|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Connor MacManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oliver Taquses (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Connor MacManus has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Connor MacManus seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?
|
|
|
178 cm
21
156 lbs
8 - 1 - 0 |
|
175 cm
20
158 lbs
3 - 1 - 0 |
Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine |
|
Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank |
| |
|
Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world! Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner. With a record of
8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Connor MacManus! And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner. With a record of
3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Oliver Taquses! The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Dmitry Maklakov and Ivan Kurochkin.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway! MacManus takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Taquses changes levels and scores with a jab to the body. MacManus fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Taquses, pushing him back against the cage. Taquses misses with a hook to the ribs.
MacManus blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning. An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Taquses. MacManus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat. MacManus drives through with a takedown into Taquses's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position. Taquses looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Taquses has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but MacManus can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself. Taquses throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Taquses looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
That's one minute gone in the round. Taquses keeping moving, preventing MacManus from controlling successfully. MacManus is looking to work some ground and pound but Taquses has wrist control. Taquses is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Taquses escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. MacManus gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance. Taquses has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but MacManus can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself. Taquses seems keen to control MacManus's posture. Taquses had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. MacManus defends it easily.
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. MacManus not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up. MacManus makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard. Taquses looking to control.
MacManus trying to control but Taquses is working from the bottom. Taquses is trying to keep MacManus in close.
MacManus trying to control the position from guard on top but Taquses is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can. MacManus looking to control the position here, rather than advance. Taquses is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and MacManus defends well.
That's three minutes gone in the round. MacManus avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taquses had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. MacManus defends it easily. The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work. MacManus postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head. Taquses is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent. MacManus is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
That's four minutes gone in the round. The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena. MacManus wants to control from the top but Taquses keeps moving. Taquses is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up. MacManus seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym. Taquses shoots in but no luck this time. MacManus keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl. Taquses decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard. The crowd thankful this round is nearly over. Taquses is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Taquses slows the pace down in half guard. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Oliver Taquses will probably get the nod. The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
The fight moves into the clinch position. MacManus is trying to pull guard but Taquses turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch. MacManus holding his opponent close, against the cage.
MacManus tries to pull guard but Taquses holds him up against the cage and eventually MacManus drops back down to his feet.
Taquses stops a takedown attempt from MacManus.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connor MacManus. That's going to take a lot out of him. MacManus leaning his opponent against the cage. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Taquses lands a right hand. MacManus is looking to take this one to the mat. Taquses fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
MacManus turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and MacManus manages to end up in side control.
That's one minute gone in the round. Taquses sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard. Taquses is trying to control but can't.
Taquses is trying to defend against the ground and pound but MacManus scores with a couple of nice shots. Connor MacManus overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far. MacManus is keen to just control but Taquses is a slippery customer. The fighters are battling for position here. Taquses manages to regain full guard. Nice work. Taquses is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and MacManus defends well. Taquses looking for a guillotine here but MacManus defends easily.
Taquses keeping moving, preventing MacManus from controlling successfully.
That's two minutes gone in the round. MacManus is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Taquses is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him. Taquses is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and MacManus defends well. MacManus working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound. Taquses working for a triangle but MacManus defends it easily.
MacManus trying to control the position from guard on top but Taquses is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Taquses has an active guard here but MacManus has managed to pass into half guard.
Taquses on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound. MacManus is looking to take a break and control but Taquses is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom. The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing. Taquses is looking to improve his position.
MacManus passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Taquses! MacManus with a couple of short strikes.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Taquses is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Taquses is in a horrible position here. MacManus smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
MacManus prevents Taquses from getting the reversal. Taquses wants to hold on but MacManus pushes him away. MacManus trying to control but Taquses is having none of it. Taquses can't escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over. MacManus landing shots from mount. Taquses is desperately trying to improve his position but MacManus has a good base and remains in mount. Taquses regains half guard. MacManus trying to control from half guard but Taquses is working away. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Connor MacManus dominated that second round. The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Taquses misses with an uppercut. MacManus saw that one coming. MacManus tries to clinch up but Taquses circles away and keeps his distance. Taquses darts in and out, connecting with a jab. Taquses swings and misses with a hook to the body.
MacManus throws a quick counter head kick but Taquses was just out of range. Taquses's jab looks to have found its range, popping MacManus under the eye. Taquses drives through with a takedown into guard. Taquses pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. MacManus is keeping the position for now. Taquses pushing down on MacManus's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work. Taquses trying to control from MacManus's half guard. MacManus has other ideas though and has regained full guard. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. MacManus can't keep his opponent in guard - Taquses advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount. Taquses passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for MacManus!
That's one minute gone in the round. Taquses is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But MacManus has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from MacManus! MacManus trying to control the position from guard on top but Taquses is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can. Taquses is pulling down on MacManus's head. It's preventing any offense from MacManus, at least for the moment. Taquses isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. MacManus stacks Taquses on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by MacManus!
That's two minutes gone in the round. Taquses tries to get back to half guard but can't. MacManus working the head with strikes. Taquses is trying to control MacManus's posture but MacManus avoids it. Taquses tries to get back to half guard but can't. Taquses is not content to let MacManus control the position. Taquses is trying to get back to half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round. MacManus trying to control the position but Taquses is working away. Taquses takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better. Taquses sneaks back into half guard. Taquses trying to control but MacManus postures up.
MacManus moves into full mount! Taquses won't be happy about that! MacManus working away from the top, dropping strikes.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Taquses tries to get back to half guard but can't. MacManus trying to control but Taquses is having none of it. MacManus is working for a guillotine from mount but Taquses frees his head quite easily.
MacManus trying to control but Taquses is having none of it. The crowd thankful this round is nearly over. Taquses tries to reverse the position but MacManus maintains control. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but Connor MacManus did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it. That's time! MacManus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Taquses goes for a double leg but MacManus avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as MacManus continues to drive forward. MacManus scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent. Taquses fails with a takedown attempt. MacManus wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch. MacManus defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Taquses. Connor MacManus has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oliver Taquses. MacManus shoots in for a double leg but Taquses sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy. Connor MacManus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout. MacManus shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Taquses as he jumps to the side. Taquses throws a jab when MacManus was well out of range. A counter left hand to the body from MacManus misses its target. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. MacManus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Taquses swats him away and circles back towards the center. Taquses tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away. Taquses slaps away a takedown attempt from MacManus, before circling back to the center of the mat. Taquses gets a takedown into half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round. Taquses is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for MacManus! Taquses tries to control but MacManus wriggling away. Taquses controlling his opponent. Let's hope that Taquses 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.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Taquses wants to control but instead MacManus manages to regain half guard. Taquses working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on MacManus's thigh. MacManus counters though and makes it back to full guard. MacManus looking to sweep here. No luck so far. MacManus controls Taquses momentarily but Taquses frees himself. Taquses wants to control from the top but MacManus keeps moving. MacManus keeping full guard, as Taquses tries to pass.
That's three minutes gone in the round. MacManus looking for a sweep. Not yet MacManus, not yet. Taquses looking to control the position here, rather than advance. Taquses trying to control but MacManus is working from the bottom. MacManus keeping full guard, as Taquses tries to pass. Taquses keeps trying to improve his position. Taquses passes easily into side control. Nice work.
That's four minutes gone in the round. The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena. MacManus tries to get back to half guard but can't. MacManus is not content to let Taquses control the position. MacManus seems a little lost for a moment, as Taquses dominates the positioning.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet. MacManus is trying hard to land a takedown here. Taquses sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet. Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out! Taquses slips a jab and a cross from MacManus.
MacManus gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here. Taquses misses with a short punch on the inside. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Oliver Taquses dominated that fourth round. The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!
Taquses throws a hook to the side of MacManus's head but MacManus sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully. MacManus shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Taquses defends it nicely. Taquses throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent MacManus stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly. No luck for MacManus with that takedown attempt. MacManus throws a wild body kick that Taquses sees coming a mile off. Oliver Taquses seems to be getting the better of the standup. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Taquses displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as MacManus throws out the jab. Taquses looks like he wants to counter punch here. Taquses instigates a clinch. MacManus drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Taquses gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Connor MacManus. That's going to take a lot out of him. Taquses successfully pulls guard.
That's one minute gone in the round. Taquses working for a triangle but MacManus defends it easily.
Taquses working a defensive guard but MacManus manages to pass into side control anyway.
MacManus stands up and we're back to a striking position. MacManus lands a really nice looking cross but Taquses seems unphased.
MacManus wants to clinch up but Taquses keeps it at a distance. Taquses swats away the attempt to clinch by MacManus.
That's two minutes gone in the round. MacManus looks for a takedown but Taquses sprawls well. MacManus closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - MacManus lands in his opponent's guard. Taquses working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. MacManus doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. MacManus manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem. MacManus got a little sloppy there for a moment and Taquses has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, MacManus has managed to get both his arms back between Taquses's legs - danger averted. MacManus got a little sloppy there for a moment and Taquses has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, MacManus has managed to get both his arms back between Taquses's legs - danger averted.
That's three minutes gone in the round. MacManus is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long. Taquses is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. MacManus is aware though and is defending well. Taquses is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Taquses keeping full guard, as MacManus tries to pass. MacManus postures up.
Taquses working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. MacManus doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. MacManus manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem. MacManus avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Taquses is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
That's four minutes gone in the round. The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena. MacManus trying to control but Taquses is working from the bottom. Taquses has control of MacManus's left arm, preventing MacManus from doing any damage. Taquses looking to control but MacManus passes into half guard.
Taquses is doing well to control the position and prevent MacManus from advancing to side control. MacManus is keen to just control but Taquses is a slippery customer. Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out! Taquses works his way to full guard. Good work. Taquses looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that's the end of the fight! I would just about give that final round to Oliver Taquses. I think Taquses 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision. Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 48:48 Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 48:48 Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 46:49
The fight is ruled a majority draw!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
32% |
|
|
|
|
|
|