PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chaz Campbell (ranked 3720 p4p, 407 weight class) and Blessing Manwaring (ranked 5189 p4p, 473 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Blessing Manwaring enters the cage!

Campbell
vs
Manwaring

175 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

155 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chaz Campbell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blessing Manwaring!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manwaring on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Manwaring tries to close the distance and clinch but Campbell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Manwaring has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Blessing Manwaring seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Campbell throws a series of strikes that have Manwaring backpedaling.

Campbell has taken the fight to the clinch.
Manwaring doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Campbell jumps into guard, dragging Manwaring to the mat.
Manwaring should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Manwaring wants to control from the top but Campbell keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Campbell is on top in guard.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Manwaring can do anything to dispel that myth.
Manwaring wants to sweep here but Campbell controlling him for the moment.
Campbell controls from within his opponent's guard.
Campbell looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Campbell landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Campbell won't allow Manwaring to sweep him here.
Campbell is pushing down on Manwaring's leg trying to pass to half guard. Manwaring is fighting to maintain full guard but Campbell has managed to sneak the leg through.

Campbell is looking for a kimura but Manwaring is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Campbell to get the leverage.
Manwaring avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Campbell.

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.
Campbell with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Campbell wants to work for an arm triangle but Manwaring is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Campbell looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Campbell not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Campbell decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Campbell connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Campbell scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Chaz Campbell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Manwaring shoots for a takedown but Campbell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Manwaring gets a clinch.
Manwaring is struggling to control the position.

Manwaring breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Campbell clinches up with Manwaring and pushes him back against the cage.

Campbell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Manwaring avoids the body shot from Campbell.
A right-left combo lands from Campbell.
Campbell punishes Manwaring's body with a nice straight punch.
Campbell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Manwaring.
Manwaring tries to clinch there but Campbell circles away.

Manwaring closes the distance and clinches.
Manwaring throws a punch but it's blocked by Campbell.

Campbell breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Manwaring tries to clinch but Campbell moves away
and Campbell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Manwaring tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Campbell misses with a wild combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Manwaring takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Campbell. Manwaring does a little dance to reset his feet.
Manwaring drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Campbell defends it well.

Manwaring gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Campbell gets to his feet - Manwaring follows without any prompting.
Campbell drops his hands momentarily and Manwaring takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Campbell lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Manwaring at a distance.
Manwaring looks to clinch
and Campbell counters with a straight right hand.
Manwaring is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As Manwaring looks to move away, Campbell throws a big counter combo but Manwaring just gets out of the way.
Campbell swinging wildly here.
Manwaring is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chaz Campbell dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Manwaring fails with the takedown.

Campbell closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Campbell lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Campbell stands up and beckons Manwaring to join him on the feet.

Manwaring instigates a clinch.
Manwaring swings wildly with an uppercut but Campbell uses good head movement to avoid it.
Manwaring is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Campbell to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manwaring lands a nice elbow.
Manwaring misses with some punches.
Manwaring lands a hook to the side of the head.
Manwaring fails to pull guard.
Chaz Campbell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blessing Manwaring.

Campbell manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Campbell working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Manwaring doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Manwaring manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Campbell thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Manwaring is fighting to break Campbell's control of his arms but Campbell is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Campbell'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.

Manwaring decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Sloppy strikes from Campbell. Those never looked like landing.
Chaz Campbell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

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.
Campbell fails to land with a series of punches.
Manwaring tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Campbell attempts a counter takedown but Manwaring avoids it well and moves away.
Campbell cracks Manwaring with a good jab.

Campbell clinches up against the cage.
Manwaring lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Manwaring is trying to pull guard but Campbell has him pressed against the cage.
Manwaring misses with a punch on the inside.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Manwaring has eaten all the pies!
Manwaring is working for takedown but Campbell is calmly controlling the position for now.

Campbell breaks from the clinch.

Manwaring darts in and clinches Campbell up against the cage.

Campbell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Campbell clinches up with Manwaring and pushes him back against the cage.
Manwaring fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

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

Manwaring drives through and clinches with Campbell against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Manwaring.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Manwaring takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Campbell jumps guard and drags Manwaring to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Manwaring's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Manwaring trying to control but Campbell is working from the bottom.
Manwaring must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Campbell has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Manwaring trying to control but Campbell is working from the bottom.
Campbell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Manwaring won't allow Campbell to sweep him here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Campbell controlling Manwaring's posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Manwaring wants to clinch but Campbell slips to the side
and Campbell counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Campbell scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Manwaring doesn't seem bothered though.
Campbell is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Campbell throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Manwaring slips a jab and a cross from Campbell.
Campbell throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Manwaring ducks right into an uppercut from Campbell.
Horrible takedown attempt by Manwaring or perhaps it was just good defense by Campbell, which made it look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chaz Campbell dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Manwaring looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Manwaring walks into a left hand.
Manwaring tries to clinch
letting Campbell counter with a right hand.
Campbell lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Manwaring wants to clinch.

Campbell gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Campbell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Manwaring.
Campbell throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Manwaring.
Chaz Campbell is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manwaring has closed the distance and engaged Campbell in a clinch.
Manwaring wants a takedown but no success here.
Campbell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manwaring.
Manwaring throws a punch but it's blocked by Campbell.
Manwaring'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.
Manwaring tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stalling in the clinch from Campbell.

Campbell jumps into guard, dragging Manwaring to the mat.
Campbell keeping moving, preventing Manwaring from controlling successfully.
Manwaring might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Campbell haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Campbell is pulling down on Manwaring's head. It's preventing any offense from Manwaring, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbell trying to keep a closed guard but Manwaring is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Manwaring really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Campbell. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Campbell is controlling the pace.
Manwaring is trying to control but can't.
Campbell not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Campbell not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Blessing Manwaring has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Campbell decides to return to a standing position.
Manwaring moves to clinch but Campbell breaks away
and Campbell counters with a straight right hand.
Campbell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As Manwaring looks to move away, Campbell throws a big counter combo but Manwaring just gets out of the way.
Campbell throws a right hand that Manwaring ducks under and follows up with a left that Manwaring also avoids with ease.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Manwaring tries to close the distance and clinch up but Campbell swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Manwaring clinches up against the cage.

Campbell has Manwaring pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Campbell pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Manwaring tumbling to the mat - Campbell dives into Manwaring's guard.
Chaz Campbell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Manwaring thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chaz Campbell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Campbell, 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chaz Campbell!