PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francesco Manzo (ranked 25599 p4p, 0 weight class) and Spencer Rubenstein (ranked 6477 p4p, 0 weight class). Francesco Manzo has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Manzo
vs
Rubenstein

183 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

191 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Francesco Manzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Spencer Rubenstein!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Jonathan Paton and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Manzo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rubenstein looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Rubenstein is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Manzo has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Manzo is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Rubenstein's shoulder. That is not cool.
Rubenstein taking a bit of punishment here - Manzo scoring with strikes.
Rubenstein is being controlled here.
Rubenstein tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
The referee is taking a good look at Rubenstein as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Manzo!
Rubenstein is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Rubenstein is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Manzo is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Manzo gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Manzo gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Manzo apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Francesco Manzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Manzo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manzo forces his way into half guard.
Rubenstein on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manzo is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manzo is nestled in close to Rubenstein, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manzo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rubenstein knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rubenstein tries to kick Manzo off but Manzo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Manzo controlling the pace.
Manzo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Manzo not doing much here.
Manzo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rubenstein really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Manzo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Manzo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Manzo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ground and pound from Manzo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Manzo seems content to control.
Manzo lands strikes from half guard.
Manzo lands with a punch from half guard.
Manzo trying to control the pace.
Rubenstein wants to get back to his feet.
Rubenstein is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Manzo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Manzo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rubenstein wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rubenstein is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Manzo lands with a punch from half guard.
Manzo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rubenstein tries to kick Manzo off in order to stand up. Manzo Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manzo cracks Rubenstein with a big right hand but Rubenstein just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Manzo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Rubenstein is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Manzo has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Manzo takes a little break here. Rubenstein wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Manzo scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Rubenstein to see if he's OK.
Manzo controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubenstein wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Rubenstein tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Rubenstein wants to try and get back to his feet.
Manzo pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Manzo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Manzo lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Rubenstein hang on?
Manzo lands a couple of good shots and Rubenstein has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Manzo has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Rubenstein's body.
Rubenstein trying to get back to his feet but Manzo is in full control for now.
Can Rubenstein hold on?! Manzo is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Manzo dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Manzo walks into a jab.
Rubenstein is looking to clinch but Manzo is avoiding it.

Manzo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rubenstein to the ground. Manzo is now in Rubenstein's guard.
Manzo postures up and lands a big shot to Rubenstein's brow.
Manzo won't allow Rubenstein to get back to his feet.
Manzo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubenstein fails in his attempt to clinch.
Manzo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rubenstein raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Manzo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rubenstein's waist but Rubenstein gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manzo off to one side.
Manzo misses with a takedown attempt
and Rubenstein counters with a series of strikes. Manzo will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francesco Manzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manzo fails with a takedown attempt.
Manzo looks for a takedown but Rubenstein sprawls well.
Manzo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rubenstein as he jumps to the side.
Spencer Rubenstein is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rubenstein tries to clinch up but Manzo circles away and keeps his distance.

Manzo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Manzo remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rubenstein pushes Manzo away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Manzo gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Manzo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rubenstein can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubenstein seems a little lost for a moment, as Manzo dominates the positioning.
Manzo working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Francesco Manzo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rubenstein is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Manzo has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Manzo working the body and head with strikes.
Rubenstein takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Manzo looks up at the clock and then as Rubenstein takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Manzo smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Manzo taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manzo scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Rubenstein to see if he's OK.
Rubenstein wants to get back to his feet.
Manzo working the ground and pound.
Manzo working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rubenstein is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Manzo controls the position.
Manzo cracks Rubenstein with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Manzo prevents Rubenstein from escaping the position.
Rubenstein takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Manzo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Manzo scoring with punches from side control.
Manzo prevents Rubenstein from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manzo lands some shots froms side control.
Manzo cracks Rubenstein with a big elbow.
Rubenstein is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Rubenstein is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Manzo working the head and body with strikes.
Manzo grinds an elbow into Rubenstein's temple.
Rubenstein seems a little lost for a moment, as Manzo dominates the positioning.
Manzo's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Manzo scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Rubenstein to see if he's OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Manzo looks up at the clock and then as Rubenstein takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Manzo smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rubenstein bucks up and tries to throw Manzo off but instead Manzo has got his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francesco Manzo dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rubenstein tries to sprawl but Manzo drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Manzo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rubenstein tries to kick Manzo off but Manzo keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rubenstein on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Manzo prevents Rubenstein from standing back up.
Manzo working the head and body with strikes.
Manzo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Manzo connects with a nice short shot to Rubenstein's temple.
Rubenstein pushes Manzo off looking to stand but Manzo dives back in and keeps control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manzo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rubenstein is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Manzo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Manzo prevents Rubenstein from standing back up.
Manzo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubenstein is looking to get back to is feet but Manzo passes into side control.
Manzo lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Rubenstein down.
Manzo landing strikes.
Manzo taking a breather here.
Manzo passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Rubenstein!
Manzo controlling from mount.
Manzo postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rubenstein looks a forlorn figure.
Rubenstein wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manzo is landing with some decent strikes but Rubenstein is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Manzo landing shots from mount.
Manzo controlling from mount.
Manzo could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rubenstein is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Manzo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Manzo looking to finish Rubenstein with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rubenstein!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rubenstein wants to try and get back to his feet.
Manzo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Manzo pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Rubenstein is rocked!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Manzo cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rubenstein is still in real trouble! Can Manzo finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manzo fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Manzo unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Rubenstein wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Manzo celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Francesco Manzo!