PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Nicky Manu (ranked 2382 p4p, 2274 weight class) and Willie Dixon (ranked 143 p4p, 133 weight class). Manu's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Welcome to the Opera - Anyma & Grimes. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Manu
vs
Dixon

169 cm
19
145
6 - 2 - 0

160 cm
19
138
4 - 1 - 1

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Island clothing lite

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nicky Manu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Willie Dixon!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Dirk Anderson and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dixon's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Manu connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Dixon scrambles back to his feet.
Manu scores with a shot to the body.
Manu throws a lazy right hand but Dixon sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Manu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Dixon.
Dixon drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Manu defends it well.
A cross from Manu lands.
Manu cracks Dixon with a good jab.
Manu catches Dixon with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Manu lands a jab to the head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dixon is defended easily by Manu.
Manu lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Manu - just one landing.
Manu scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Dixon takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Manu looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Manu lands a jab.
Dixon needs to keep his hands up - Manu had a free shot at his head there.
Manu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Dixon takes one to the chin there.
Manu is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Dixon shoots in looking for a takedown. Manu tries to sprawl out of it but Dixon keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Manu manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manu scores with a jab to the head.
Manu moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manu throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Dixon stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Dixon takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Manu lands with a straight right. Dixon didn't see that one coming.
Manu is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Dixon shoots for a takedown but Manu saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nicky Manu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Willie Dixon.

Dixon gets a double leg takedown into Manu's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dixon slips nicely into half guard.
Manu trying to control from the bottom.
Dixon is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Manu!
Dixon content just to control the position here.
Manu is looking to improve his position but Dixon isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dixon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Dixon looking to control but Manu is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dixon takes Manu's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Manu is in trouble.
Dixon is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nicky Manu dominated that round.
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.

Manu lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Dixon has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Manu finds it's way round the side to connect with Dixon's head.
Dixon takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Manu cracks a nice hook into Dixon's ribs.
Dixon gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Manu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manu with a hook.
Manu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dixon can do to turn this around?
Manu changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Manu cracks Dixon with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Manu.
Manu lands an overhand right.
Nicky Manu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice jab there from Manu.
Dixon takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Nicky Manu is winning the standup battle so far.
Manu scores with a decent looking hook.
Dixon moves forwards but Manu connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Manu scores with a jab. Dixon acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
No luck for Dixon with that takedown attempt.
Manu lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dixon drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manu lands a jab to the head.
A jab from Manu finds it's way through Dixon's defenses.
Nicky Manu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dixon closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Dixon takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Manu throws a jab when Dixon was well out of range.
Manu connects with a body shot that sends Dixon's belly button to the back.
Manu is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Dixon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Manu as he jumps to the side.
Nicky Manu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Willie Dixon.
Manu lands a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dixon takes a jab right on the kisser.
Manu scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Manu lands with a good body shot.
Manu scores with a nice right hand.
Manu stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The crowd cheers as Manu lands an impressive looking overhand right. Dixon doesn't seem phased though.
A combination from Manu does no damage.
Manu dips to his left and cracks Dixon with an uppercut!
Manu throws a series of punches but Dixon avoids them all with ease.
Dixon's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Manu connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Dixon scrambles back to his feet.
Dixon has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jab from Manu.
A looping hook to the body misses from Manu. Dixon does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dixon tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Manu scores with a nice strike.
Manu throws a lazy uppercut

and Dixon counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Manu!
Dixon slows the pace down.
Dixon tries to move to mount but Manu blocks the move with his legs.

Dixon tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Dixon is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Manu knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nicky Manu dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Manu throws a shot to the body.
Dixon takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Manu lands a jab to Dixon's midsection.
Dixon shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Manu cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manu scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Dixon doesn't seem bothered though.
Manu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Manu with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manu tests Dixon's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Manu lands a head shot.
Manu scores with the left hand. Dixon knows he should have avoided that one.
Dixon with a lazy takedown attempt
and Manu counters with a stiff right hand.
Jab from Manu.
Manu lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Manu scores with a nice head shot.
Manu bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Manu cracks Dixon with a good jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A left lands for Manu.
A decent looking cross lands there for Manu.
Manu lands a jab to the head.
Manu connects with a nice looking jab.
Manu fails to land with a series of punches.
Manu lands with a straight right. Dixon didn't see that one coming.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dixon is defended easily by Manu.
Nicky Manu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Willie Dixon.
Dixon's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Manu connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Dixon scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manu throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Dixon stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Manu connects with a single shot there.
Manu throws a hook to the side of Dixon's head but Dixon sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dixon is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Manu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Manu wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Manu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Manu's jab looks to have found its range, popping Dixon under the eye.
Manu scores with a sloppy right hand. Dixon should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dixon takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Dixon moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Dixon takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Manu lunges at Dixon with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Dixon's hand.
Manu misses with a wild combination.
Dixon feints the counter takedown.
Manu stalks Dixon and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Dixon's face. Dixon staggers backwards, shaken.
Manu looks to land a left hand but Dixon moved out of range nicely.
Dixon is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Manu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Willie Dixon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manu scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicky Manu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Manu, 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicky Manu!
Nicky Manu spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.