PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Itagaki Manabu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alan Imanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Imanov has chosen Pressure as his entrance music. Itagaki Manabu has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Manabu
vs
Imanov

179 cm
18
179 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
21
180 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Itagaki Manabu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alan Imanov!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Lou da Vinci and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manabu fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Manabu connects with a single shot there.
Imanov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Manabu.

Imanov darts in and clinches Manabu up against the cage.

Imanov breaks the clinch.
Imanov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Manabu as he avoids it easily.
Manabu swats away the attempt to clinch by Imanov.
Imanov is looking to clinch.
Imanov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Manabu.
Imanov misses with a wild combination.
Imanov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manabu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Manabu dodges the punch combination from Imanov.
Imanov lands with a slapping head kick.

Imanov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Manabu napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Imanov tries to stand but Manabu is controlling his head.

Imanov decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Manabu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Imanov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Imanov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Imanov doesn't manage to clinch there - Manabu circles away.
Manabu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Manabu is breathing heavily.

Imanov takes the fight into the clinch.
Imanov tries to pull guard but Manabu forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Imanov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Imanov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A short right from Imanov.

Imanov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manabu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Imanov manages to avoid it.
Good shot there by Imanov.
Imanov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manabu lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Imanov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Imanov shoots in for a double leg but Manabu sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Itagaki Manabu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alan Imanov.
Imanov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manabu swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Imanov darts in and clinches Manabu up against the cage.
Manabu blocks an elbow strike from Imanov.
A head punch on the inside from Imanov fails to land.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Imanov.
Manabu can't break the clinch.
Imanov jumps guard but Manabu stands there with Imanov around his waist. Imanov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Manabu wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Imanov has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manabu wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Imanov has him pressed against the cage.
Imanov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Manabu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Come on Manabu - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Imanov looking to stall.
Imanov is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Manabu has denied him.
Manabu wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Imanov has him pressed against the cage.
Imanov looking to slow down the pace here.
Manabu is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Imanov lands an elbow just above Manabu 's eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanov throws a punch but it's blocked by Manabu.
Manabu looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Imanov lands a damaging elbow.
Manabu wants to break the clinch but can't.

Imanov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Imanov gets the takedown into side control.
Imanov lands a nice forearm strike.

Imanov stands up and we're back to a striking position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Manabu!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Imanov doesn't manage to clinch there - Manabu circles away.
Manabu with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Imanov blocks a jab.
Manabu goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alan Imanov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Imanov fails with a takedown attempt.
A combination from Imanov does no damage.
Manabu throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Imanov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Imanov moves in looking to clinch but Manabu pushes him off.
Imanov wants to clinch up but Manabu keeps it at a distance.
Imanov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Manabu.
Imanov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Manabu swivels and escapes.
Manabu fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Imanov on the side of the head.
Nice uppercut there from Manabu.
Imanov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Imanov throws a head kick that misses.
Manabu scores with a punch to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Imanov takes one to the chin there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manabu swings for the body but Imanov moves out of range.
Imanov shoots in looking for a takedown but Manabu manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Imanov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Itagaki Manabu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alan Imanov.
Manabu lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Itagaki Manabu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Imanov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Manabu scores with a three punch combo!
Manabu fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Manabu lands with a hook. Imanov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Imanov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Manabu counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Manabu moves into range and connects with a jab.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Manabu!
Imanov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Imanov tries to clinch up but Manabu circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Imanov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Imanov misses with a head kick.
Imanov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manabu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Manabu lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Imanov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Manabu as he jumps to the side.
Imanov dodges the punch combination from Manabu.
Imanov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Manabu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Manabu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Imanov was well out of range. Poor timing from Manabu.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Manabu throws a right and a left that Imanov avoids nicely.
Imanov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Imanov dives in and grabs Manabu's left leg, looking for a takedown. Manabu pushes down on Imanov's head and hops out.
Manabu lands a jab-cross combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manabu misses with a combination
and Imanov counters with a head kick. That will keep Manabu thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Manabu fails to land with a series of punches.
Imanov is looking to clinch.
Alan Imanov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Manabu looks to score with a jab to the body but Imanov is just out of range.
Manabu fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Imanov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Imanov moves in looking to clinch but Manabu pushes him off.
A punch combination from Imanov misses.
Manabu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Imanov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Manabu, pushing him back against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Manabu.
Imanov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanov scores with a shoulder strike.
Manabu lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Imanov.

Imanov manages to break the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Imanov. Those never looked like landing.
Manabu fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
No joy there for Manabu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Manabu throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Imanov counters with a left and a right that stings Manabu.
Imanov darts in trying to clinch
and Manabu counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Imanov slips a jab and a cross from Manabu.
Imanov misses with a few strikes there.
Imanov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Manabu slips under a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Itagaki Manabu will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Manabu scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Manabu thows a body shot but no joy.
Imanov lands the left hand.
Manabu misses with a body shot.
Imanov avoids the body shot from Manabu.
Manabu on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Imanov closes the distance and clinches.

Imanov jumps guard.
Imanov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Imanov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Manabu stops Imanov from standing up.
Manabu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Imanov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alan Imanov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Imanov moves in looking to clinch but Manabu pushes him off.
Imanov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Manabu.
Manabu misses the shot to the body.
Manabu throws a right hand that Imanov ducks under and follows up with a left that Imanov also avoids with ease.
Imanov looks for a takedown but Manabu sprawls well.
Itagaki Manabu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manabu swinging wildly here.
Imanov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Imanov walks into a stiff left hand from Manabu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manabu misses with a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Imanov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Imanov misses with the ground and pound.

Imanov has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Manabu lands a really nice looking cross but Imanov seems unphased.
Imanov tries to clinch up but Manabu circles away and keeps his distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manabu connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Manabu throws a right and a left that Imanov avoids nicely.
Manabu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Imanov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A left and a right from Manabu both land. Nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manabu leaves Imanov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Itagaki Manabu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alan Imanov.
Imanov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Imanov is looking to clinch but Manabu is avoiding it.
Manabu bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Imanov's head backwards.
Manabu misses with a series of wild punches.
Imanov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manabu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Imanov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Manabu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Manabu throws a hook but Imanov avoids it easily.
Imanov is looking to clinch but Manabu is avoiding it.
Manabu misses with a jab, cross combination.
Imanov is looking to clinch.
Imanov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manabu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Imanov fails with the takedown.
Imanov throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Manabu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Imanov throws a head kick that Manabu semi-blocks.
Imanov has his takedown stuffed
and Manabu counters with a nice uppercut.
Imanov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Manabu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Imanov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Manabu lands with a right hand.
Imanov lands a head kick. Manabu smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alan Imanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Imanov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alan Imanov!
Alan Imanov took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.