PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between ZaDarius Haden (ranked 1214 p4p, 1196 weight class) and Akuma Manivong (ranked 144 p4p, 142 weight class). Haden comes to the cage accompanied by Mot�rhead - Orgasmatron. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Haden
vs
Manivong

198 cm
32
249
20 - 13 - 1

193 cm
30
266
13 - 11 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Urban Fighter
PWNAGE™

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Hoarse Pills

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, ZaDarius Haden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Akuma Manivong!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manivong fails with an attempt to clinch.

Haden gets caught flat footed, as Manivong shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Manivong seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Haden is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Manivong wants to pass the guard but Haden is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manivong throws a big elbow that misses.
Manivong stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Haden swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Haden is trying to control the position but Manivong postures up.
Haden has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manivong controls from within his opponent's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Haden manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Manivong manages to get himself to full guard.

Manivong is trying to keep Haden in close.
Haden is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Haden postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Manivong is pulling down on Haden's head. It's preventing any offense from Haden, at least for the moment.
Manivong working a defensive guard but Haden manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manivong is looking to regain half guard here but Haden keeps moving and retains side control.
Haden throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Haden trying to control the position but Manivong is working away.
Haden wants to control for a moment but Manivong uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Manivong is trying to control but can't.
Manivong is pressing down on Haden's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manivong looking for a sweep. Not yet Manivong, not yet.
Haden postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Manivong is trying to control the position but Haden postures up.
Haden wants to control from the top but Manivong keeps moving.
Manivong looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Haden postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Haden passes Manivong's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Manivong is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Haden is looking to stall here but Manivong recovers full guard.
Haden pushing down on Manivong's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haden throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Haden has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Haden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manivong keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manivong tries to get to full guard but Haden has control of the leg.
Haden trying to control from half guard but Manivong is working away.
Haden prevents Manivong from standing back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Manivong looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Haden thows a huge punch but Manivong dodges it nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Haden displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Manivong.

Haden drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Manivong is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Manivong is looking to stand up but Haden isn't so interested in that idea.
Manivong wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haden stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Manivong swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Manivong has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Haden can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haden working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Haden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Manivong is trying to control the position but Haden postures up.
Manivong keeping moving, preventing Haden from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Manivong doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Haden counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Manivong fails with the takedown.
ZaDarius Haden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Akuma Manivong.
Manivong fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manivong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Haden lands a glancing blow to the side of Manivong's head.
Akuma Manivong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Manivong shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Haden is trying to defend but Manivong finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Haden manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Haden missing with a left hand there. Manivong was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Manivong takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Akuma Manivong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manivong throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Haden's waist but Haden gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manivong off to one side.

Manivong shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Haden's guard.
Haden wants to sweep here but Manivong controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manivong throws a strike but Haden rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manivong trying to keep a closed guard but Haden is proving a slippery customer.
Haden with a nice head shot there.
Haden pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Manivong is keeping the position for now.
Haden looking to sit in guard and control but Manivong gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Haden wants to sweep but no luck.
Haden working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Manivong.
Haden working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manivong is stalling in the full guard.
Manivong throwing strikes from guard but Haden blocks nicely.
Haden wants to get back to his feet but Manivong is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Haden avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Manivong wants to pass the guard but Haden is keeping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Manivong wants to clinch
and Haden counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Haden scores with a decent looking hook.
Haden throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Haden checks a leg kick.

Manivong drives through with a takedown into Haden's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Manivong wants to control from the top but Haden keeps moving.
Haden is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haden is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Haden is just content to waste time from the top position. Manivong takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haden lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Manivong keeping moving, preventing Haden from controlling successfully.
Manivong is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Haden trying to control the position from guard on top but Manivong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Haden here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Manivong looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Haden has picked Manivong up and slammed him! Manivong can't keep hold of the triangle and Haden manages to pass to side control!
Sloppy strikes there by Haden.
Haden lands some shots froms side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manivong prevents Haden from moving into mount.
Haden in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Haden trying to control the position but Manivong is working away.
Manivong is trying to control Haden's posture but Haden avoids it.
Manivong looking for a sweep but Haden has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Haden trying to control but Manivong is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manivong is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Haden tries to control but Manivong wriggling away.
ZaDarius Haden overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Manivong is trying desperately to improve position.
Manivong sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Haden is keen to just control but Manivong is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Manivong is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Haden scores with a couple of nice shots.
Haden passes into side control, despite Manivong's attempt to control the position.
Manivong is looking to reverse the position.
ZaDarius Haden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Manivong struggling a bit here.
Manivong tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Haden wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Haden trying to control the action but Manivong is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
ZaDarius Haden showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Haden has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... ZaDarius Haden!
After the fight, ZaDarius Haden 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.