PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Damian Maia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jino Manipon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Maia
vs
Manipon

189 cm
21
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Damian Maia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jino Manipon!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maia closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Maia seems to be working for a kimura but Manipon defends the submission attempt.
Maia works his way into side control.
Manipon tries to buck Maia off but Maia is having none of it.
Manipon seems a little lost for a moment, as Maia dominates the positioning.

Maia is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Manipon has escaped the position, nice work there.
Maia takes a little break here. Manipon wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Manipon wants to control but Maia postures up.
Manipon gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Maia is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Manipon has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Manipon tries to hold on but Maia postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manipon defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Maia.
Maia controlling his opponent.
Maia avoids the attempt from Manipon to control.
Maia controlling from the full mount.
Maia avoids the attempt from Manipon to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maia controlling from mount.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Maia goes for an armbar but Manipon turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Manipon.
Manipon pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maia is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Maia scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manipon wants to control but Maia postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manipon tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maia wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The referee asks Maia politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Maia prefers to stall for the moment though.
You can see the frustration on Manipon's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Manipon looks gassed!
Manipon being controlled for a moment.
Maia advances to full mount.
Manipon is trying to escape the mount but Maia keeps good control and instead manages to take Manipon's back.
Manipon tries to escape but Maia has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maia has good solid back control here.

Maia is working for a rear naked choke. Manipon is not defending it well and Maia has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Manipon refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Manipon's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Damian Maia!