PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauro Okongwu (ranked 689 p4p, 2397 weight class) and Akuma Manivong (ranked 95 p4p, 296 weight class). Okongwu comes to the cage accompanied by Show Stop - REASON. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Okongwu
vs
Manivong

206 cm
22
265
5 - 2 - 0

193 cm
23
266
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Warrior Fight Store
Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mauro Okongwu!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Akuma Manivong!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Franklyn Lucas and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Okongwu misses with the combination.
Okongwu is looking to score with low kicks.
Okongwu lands a nice shot that snaps Manivong's head back.
Manivong moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Mauro Okongwu has been cut.

Manivong rushes Okongwu and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Okongwu lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Manivong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manivong throws a body shot but no joy.
Manivong throws a right hand that misses
and Okongwu counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Manivong fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Manivong tries to clinch but Okongwu is having none of it.
A counter left hand to the body from Okongwu misses its target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manivong tries to clinch up.
Okongwu scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Okongwu tries to land a front kick but Manivong steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Manivong feints a counter leg kick.
Okongwu throws a head kick that misses.
Manivong misses with a leg kick.
Manivong misses with a wild body shot.
Manivong just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromOkongwu.
Manivong throws a head kick that misses.
We've been told by Okongwu's head coaches at Xtreme Black House that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Manivong connects with an inside leg kick.
Okongwu misses with a low kick as Manivong jumps back.
Okongwu swats away the attempt to clinch by Manivong.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okongwu attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A telegraphed right hand from Manivong misses the target.
Okongwu is looking to counter punch.
Manivong throws a leg kick that is checked
and Okongwu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Okongwu tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Okongwu lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Okongwu looks to score with a jab to the body but Manivong is just out of range.
Manivong follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Mauro Okongwu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manivong checks a leg kick nicely.
Manivong throws a body punch but Okongwu moves out of range.
Okongwu feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manivong throws a right hand that misses
and Okongwu makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Manivong throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Manivong blocks a leg kick.
Okongwu backing away here, and Manivong unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Okongwu throws a looping overhand right but Manivong ducks down to avoid it.
Manivong throws a front kick that sends Okongwu stumbling back into the cage.
Okongwu connects with a jab.
Manivong throws a sloppy head kick and Okongwu moves out of range easily.
Manivong bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big left from Okongwu misses.
Manivong buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manivong takes one to the side of the head.
Okongwu is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Manivong lands a really nice looking cross but Okongwu seems unphased.
Okongwu tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
That kick from Okongwu tenderised Manivong's leg. Manivong is trying to keep his angry face on.
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!
Okongwu blocks a head kick by Manivong.
A counter left hand to the body from Okongwu misses its target.
Good standup being displayed there by Okongwu as he connects with a hook.
Manivong takes one to the side of the head.
A left lands for Manivong.
Okongwu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Manivong fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mauro Okongwu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mauro Okongwu's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Manivong 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.
Okongwu misses with a hook
and Manivong makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Manivong drops Okongwu with a big left hand and mounts him. Okongwu is in big trouble!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poor strikes thrown by Manivong there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Okongwu wants to control but Manivong is having none of it.
Manivong looking to control but Okongwu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Okongwu tries to reverse the position but Manivong maintains control.
Okongwu is squirming around, avoiding Manivong's attempts to control the action.
Okongwu is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manivong with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Okongwu tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Manivong is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Okongwu has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Okongwu!
Manivong pulls Okongwu in close to prevent any damage.
Manivong striking off his back but it's not causing Okongwu any problems.
Okongwu is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manivong is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Okongwu is aware though and is defending well.
Manivong is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Manivong lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Manivong throws a big elbow that misses.
Manivong prevents Okongwu from getting back to his feet.
Manivong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Manivong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Manivong landing with the ground and pound.
Manivong has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Okongwu is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Manivong looking to pass the guard.
Okongwu is looking to stand back up but Manivong counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Okongwu.
Okongwu makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Okongwu.
Okongwu is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Manivong has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Manivong wants to control from the top but Okongwu keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manivong is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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.
Manivong throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Okongwu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Manivong won't allow Okongwu to get back to his feet.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Okongwu will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Manivong missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Okongwu is on top in guard.

Okongwu stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Manivong lands an overhand right.

Mauro Okongwu's cut is getting worse.
Manivong slips a straight right by Okongwu.
Manivong connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Manivong takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Akuma Manivong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mauro Okongwu's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A nice leg kick lands there from Okongwu.
Okongwu fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Manivong uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Okongwu.
Okongwu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Okongwu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Manivong! But no joy.
Akuma Manivong seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Manivong throws a body shot but no joy.
Manivong slips under a jab from Okongwu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manivong uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Okongwu.
Manivong takes one to the side of the head.
Okongwu jabs Manivong right on the nose. Manivong blinks but takes it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okongwu tries a low kick but Manivong avoids it.
Okongwu scores with a jab to the jaw.
Manivong punishes Okongwu's body with a nice straight punch.
Okongwu rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Manivong counters with a nice body kick.
Manivong throws out a leg kick but Okongwu moves out of range and Manivong only half commits.
Manivong feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Okongwus jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Manivong checks the leg kick nicely there.
Manivong let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A punch lands to the side of Okongwu 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okongwu swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Manivong counters with a right hand that sends Okongwu tumbling to the canvas! Can Manivong finish him? He dives into Okongwu's guard looking to do just that!

Okongwu is rocked!

Mauro Okongwu's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manivong loads up on a big left hand. Okongwu felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Manivong looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Okongwu can't hide his disappointment, as Manivong celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Akuma Manivong!
Akuma Manivong is the new heavyweight champion!
After the fight, Akuma Manivong was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.