PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ahmad Durrani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Manuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manuel has chosen Lay Low as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Durrani
vs
Manuel

170 cm
22
145 lbs
12 - 1 - 0

172 cm
30
155 lbs
18 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ahmad Durrani!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Manuel!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manuel closes the distance looking to clinch
and Durrani counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Durrani misses with a body kick.
Manuel wants to clinch.
Durrani jabs Manuel to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Manuel moves into the clinch.
Durrani lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Durrani cracks Manuel with a nice body shot.
Manuel stalling in the clinch but Durrani improves position.
Manuel is leaning against Durrani and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Durrani slows down the pace here.
Durrani presses Manuel against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Manuel managing to block the knees to the body from Durrani.
A right handed body shot lands from Durrani.
Durrani lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Manuel takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Matt Manuel has been cut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Durrani just misses with a elbow thrown towards Manuel's brow.
Manuel is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Durrani throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Manuel's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Manuel.
Manuel is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Durrani landing knees to the head.
Durrani throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A body shot lands from Manuel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel lands a body shot.
Durrani blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Manuel tries a body shot but Durrani blocks it.
Durrani tries to land knees in the clinch but Manuel avoids the damage to the body.
Durrani working Manuel over with knees to the body.
Manuel tries a body shot but Durrani blocks it.
A short uppercut from Manuel.
Durrani lands a knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A right hand to the body from Manuel.
Durrani on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Durrani lands a nice knee to the body.
Manuel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Still in the clinch, Manuel scores with a nice short uppercut.
Durrani lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Durrani obliges.
Manuel looks gassed!
Manuel misses with a punch to the body.
Manuel swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Manuel tries a body shot but Durrani blocks it.
Manuel is looking to control Durrani's arms but Durrani gets an underhook and turns him. Now Manuel has his back to the cage.
Manuel misses with a hook from the clinch.
Manuel can't find room to land a body shot as Durrani controls the action.
Durrani leaning against his opponent.
Manuel tries a body shot but Durrani blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Come on Durrani - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Durrani obliges.
A left hand lands to the body for Manuel.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Manuel misses with a punch to the body.
A short left from Durrani.
Durrani with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Durrani doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Durrani lands an uppercut.
Durrani throws an elbow but it misses.
Manuel landing knees to the head.
Manuel works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Manuel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Durrani is defending well for now.
A short uppercut from Durrani.
Manuel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Manuel avoiding damage as Durrani throws knees to the body.
Manuel works on Durrani's body with a couple of short punches.
Durrani misses with a knee strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Good body shot from Manuel.
Durrani with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Durrani gets through Manuel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Manuel as the two fighters clinch.
Manuel lands an uppercut.
Durrani lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A body shot lands from Durrani.
Manuel can't find room to land a body shot as Durrani controls the action.
Nice body punch from Manuel - that landed with a thud.
Manuel working aggressively here.
Durrani tries to land a knee to the head but Manuel blocks with his arms.
Knees in the clinch landing for Durrani.
Durrani landing knees to the head.
Manuel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Manuel using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Durrani has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Durrani tries to land a knee to the head but Manuel blocks with his arms.
Durrani lands a body punch.
Manuel is leaning against Durrani and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Manuel as Durrani tries to tie him up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Durrani working Manuel over with knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Manuel is trying to stall.
Manuel tries to work over Durrani's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Durrani dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Manuel'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.

Manuel shoots in for a takedown but Durrani shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Matt Manuel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manuel misses the jab.
Durrani misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Manuel.
A looping hook to the body misses from Manuel. Durrani does a little dance to reset his feet.
Durrani avoids the body shot from Manuel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manuel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Durrani.
Manuel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Durrani manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durrani circles away from the clinch attempt
and Durrani counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Durrani avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Manuel throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Manuel shoots in but no luck this time.
Matt Manuel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manuel misses with a two punch combination.

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.
Manuel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ahmad Durrani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Manuel.
Manuel tries to clinch but Durrani moves away
and Durrani counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Durrani with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Manuel uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Durrani.
Jab by Durrani.
Durrani connects with an inside leg kick.
Manuel goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durrani swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Manuel throws a lazy head kick
and Durrani counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Manuel fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Durrani has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Durrani thows a body shot but no joy.
Manuel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Durrani manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Manuel throws a leg kick
and Durrani counters with a nice body kick.
Manuel misses with a double jab
and Durrani counters with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durrani takes a kick to the side of the head.
Manuel tries to clinch but fails miserably
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Durrani scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A jab lands there for Durrani.
A jab from Durrani finds it's way through Manuel's defenses.
Manuel slips under a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Durrani dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matt Manuel's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Manuel throws a right hand that misses
and Durrani cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Durrani thows a body shot but no joy.
Manuel scores with a body shot.
Manuel misses with a left hand
and Durrani counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Manuel misses with a double jab
and Durrani counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Manuel throws an off balance right hand
and Durrani counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durrani swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Manuel scores with a hook.
Durrani blocks a head kick by Manuel.
Durrani throws a right and a left that Manuel avoids nicely.
Manuel looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Manuel tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Durrani makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Manuel takes one to the side of the head.

That's two 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.
Sloppy strikes from Manuel. Those never looked like landing.
Durrani dodges the punch combination from Manuel.
A low kick from Manuel misses
and Durrani makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Durrani avoids the body shot from Manuel.
Durrani rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Manuel counters with a right hand to the body.
Manuel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Durrani circles away quickly and effectively.
Durrani swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ahmad Durrani is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Durrani. Manuel shrugs it off though.
Danga de danga de dang - Durrani scores with a four punch combination!
Manuel tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Durrani counters with a two punch combo.
Manuel throws a head kick that misses
and Durrani counters with an outside leg kick.
Manuel tries to clinch but Durrani moves away
and Durrani counters with a slapping leg kick.
Manuel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Durrani manages to avoid it.
Manuel shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Durrani defends it nicely.
Manuel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Durrani paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Manuel tries to clinch
and Durrani counters with an inside leg kick.
Durrani defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Manuel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Durrani clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Manuel's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Manuel misses with a right hand
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Durrani counters with a nice low kick that buckles Manuel's knee momentarily.
A low kick from Manuel is predictable there
and Durrani counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Durrani delivers a nice body kick.
Manuel closes the distance looking to clinch
and Durrani counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Manuel avoids the body shot from Durrani.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durrani throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A low kick from Durrani is predictable there
and Manuel counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Durrani lands with a kick to the temple. Manuel shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Durrani lands a slapping body shot.
Manuel throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Durrani counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Durrani throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Manuel shoots in looking for a takedown. Durrani tries to sprawl out of it but Manuel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Durrani 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.
Manuel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Durrani.
Manuel doesn't manage to clinch there - Durrani circles away.
Manuel misses with an uppercut
and Durrani counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Durrani defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Manuel.
Manuel takes a swing at Durrani's ribcage but misses.
Manuel takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Manuel is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Durrani misses with a kick to the body.
Manuel on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Durrani is looking to wear down Manuel with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Durrani is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Manuel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel is trying hard to land a takedown here. Durrani sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ahmad Durrani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Manuel.
Manuel closes the distance looking to clinch
and Durrani cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The fighters circling - Durrani throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Manuel moves in looking to clinch but Durrani pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmad Durrani had his way with Matt Manuel in that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Manuel's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Durrani throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Manuel sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Durrani punishes Manuel's body with a nice straight punch.
Manuel throws a leg kick but Durrani sees it coming and moves out of range.
Durrani scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Durrani takes a swing at Manuel's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manuel tries to bum rush Durrani with a series of wild strikes but Durrani uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ahmad Durrani is winning the standup battle so far.
Manuel wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durrani lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Durrani slips a jab and a cross from Manuel.
Manuel takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A low kick from Durrani misses
and Manuel counters with a left to the body.

That's two 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.
Manuel tests Durrani's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Manuel loads up on a big right hand but Durrani slips the punch.
Durrani misses with a straight left.
Matt Manuel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A slapping body kick lands there for Durrani.
Manuel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Durrani misses with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel misses with a combination
and Durrani counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Durrani darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Manuel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Durrani scores with a body shot.
Manuel misses with a leg kick
and Durrani counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

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.
Manuel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Durrani slips a jab and a cross from Manuel.
Manuel tries to move into range but Durrani moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Durrani lands a body shot.
Ahmad Durrani is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Manuel swings widly with a right hand
and Durrani counters with a body kick that stops Manuel in his tracks momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manuel misses with an uppercut
and Durrani counters with a straight right hand.
Manuel has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Durrani.
Manuel is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Durrani tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Manuel was well out of range. Poor timing from Durrani.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ahmad Durrani showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Durrani 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 50:45
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 50:45
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ahmad Durrani!
Ahmad Durrani retains his featherweight title!