PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nathaniel Mann (ranked 5922 p4p, 0 weight class) and Majmun Kristus (ranked 6094 p4p, 0 weight class). Kristus has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mann
vs
Kristus

210 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nathaniel Mann!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Majmun Kristus!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mann gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kristus letting Mann take a breather here.
Kristus tries to break the clinch but Mann is controlling the position.
Mann misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mann prevents Kristus from breaking the clinch.
Mann prevents Kristus from breaking the clinch.

Kristus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kristus tries to clinch up
and Mann counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice inside leg kick there by Mann. That's going to slow Kristus down.

Kristus closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mann keeps control of Kristus as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kristus wants to get back to striking at distance but Mann won't allow it.
Mann can't find room to land a body shot as Kristus controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kristus wants to get back to striking at distance but Mann won't allow it.

Kristus's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kristus swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mann counters with a low kick, right behind Kristus 's knee.
Kristus looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A quick step to the side and Mann tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kristus lands a nice hook to Mann's body. Mann takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kristus looks winded!
Kristus loads up on a big right hand but Mann slips the punch.

Mann has managed to clinch.
Kristus working aggressively here.
Mann has Kristus pressed against the cage, preventing Kristus from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mann scores with a hook to the body.
Mann keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kristus's efforts to push away.
Mann can't find room to land a body shot as Kristus controls the action.
Kristus misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kristus misses with some punches.
Mann is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Mann is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kristus is defending well for now.
Mann takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Nathaniel Mann has been cut.
Mann taking a breather.
Mann tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kristus's elbow.
Kristus wants to break free but Mann has control.
Kristus is trying to break free.
Kristus tries to land a knee to the head but Mann blocks with his arms.
Mann lands a body punch.
Mann slows down the pace here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kristus is trying to push Mann away but Mann has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Mann lands with a short shot to the head.
Mann tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kristus misses with a hook from the clinch.

Kristus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Mann moves into the clinch.
Mann misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mann lands a shoulder strike.
A short right from Mann.
Kristus pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Mann blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mann pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mann really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mann misses with a hook to the ribs.

Kristus manages to break the clinch.

Mann takes the fight into the clinch.
Kristus is trying to break the clinch but Mann is controlling him.
Kristus is trying to break free.
Kristus is trying to force a seperation but Mann has the dominant position.
Kristus working hard to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mann dodges an elbow strike from Kristus.
Kristus is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kristus misses with some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathaniel Mann dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nathaniel Mann's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kristus fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kristus tries to clinch there but Mann circles away.

Mann closes the distance and clinches.
Kristus tries to break the clinch but Mann is controlling the position.
Kristus struggles to land a body shot inside as Mann controls his hands.
Mann lands a good knee to the midsection. Kristus won't want to take too many of those.
Kristus tries to break the clinch but Mann is controlling the position.
Kristus lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Kristus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Mann moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kristus is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mann creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kristus is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Come on Mann - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kristus is breathing heavily.
Kristus is trying to push Mann away but Mann has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Nathaniel Mann has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Kristus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kristus tries to clinch there but Mann circles away.
Mann has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
No joy there for Kristus, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Mann clinches.
Kristus can't break the clinch.
Kristus tries to break free but Mann pushes him back against the cage.
Mann manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Mann goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mann scores a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kristus.
A short body shot lands from Mann as the two fighters clinch.
Mann tries to land knees in the clinch but Kristus avoids the damage to the body.
Mann lands a nice knee to the body.
Mann blocks the elbow strike.
Mann scores with a hook to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Mann lands a knee to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Mann takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kristus tries to break the clinch but Mann is controlling the position.
Mann misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Kristus's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mann landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mann stalling in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Mann.
Mann stalling in the clinch.
Kristus fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mann scores a nice knee to the body.
Kristus managing to block the knees to the body from Mann.

Kristus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Mann has Kristus up against the cage in a clinch.
Nice body punch from Mann - that landed with a thud.
Kristus looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mann has Kristus pressed against the cage, preventing Kristus from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mann scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mann putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kristus in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mann goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kristus is trying to break the clinch but Mann has him pressed against the cage.
Mann lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mann creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mann misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kristus.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mann tries to land knees in the clinch but Kristus avoids the damage to the body.
Kristus pressing his opponent against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kristus breaks the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathaniel Mann dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nathaniel Mann's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Mann tries to clinch there but Kristus circles away.
Mann tries to clinch but Kristus is having none of it.

Mann gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mann keeps control of Kristus as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kristus is trying to push Mann away but Mann has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kristus wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kristus wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mann lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mann blocks an elbow strike from Kristus.
Kristus looks to throw an elbow but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kristus has had enough of the clinch but Mann keeps him there for the moment.
Mann blocks a body shot from Kristus.
Kristus takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kristus takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kristus is trying to push Mann away but Mann has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mann blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kristus throws an elbow that misses.
Kristus working hard to break the clinch.
Mann misses with a punch to the body.
Mann misses with a punch to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mann.
Kristus avoiding damage as Mann throws knees to the body.
Kristus working aggressively here.
Mann keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kristus's efforts to push away.
Mann lands a nice knee to the body.
Kristus is trying to break free.
Mann tries to throw a body punch but Kristus avoids it by throwing Mann back against the cage.
Mann is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kristus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kristus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mann appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kristus throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Mann counters with a shoot takedown. Kristus fights it but they end up in guard.
Mann throws a big elbow that misses.
Mann in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mann with a flurry of punches that miss.
Mann will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kristus has momentary wrist control but Mann slips an elbow through the middle.

Mann decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kristus, up you get!
Mann with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mann gets a clinch.
Mann lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Mann can't find room to land a body shot as Kristus controls the action.
Kristus wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mann just leaning against Kristus, taking a breather.
Mann lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kristus or not.
Kristus working aggressively here.

Kristus breaks the clinch.

Mann clinches up against the cage.
Mann tries a body shot but Kristus blocks it.
Mann lands a good knee to the midsection. Kristus won't want to take too many of those.
Mann using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Mann is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kristus can do to turn this around?
Mann goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mann scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Kristus tries to break free but Mann pushes him back against the cage.
Mann crunches a lovely knee into Kristus's ribcage.
Mann misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mann pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mann lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Kristus backwards.
Mann crunches a lovely knee into Kristus's ribcage.
Majmun Kristus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A left hand lands to the body for Mann.
Mann lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mann effectively controlling the action here.
Nathaniel Mann is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mann lands with a short shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nathaniel Mann showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mann, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathaniel Mann!