PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Craig Manning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Gonzalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Manning
vs
Gonzalez

225 cm
21
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
21
240 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Monster MMA
Urban Extreme Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Manning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Gonzalez!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gonzalez closes the distance and clinches.
Gonzalez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Manning just stands there and leans against the cage.
Manning is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Gonzalez successfully pulls guard.
Manning wants to control from the top but Gonzalez keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gonzalez can do anything to dispel that myth.
Gonzalez striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Gonzalez throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Gonzalez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gonzalez keeping moving, preventing Manning from controlling successfully.
Gonzalez is striking from the bottom but Manning uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Manning really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Manning preventing the sweep.
Gonzalez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Manning wants to control from the top but Gonzalez keeps moving.
Gonzalez lands a decent shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gonzalez is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Manning trying to control but Gonzalez is working from the bottom.
Gonzalez throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Gonzalez trying to strike off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Manning shoots for a takedown but Gonzalez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Manning has a takedown stuffed.

Gonzalez rushes Manning and presses him up against the cage.
Manning is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gonzalez is keeping busy.
Manning can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Gonzalez tries to score a body lock takedown but Manning shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manning avoids a wild elbow strike from Gonzalez.

Gonzalez is trying to trip Manning. He has hold of a leg but Manning is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Gonzalez persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Manning working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gonzalez.
Manning thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Manning has his feet on Gonzalez's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Manning is breathing heavily.

Gonzalez forces Manning back against the cage and clinches.
Manning looking to slow down the pace here.
Manning jumps guard but Gonzalez stands there with Manning around his waist. Manning gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Manning. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gonzalez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gonzalez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Manning walks away with a smile on his face. Gonzalez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Gonzalez rushes Manning and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Manning is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Gonzalez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Manning prevents it.
Gonzalez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Manning prevents it.
Manning trying to control the position but instead, Gonzalez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Manning into the cage.
Manning stops a takedown attempt from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Manning pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Gonzalez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Gonzalez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Manning prevents it.
Manning is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gonzalez is keeping busy.
Gonzalez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Manning gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Manning keeps control of Gonzalez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Manning fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gonzalez has a takedown stuffed.
Manning shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Gonzalez counters with a shoot takedown. Manning fights it but they end up in guard.
Gonzalez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gonzalez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Manning not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gonzalez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Manning's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gonzalez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez throws and elbow that misses. Manning uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gonzalez's guard. Nice move by Manning!
Manning postures up in Gonzalez's guard and throws a big left but Gonzalez blocks it.
Manning tries to stand but Gonzalez is controlling from the bottom.
Gonzalez scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Gonzalez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Manning postures up in Gonzalez's guard and throws a big left but Gonzalez blocks it.

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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Manning accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Manning postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

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

and Gonzalez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Manning. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gonzalez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Manning gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A bit of stalling here from Manning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez lands an elbow inside that Manning shrugs off.
Manning prevents the takedown attempt.
Manning wants to break the clinch but can't.
Manning is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gonzalez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Manning gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Manning drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Manning trying to control the position but instead, Gonzalez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Manning into the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Craig Manning.

Gonzalez has Manning up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Gonzalez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Manning gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gonzalez counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gonzalez working Manning over with strikes.
Gonzalez drops an elbow to the side of Manning's head.
Gonzalez winds up and cracks Manning with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Manning keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gonzalez throwing shots but Manning is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Gonzalez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gonzalez scores a takedown into full mount!
Manning regains half guard.
Manning works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gonzalez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gonzalez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gonzalez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manning avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gonzalez throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manning pushes Gonzalez off and gets back to his feet.
Manning with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gonzalez counters with a takedown into side control.
Tony Gonzalez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gonzalez throws an elbow but Manning slips to the side and avoids it well.
Manning struggling a bit here.
Gonzalez misses with the ground and pound.
Manning dodges the ground and pound from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez tries to score with some ground and pound. Manning controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Manning defending against the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manning struggling a bit here.
Gonzalez in side control, throwing shots but Manning defends.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Manning with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gonzalez counters with a single leg into guard. Manning didn't expect that.

Manning has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Gonzalez off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Manning gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gonzalez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gonzalez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Craig Manning. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manning is trying to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Gonzalez.
Stalling in the clinch from Manning.
Gonzalez goes for a takedown attempt but Manning pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gonzalez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Manning paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Gonzalez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gonzalez lands in his opponent's guard.
Gonzalez throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manning is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Manning preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gonzalez wants to stand but Manning has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Gonzalez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gonzalez throwing strikes from guard but Manning blocks nicely.
Craig Manning has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tony Gonzalez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Manning keeping moving, preventing Gonzalez from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Gonzalez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gonzalez has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Gonzalez!