PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Zhen Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michele Mancinelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhen Long had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.6lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. The key to victory for Zhen Long has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Long
vs
Mancinelli

181 cm
22
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

ENDLESS 152

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zhen Long!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michele Mancinelli!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Kenichi Hosakawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mancinelli looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Long is fending him off so far but Mancinelli persists. Nope, Long circles away and we're back to standing.
Long looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Mancinelli will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mancinelli throws a jab when Long was well out of range.
Mancinelli thows a body shot but no joy.
Long throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Mancinelli misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Long slips a jab and a cross from Mancinelli.
Mancinelli tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Long was well out of range. Poor timing from Mancinelli.
Long throws a nice looking combination but Mancinelli bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Long takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

It looks like Zhen Long has been cut.
Mancinelli fails to land with a series of punches.
Mancinelli throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Mancinelli changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Long tries to avoid it but Mancinelli manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Long to the ground. Long escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mancinelli misses with a low kick.
Mancinelli misses with a wild body shot.
Mancinelli tries for a takedown but Long sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Zhen Long has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michele Mancinelli.
Long throws a combination. Mancinelli tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Mancinelli throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Long misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mancinelli misses with a wild body shot.
Long checks a leg kick.
Long takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mancinelli.
Long keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mancinelli shoots in but Long avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mancinelli fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mancinelli is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Long rather than just go for the knockout.
Mancinelli throws a head kick that misses
and Long counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mancinelli lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Long circles away quickly and effectively.
Mancinelli throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Long counters with a slapping leg kick.
Mancinelli throws a head kick that misses
and Long counters with a nice uppercut.
Mancinelli lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Long circles away quickly and effectively.
A right-left combo lands from Long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mancinelli tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Long digs a good hook to Mancinelli's body.
Long avoids the head kick by Mancinelli.
Mancinelli throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Long uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mancinelli.
Long displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mancinelli throws out the jab.
Mancinelli thows a left - swing and a miss!
Good standup being displayed there by Mancinelli as he connects with a hook.
Mancinelli throws a body punch but Long moves out of range.
Mancinelli misses with a few strikes there.
A left and a right from Mancinelli both land. Nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mancinelli throws a nice looking combination but Long bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mancinelli misses with a double jab
and Long counters with a three punch combo that has Mancinelli backing up. Mancinelli nods at Long to acknowledge the strikes.
Mancinelli throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Long.
Mancinelli scores with a nice body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mancinelli shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Long pinned against the cage. Long gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mancinelli misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Long fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michele Mancinelli dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zhen Long's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Long takes one to the side of the head.
Mancinelli misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Long counters with a two punch combo.
Mancinelli tries for a takedown but Long sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mancinelli tries to land a front kick but Long steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A low kick from Mancinelli is predictable there
and Long counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Mancinelli is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Mancinelli scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Mancinelli misses with a wild combination.
Mancinelli jabs Long right on the nose. Long blinks but takes it well.
Mancinelli fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A good leg kick by Mancinelli.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mancinelli fails with the takedown.
Zhen Long has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michele Mancinelli.
Mancinelli thows a body shot but no joy.
Long uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mancinelli.
Zhen Long is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mancinelli just misses with a punch to the body.
Mancinelli fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice sprawl there from Long as Mancinelli shoots in.
Long fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Mancinelli is out of range.
Long slips a jab from Mancinelli.
Mancinelli tries for a takedown but Long sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's two 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.
Mancinelli lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Long circles away quickly and effectively.
Long lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mancinelli's sensitive parts.
Mancinelli avoids the body shot from Long.
Mancinelli fails to land with a series of punches.
Long swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Mancinelli counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mancinelli postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mancinelli throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Long working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mancinelli.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Mancinelli with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mancinelli stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Long swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mancinelli accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mancinelli accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mancinelli stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Long swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Long takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Mancinelli rushes Long and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Mancinelli wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mancinelli tries to score a body lock takedown but Long shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Long scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Long keeps control of Mancinelli as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Long works on Mancinelli's body with a couple of short punches.
Mancinelli can't find room to land a body shot as Long controls the action.
Mancinelli drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mancinelli wants to get back to striking at distance but Long won't allow it.
Mancinelli is working for takedown but Long is calmly controlling the position for now.
Long is trying to break the clinch but Mancinelli has him pressed against the ropes.
Mancinelli is trying to maintain a safe position but Long gets an underhook and turns Mancinelli into the ropes.
Mancinelli wants to break the clinch but can't.
Long wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mancinelli scores with a hook to the body.

Mancinelli manages to break the clinch.
Mancinelli tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Long paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michele Mancinelli showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zhen Long's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Long misses with a looping right.
Mancinelli closes this distance looking for a takedown but Long circles away.
Mancinelli throws a hook to the side of Long's head but Long sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mancinelli uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Long.
Mancinelli misses with a wild body shot.
Mancinelli throws a leg kick
and Long counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mancinelli shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mancinelli throws a chopping leg kick but Long manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Long takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Mancinelli looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zhen Long has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michele Mancinelli.
Long moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long misses with a low kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Long checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mancinelli tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Long swivels and escapes.
Mancinelli on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Long. Long obviously looking to wear him down.
Mancinelli falls off balance throwing a combination
and Long connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mancinelli pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mancinelli closes the distance and clinches up with Long, looking for a takedown. Mancinelli pushes Long against the ropes but Long circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Long misses with a body kick.
Zhen Long is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mancinelli wants to clinch but Long slips to the side
and Long counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mancinelli looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Long looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mancinelli doesn't manage to clinch there - Long circles away.
Mancinelli lands a nice leg kick that just misses Long's sensitive parts.
Mancinelli misses with a body shot.
Mancinelli looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Mancinelli swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mancinelli misses with a looping right.
Michele Mancinelli seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mancinelli tries a head kick but it misses.
Long throws a sloppy head kick and Mancinelli moves out of range easily.
Long looks to land a body kick but Mancinelli moved away.
Long checks a low kick from Mancinelli.
Mancinelli misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Long ducks under a wild hook from Mancinelli.
Some wild striking there from Mancinelli.
Mancinelli takes one on the button.
Mancinelli is looking to clinch but Long is avoiding it.

That's four 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.
Mancinelli throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Long does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Mancinelli throws a head kick that misses.
Michele Mancinelli is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
No joy there for Mancinelli, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mancinelli scores with a hook to the body. Long takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Mancinelli fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Long checks a leg kick.
Zhen Long has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Long misses with a looping right.
Mancinelli misses with a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zhen Long showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mancinelli has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michele Mancinelli!