PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dean Larson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

McManus
vs
Larson

179 cm
21
135 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

169 cm
23
133 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid 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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John McManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dean Larson!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Larson has a takedown stuffed.
McManus stuffs the takedown.
John McManus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dean Larson.

McManus shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

McManus is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larson is not content to let McManus control the position.
McManus is really struggling to control Larson but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus wants to pass the guard but Larson is defending well.
McManus content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Larson is trying to get back to full guard.
McManus landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
McManus tries to clinch but Larson is having none of it.

McManus looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Larson!
McManus working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McManus has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Larson's face.
A nice elbow there by McManus.
Larson is wriggling around trying to escape.

McManus is working for a guillotine from mount but Larson frees his head quite easily.
McManus scoring with strikes but Larson is staying in there.
McManus wants to control the pace but Larson is squirming around nicely.
Larson tries to reverse the position but McManus maintains control.
Larson looks gassed!
Larson tries to hold on but McManus pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson gets back to half guard.
Larson is not content to let McManus control the position.
McManus works his way into side control.
Larson is looking to regain half guard here but McManus keeps moving and retains side control.

McManus has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Larson moves out of range as McManus throws a body kick.
McManus misses with a low kick.
McManus really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larson misses with a takedown attempt

and McManus decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Larson's guard.
Larson wants to hit a switch here but McManus passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Larson there!
McManus lands a big shot there that rocks Larson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Larson tries to hold on but McManus postures up.
A nice elbow there by McManus.

McManus working for a submission but Larson is keeping him at bay.
Larson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John McManus dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

McManus looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Larson!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee warns Larson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Larson is squirming around, avoiding McManus's attempts to control the action.
Larson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Larson tries to lock up and control but McManus gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McManus landing strikes from the mount and Larson is in trouble!
Larson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
BOOM! McManus connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus unloading with bombs!
McManus trying to control but Larson is having none of it.
McManus looking to finish Larson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Larson!
McManus lands a big shot there that rocks Larson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The referee warns Larson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
McManus fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Larson tries to reverse the position but McManus maintains control.
Larson is bucking up trying to escape but McManus cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
McManus raining down shots from the mount!
McManus tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Larson holds on for dear life, controlling McManus's posture momentarily.
Larson has given up his back. Will we see McManus going for some submissions?
John McManus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Larson grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.

Larson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from McManus.
McManus is trying to stick to Larson's back but Larson is turning into McManus. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in McManus's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Larson.
Larson cracks McManus with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
McManus raining down shots from the mount!
Larson is looking to get to half guard.
Larson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Larson tries to hold on but McManus pushes him away.
McManus connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
McManus lands with some strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
McManus raining down shots from the mount!
Larson is wriggling around trying to escape.
McManus avoids the attempt from Larson to control.
McManus looking to finish Larson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Larson!
Larson is trying desperately to improve position.
Larson tries to control the position but McManus now has his back.

McManus working for a choke but Larson is defending well.
Larson manages to reverse the position and now he's in McManus's guard. Nice work there by Larson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John McManus dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McManus with a lazy takedown attempt

and Larson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McManus's guard.
McManus not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Larson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McManus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Larson stopping the sweep attempt from McManus.
Larson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Larson preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Larson passes McManus's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
McManus is looking for a sweep. Larson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McManus trying to control here.
Larson passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on McManus's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
McManus tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Larson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
McManus is letting Larson control him for a moment.
McManus regains half guard.
Larson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McManus trying to hold on to Larson's head to control him but Larson postures up.
Larson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McManus is not content to let Larson control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

McManus looking for submissions off his back.
Larson thows a huge punch but McManus dodges it nicely.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Larson with a lazy takedown attempt

and McManus decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Larson's guard.

Larson is looking for a triangle but McManus pushes his legs off easily.
McManus wants to pass the guard but Larson is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus wants to control from the top but Larson keeps moving.
Larson looking to hit a scissor sweep but McManus is one step ahead there.
McManus with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Larson keeping full guard, as McManus tries to pass.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Larson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and McManus counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McManus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Larson counters with a takedown into side control.
Larson is trying to move to mount but McManus reverses beautifully and ends up in Larson's guard.
McManus landing with the ground and pound.
McManus controlling from the top position.
Dean Larson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John McManus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Larson looking for a guillotine here but McManus defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dean Larson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McManus 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John McManus!