PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Blais (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Blais
vs
McManus

185 cm
22
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

205 cm
22
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 Montreal, Xavier Blais!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sam McManus!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McManus with a hook.

It looks like Xavier Blais has been cut.
Blais fails in his attempt to clinch.
Blais shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McManus as he jumps to the side.
Sam McManus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Blais.
Blais avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Blais tries to clinch up but McManus circles away and keeps his distance.

McManus clinches with his opponent.
Blais trying to control the position but instead, McManus has worked for underhooks and has pushed Blais into the cage.
McManus drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Blais is looking to control McManus's arms but McManus gets an underhook and turns him. Now Blais has his back to the cage.

McManus is fighting off a takedown attempt but Blais is just too persistent for him and manages to trip McManus to the mat. McManus regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Blais knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for McManus on the ground.

McManus is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McManus wants to stand but Blais is controlling the position.
McManus is trying to control the position but Blais postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus keeping full guard, as Blais tries to pass.
McManus pulls Blais in to control the position.
Blais stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McManus swivels though and keeps the full guard.

McManus is looking for a triangle but Blais pushes his legs off easily.

Blais decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Blais fails with an attempt to clinch.
Blais lands a body shot.
McManus keeps the fight on the outside.

McManus closes the distance and clinches.
Blais drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McManus gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blais tries to score a body lock takedown but McManus shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Blais. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blais wants to get back to striking at distance but McManus won't allow it.
Blais is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but McManus is keeping busy.

McManus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Blais shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McManus but McManus pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Blais is breathing heavily.
Blais takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Blais circles away from the clinch attempt.
Blais changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McManus tries to avoid it but Blais manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McManus to the ground. McManus escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Blais fails with the takedown.
Blais lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Blais pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McManus misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus tries to clinch but Blais is having none of it.
Blais lands a two punch combo.
McManus tries to close the distance and clinch but Blais swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blais misses with the combination.
McManus fails in his attempt to clinch.
McManus misses with a two punch combination.

McManus darts in and clinches Blais up against the cage.
Blais drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McManus gets the underhooks and prevents it.
McManus lands with a left to the head.

McManus breaks the clinch.
McManus tries to close the distance and clinch but Blais swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McManus throws a hook but Blais blocks it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blais trying to control from half guard but McManus is working away.
Blais tries to pass the half guard into mount. McManus knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
McManus is holding on to half guard well.
Blais controlling the pace.

McManus makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Blais closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Blais is trying to control the action in half guard but McManus is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sam McManus will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Xavier Blais's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McManus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Blais swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McManus tries to clinch up.
Blais swats away the attempt to clinch by McManus.

Blais scores with a takedown into McManus's guard.
Blais throws a big right hand that misses.
McManus 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.
Blais throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McManus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Blais controlling from the top position.
McManus lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Blais!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blais is working to get back to half guard.
Blais is working hard here to advance position.
McManus landing strikes from the mount.
Blais on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Blais tries to get out of the position.
McManus punishing his opponent with strikes.
McManus unloading with bombs!

McManus is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Blais is surviving well by controlling McManus's body position as best he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
McManus thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Blais is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Blais is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Blais tries to hold on but McManus pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus working the ground and pound effectively.
Blais is looking to improve his position but McManus isn't that keen on the idea.
McManus is landing with some decent strikes but Blais is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Blais is trying to escape the mount.
McManus trying to control but Blais is having none of it.
McManus throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

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 landing punches.
McManus landing strikes, looking to finish!
McManus misses with a head shot.
Blais throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Blais can't escape the position.
Blais tries to hold on but McManus postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blais is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam McManus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Xavier Blais's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Blais tries to clinch but McManus moves out of range.
Blais tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
McManus lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Blais tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McManus swivels and escapes.
McManus tries to clinch but Blais moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - McManus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Blais ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Blais looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Blais would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McManus doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blais wants to stand but McManus has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Blais is sitting in close to McManus's body. McManus has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Blais is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Blais is tapping! That was a very nice submission by McManus.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Sam McManus!