throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vang landing some decent shots from guard.

Manoel kicks Vang off and gets to his feet.

Manoel rushes Vang and presses him up against the cage.

Manoel breaks from the clinch.

Manoel looking to score a takedown here. Vang is defending well but Manoel drives through and ends up in Vang's guard.
Vang controls Manoel momentarily but Manoel frees himself.
Manoel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vang swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joshua Vang will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Manoel takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Vang misses with a takedown attempt - Manoel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Manoel gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Manoel decides to pull guard.
Manoel pulls Vang in close to his closed guard and prevents Vang from doing any damage or advancing position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vang won't allow Manoel to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manoel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Manoel looking for subs off his back but Vang has passed one foot through into half guard.
Manoel trying to hold on to Vang's head to control him but Vang postures up.

Vang is looking for a kimura but Manoel is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vang to get the leverage.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manoel works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Manoel wants to control the position but Vang says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Manoel is trying to control but Vang manages to pass to mount!
Manoel throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Manoel tries to hold on but Vang postures up.
Manoel is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Vang.
Manoel gets back to half guard.
Manoel looks like he's trying to stand up.
Manoel is trying to get back to full guard.
Vang sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Manoel defending well though.
Manoel is trying to maintain the position but Vang is very close to passing his half guard.
Manoel is doing well to control the position and prevent Vang from advancing to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vang slips a nice elbow through Manoel's hands, connecting with Manoel's forehead.

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

Manoel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vang slips a nice elbow through Manoel's hands, connecting with Manoel's forehead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joshua Vang showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vang has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joshua Vang!