PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vasyl Khytrov (ranked 3608 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thundering Mantis (ranked 4741 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Khytrov
vs
Mantis

172 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vasyl Khytrov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Thundering Mantis!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mantis tries to clinch up.
Khytrov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Khytrov connects with a jab.
Khytrov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mantis counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mantis gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Mantis on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Khytrov scores with a nice right hand.

Mantis pushes Khytrov up against the cage in a clinch.
Mantis works on Khytrov's body with a couple of short punches.
Mantis tries to throw a body punch but Khytrov avoids it by throwing Mantis back against the cage.
Mantis landing knees to the body.
Mantis throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mantis lands with a light punch inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantis lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Mantis as the two fighters clinch.
Mantis lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mantis tries to throw a body punch but Khytrov avoids it by throwing Mantis back against the cage.
Mantis tries to work over Khytrov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Mantis digs a right hand into Khytrov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Khytrov's gas tank.
Mantis putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Khytrov in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Khytrov is breathing heavily.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mantis.
A short body shot lands from Mantis as the two fighters clinch.
Mantis lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mantis landing knees to the body.
A body shot lands from Mantis.
Mantis lands with a left to the head.
Khytrov is trying to force a seperation but Mantis has the dominant position.
Mantis lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khytrov wants to take the fight to the mat but Mantis manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mantis.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mantis taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Mantis holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Mantis receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Mantis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mantis cracks Khytrov with a nice body shot.
Khytrov being controlled against the cage.
Good body shot from Mantis.
A short uppercut from Mantis.
Mantis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mantis lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khytrov fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasyl Khytrov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A bit of stalling here from Mantis.
Khytrov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mantis to keep the fight standing.
Mantis doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Good body shot from Mantis.
Nice elbow from Mantis.
Khytrov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Mantis digs a right hand underneath Khytrov's ribcage. Khytrov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Mantis lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mantis slowing the pace effectively.
Mantis is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Come on Mantis - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Khytrov looking for a takedown.
Mantis is working Khytrov over against the cage.
Mantis is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Mantis.
Mantis is leaning against Khytrov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mantis is struggling to control the position.
Mantis lands an elbow that stopped Khytrov in his tracks for a moment.
Mantis lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mantis comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Mantis creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mantis working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The referee calls for Mantis to work.
Mantis struggles to land a body shot inside as Khytrov controls his hands.
Mantis stalls.
Khytrov takes an elbow to the forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thundering Mantis dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Khytrov has managed to clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Khytrov wants to take the fight to the mat but Mantis manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Mantis makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Mantis.
Mantis pushes Khytrov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mantis.
Mantis working Khytrov over with knees to the body.
Mantis throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Khytrovs head.
Mantis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hook to the body lands for Mantis.
Mantis taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Khytrov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mantis gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mantis scores a nice knee to the body.
Thundering Mantis seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mantis lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantis lands with a light punch inside.
Mantis scores with a hook to the body.
Mantis lands a nice shot to the body.
Mantis lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Mantis slowing the pace effectively.
Mantis stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Mantis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A shot in the inside from Mantis.
Mantis taking a breather.
Mantis landing knees to the head.

Khytrov is rocked!
A short right from Mantis.
Oh Khytrov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mantis scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mantis digs a right hand underneath Khytrov's ribcage. Khytrov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Mantis lands a knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mantis using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mantis lands a shot to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Mantis unloads a knee to the mid-section. Khytrov lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A left hand lands to the body for Mantis.
Mantis is working Khytrov over against the cage.
Khytrov seems to have got his legs back now.
Mantis putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Khytrov in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Khytrov being controlled against the cage.
Khytrov fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasyl Khytrov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mantis lands with a left to the head.
Mantis lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mantis putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Khytrov in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mantis.
Mantis lands a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantis lands a nice shot to the body.
Mantis lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Knees to the body from Mantis.
A bit of stalling here from Mantis.
Mantis works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Mantis lands a knee to the body.
Mantis scores with a shoulder strike.
Mantis pushes Khytrov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mantis lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Khytrov letting Mantis take a breather here.
A right hook to the body lands for Mantis.
Mantis lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Mantis lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mantis makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Mantis has Khytrov pressed against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Mantis takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Mantis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mantis lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mantis putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Khytrov in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Mantis's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Mantis is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Mantis is pushing Khytrov up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thundering Mantis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Khytrov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Mantis counters by clinching up.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mantis.
Mantis landing knees to the body.
Mantis pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mantis is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Mantis works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Mantis cracks Khytrov with a nice body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mantis's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Mantis lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantis is leaning against Khytrov and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mantis is working Khytrov over against the cage.
Mantis stops a takedown attempt from Khytrov.
Mantis lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mantis stops a takedown attempt from Khytrov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasyl Khytrov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mantis working Khytrov over with knees to the body.
Mantis lands a shot to the body.
Mantis lands a left hand that snaps the head of Khytrov backwards.
Mantis lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Mantis lands a body shot.
Mantis lands a body punch in the clinch.
Mantis lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Thundering Mantis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mantis scores with a shot to the side of Khytrov's head.
Nice body punch from Mantis - that landed with a thud.
Khytrov is trying to drag Mantis to the mat but Mantis just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Knees to the body from Mantis.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mantis scores with a hook to the body.
Khytrov misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khytrov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Khytrov tries to break free but Mantis pushes him back against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Mantis as Khytrov tries to tie him up.
Mantis landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Mantis lands a body shot.
Khytrov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mantis is defending well.
A right handed body shot lands from Mantis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mantis effectively controlling the action here.
A hook to the body from Mantis.
Mantis gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Khytrov.
Mantis lands a nice uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mantis softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thundering Mantis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mantis winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 25:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 25:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thundering Mantis!