PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Neal Diaz (ranked 1851 p4p, 51 weight class) and Chiku Maneno (ranked 878 p4p, 22 weight class). Neal Diaz could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Chiku Maneno's chin.

Diaz
vs
Maneno

183 cm
33
159 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

178 cm
43
177 lbs
48 - 32 - 3

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Hardcore Nutrition 160Q ($150)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Neal Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 48 - 32 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chiku Maneno!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Luis Engracia and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Diaz shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Diaz was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Diaz tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Maneno wants to get back to his feet.
Diaz working the ground and pound but Maneno is defending the strikes.

Diaz is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maneno has escaped the position, nice work there.
Maneno is letting Diaz control him for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maneno is trying to buck Diaz off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz throwing strikes but Maneno manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Diaz tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maneno tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Diaz is looking to regain half guard here but Maneno keeps moving and retains side control.
Maneno working away.
Diaz sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maneno tries to stand but can't do so whilst Diaz controls his leg.

Maneno decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Maneno misses with a body shot.
Diaz moves out of range of the strikes.
Neal Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz is looking to clinch.
Maneno throws out a loose jab but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maneno misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Diaz.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Maneno.
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maneno paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Maneno. No joy for Diaz on that attempt.
Maneno throws a lazy uppercut
and Diaz counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
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!

Diaz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Maneno can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Maneno is defending well for now.
Diaz is trying to drag Maneno to the mat but Maneno just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Maneno is trying to break the clinch but Diaz is controlling him.
Maneno wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Maneno breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maneno throws a shot from downtown. Diaz moves away and avoids it.
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.
Diaz darts in trying to clinch
and Maneno counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Diaz closes the distance looking to clinch
and Maneno counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maneno blocks a jab.

Diaz has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maneno's efforts to push away.

Diaz turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Diaz works to advance to full mount. Maneno defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maneno really wants to buck Diaz off and get back to his feet.
Diaz tries to control but Maneno wriggling away.
Diaz controlling from the full mount.
Diaz 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.
Diaz trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Diaz is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Maneno to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Maneno shrugs it off.
Maneno wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Neal Diaz will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Diaz gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Maneno counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Maneno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maneno swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Diaz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maneno.
Diaz shoots in looking for a takedown. Maneno tries to sprawl out of it but Diaz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Maneno manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Diaz fails to land with a series of punches.
Maneno throws a body punch but Diaz moves out of range.

Maneno gets caught napping as Diaz dives in and scores a takedown. Maneno manages to retain guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maneno is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Diaz is controlling him.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Maneno manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Maneno is trying to push Diaz away but Diaz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz lands an elbow that stopped Maneno in his tracks for a moment.
Diaz pushes off an throws an elbow but Maneno leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Maneno tries to circle away but Diaz has him pinned against the cage.
Diaz lands a body shot in the clinch.
Maneno tries to break free but Diaz pushes him back against the cage.

Maneno breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maneno misses with a looping right.
Maneno misses with a body shot.
Diaz seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Diaz rushes Maneno and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Maneno tries to circle away but Diaz has him pinned against the cage.
Maneno on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Maneno is trying to break free.
Diaz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maneno's efforts to push away.
Diaz has Maneno pressed against the cage, preventing Maneno from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

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

Diaz dives in and scores a takedown into Maneno's guard.
Maneno is looking to stand up but Diaz isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maneno working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diaz.
Diaz passes into half guard.
Maneno wants to get back to his feet.
Diaz tries to pass to full mount but Maneno defends it.
Diaz is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maneno is staying active underneath Diaz, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Maneno looks like he's trying to stand up.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maneno keeps working.
Maneno tries to kick Diaz off but Diaz keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Diaz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maneno.
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
Maneno throws a jab but it's blocked by Diaz.
Maneno throws a body punch but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maneno throws a lazy right hand but Diaz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maneno missing with a left hand there. Diaz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Diaz moves into the clinch.
Diaz keeps control of Maneno as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Diaz turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Diaz manages to end up in side control.

Diaz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Maneno is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Diaz has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Diaz tries to move to mount but Maneno blocks the move with his legs.
Diaz staying calm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Neal Diaz will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Diaz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Diaz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Maneno is looking to break free of the clinch but Diaz has double underhooks.
Diaz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maneno's efforts to push away.
Maneno avoids a wild elbow strike from Diaz.

Maneno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Diaz instigates a clinch.
Diaz tries for a takedown. No joy.

Diaz gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Maneno regains guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maneno keeping full guard, as Diaz tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Maneno scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Neal Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maneno ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Diaz feints a jab promting Maneno to slip. Diaz then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Maneno slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Chiku Maneno has been cut.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Diaz.
Maneno pushes Diaz away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Diaz gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Maneno taking a bit of punishment here - Diaz scoring with strikes.
Maneno is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Diaz working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Maneno is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Maneno is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Diaz has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Diaz passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Maneno!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maneno taking shots to the head.
Maneno wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Maneno has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Maneno bucks up and throws Diaz to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Maneno loads up on a big right hand but Diaz slips the punch.
Maneno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Chiku Maneno seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Diaz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maneno as he avoids it easily.
Maneno tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diaz was well out of range. Poor timing from Maneno.
Diaz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maneno swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.
Maneno with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz tries to clinch but Maneno moves out of range.
Diaz tries to bum rush Maneno with a series of wild strikes but Maneno uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maneno misses with a hook. Diaz ducked under it nicely.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maneno swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maneno looks to land a right hand but Diaz moved out of range.
Diaz wants to clinch up but Maneno keeps it at a distance.

Diaz clinches up against the cage.

Maneno escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
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!
Maneno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Diaz dives in and grabs Maneno's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maneno pushes down on Diaz's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neal Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maneno throws an off balance right hand
enabling Diaz to counter with a crisp jab.
Maneno lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Diaz moves out of range as Maneno strikes.
Neal Diaz is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maneno circles away from the clinch attempt.
Chiku Maneno has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maneno thows a left - swing and a miss!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Neal Diaz.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Diaz, 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!