PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Neil McKenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Okto Maniani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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?

McKenzie
vs
Maniani

183 cm
25
147 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

167 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Neil McKenzie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Okto Maniani!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McKenzie shoots in but no luck this time.

Maniani changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. McKenzie looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
McKenzie tries to improve position but can't.
McKenzie is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
McKenzie tries to get to full guard but Maniani has control of the leg.

Maniani moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from McKenzie.
McKenzie really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Maniani wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McKenzie, who protects the arm well.
Maniani controls the position from side control.
McKenzie tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maniani wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Maniani cracks McKenzie with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
McKenzie is trying to get back to half guard.
Maniani looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maniani is looking to take a break and control but McKenzie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McKenzie sneaks back into half guard.
McKenzie wants to improve his position but Maniani is controlling well.

McKenzie looking for submissions off his back.
McKenzie moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

McKenzie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maniani doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maniani manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maniani lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maniani stopping the sweep attempt from McKenzie.
McKenzie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Maniani manages to get himself to full guard.
McKenzie wants to pass the guard but Maniani is keeping the position.
McKenzie throws a strike but Maniani rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

McKenzie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McKenzie throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Maniani escapes and throws McKenzie's legs to the side, diving into side control!
McKenzie is trying to improve his position.
McKenzie trying to remain calm as Maniani controls from the top position.
McKenzie is trying to improve his position.

Maniani tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Maniani has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Maniani is trying to get an arm triangle but McKenzie is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
McKenzie slips a nice elbow through Maniani's hands, connecting with Maniani's forehead.
McKenzie scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Maniani trying to control here.

McKenzie stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Okto Maniani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McKenzie fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maniani avoids it really well and circles away.
Maniani on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neil McKenzie dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McKenzie shoots for a takedown but Maniani saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
McKenzie lands a nice looking body shot.
Maniani keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
McKenzie shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maniani sprawls well. Maniani wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McKenzie gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neil McKenzie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maniani takes a swing at McKenzie's ribcage but misses.
McKenzie stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Maniani looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McKenzie is fending him off so far but Maniani persists. Nope, McKenzie circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McKenzie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Maniani's waist but Maniani gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McKenzie off to one side.
A big left from Maniani misses.
McKenzie tries for a takedown but Maniani sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maniani shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches McKenzie napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Neil McKenzie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McKenzie sneaks back into half guard.

McKenzie with the active half guard here but Maniani passes nicely into side control.
McKenzie manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
McKenzie slips a nice elbow through Maniani's hands, connecting with Maniani's forehead.
McKenzie trying to pass the guard but Maniani defending well.
McKenzie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Maniani wants to get back to full guard.
McKenzie scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. McKenzie connects with a nice short shot to Maniani's temple.
McKenzie has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McKenzie lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
McKenzie lands a heavy elbow.
The referee warns Maniani that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
McKenzie dominating with strikes here.
McKenzie raining down shots from the mount!
McKenzie connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
McKenzie is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Maniani can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
McKenzie is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Maniani can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
McKenzie landing shots from mount.
McKenzie landing strikes, looking to finish!
McKenzie landing strikes, looking to finish!
Maniani keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
McKenzie in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
McKenzie lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
McKenzie will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
McKenzie dominating with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Maniani can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Maniani wants to control but McKenzie is having none of it.
Maniani is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McKenzie is landing with some decent strikes but Maniani is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Maniani is in all sorts of trouble here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McKenzie fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Maniani is in a horrible position here. McKenzie smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
McKenzie with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neil McKenzie dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

McKenzie jabs at Maniani's body.
McKenzie throws a good cross that connects.
McKenzie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maniani tries to avoid it but McKenzie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maniani to the ground. Maniani escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Maniani tries for a takedown but McKenzie sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McKenzie.

Maniani closes the distance and pushes McKenzie back into the cage.
Maniani drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McKenzie is looking to break free of the clinch but Maniani has double underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McKenzie is trying to force a seperation but Maniani has the dominant position.
McKenzie tries to pull guard but Maniani holds him up against the cage and eventually McKenzie drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Neil McKenzie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maniani has McKenzie pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Maniani pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending McKenzie tumbling to the mat - Maniani dives into McKenzie's guard.
McKenzie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Maniani manages to get himself to full guard.
McKenzie working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
McKenzie is fighting to break Maniani's control of his arms but Maniani is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Maniani keeping full guard, as McKenzie tries to pass.
McKenzie thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie works a leg free and moves into half guard.
McKenzie is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Maniani is bucking up trying to escape but McKenzie cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Maniani takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

McKenzie goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Maniani is on top in guard.

McKenzie looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Maniani cracks McKenzie with a solid left hand.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McKenzie is on top in guard.
McKenzie trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McKenzie postures up.
McKenzie is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Maniani lands an upkick as McKenzie stands over him.
McKenzie with a flurry of punches that miss.
McKenzie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McKenzie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maniani swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McKenzie won't allow Maniani to get back to his feet.

Maniani looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
McKenzie scoring with punches to the head and body.

McKenzie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maniani has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, McKenzie has managed to get both his arms back between Maniani's legs - danger averted.
Maniani looking to control.
McKenzie lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
McKenzie would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maniani striking off his back.
Okto Maniani has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Neil McKenzie is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McKenzie throws a strike but Maniani rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neil McKenzie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for McKenzie, 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neil McKenzie!