PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manu Tuilagi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian MacAiken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ian MacAiken was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Tuilagi
vs
MacAiken

174 cm
26
175 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

183 cm
26
177 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Decent elbows
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Milwaukee's Best Nutrition

Perkele!

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 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Manu Tuilagi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ian MacAiken!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MacAiken lands a front kick.
Tuilagi misses with a kick to the body
and MacAiken counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tuilagi thinking.
Tuilagi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
MacAiken tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
MacAiken fails with the takedown
and Tuilagi counters with a slapping leg kick.
MacAiken throws a sloppy head kick and Tuilagi moves out of range easily.
We've been informed that MacAiken has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
A head kick misses from MacAiken.
Ian MacAiken seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tuilagi wants to slow MacAiken down by chopping away at his legs.
Tuilagi scores with a sloppy right hand. MacAiken should have avoided that one.
Tuilagi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with MacAiken but MacAiken pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The fighters circling - MacAiken throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacAiken with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tuilagi counters with a good, hard body kick but MacAiken shrugs it off.
MacAiken misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tuilagi.
Tuilagi stuffs the takedown.
Manu Tuilagi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ian MacAiken.
MacAiken moves out of range of the body kick.
MacAiken fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tuilagi manages to avoid it.
MacAiken misses with a hook.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tuilagi, right into the meat.
Tuilagi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
MacAiken works the jab nicely.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from MacAiken lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tuilagi has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tuilagi and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tuilagi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuilagi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
MacAiken throws a body punch but Tuilagi moves out of range.
MacAiken throws a head kick but Tuilagi moves out of range.

Tuilagi decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Tuilagi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed MacAiken's head.
Tuilagi wants to lay and pray for a moment but MacAiken keeps working.
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!
MacAiken avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tuilagi.
Tuilagi wants to pass to mount but MacAiken is defending the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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. Tuilagi connects with a nice short shot to MacAiken's temple.
Tuilagi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacAiken is trying to stand back up but Tuilagi is controlling him
Tuilagi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
MacAiken is staying active underneath Tuilagi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tuilagi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Manu Tuilagi just wasn't active enough.
MacAiken scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
MacAiken uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tuilagi.
Nice takedown defense from Tuilagi. No joy for MacAiken on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from MacAiken. No joy for Tuilagi on that attempt.
Tuilagi tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Tuilagi sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuilagi shoots in but MacAiken avoids the takedown attempt easily.
MacAiken is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tuilagi rather than just go for the knockout.
MacAiken fails with the takedown

and Tuilagi counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for MacAiken!
This has been an exciting period of action!
MacAiken takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Tuilagi tries to move into full mount but can't pass MacAiken's legs.
Tuilagi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Tuilagi throws a strike aimed at the side of MacAiken's head but MacAiken avoids it well.
MacAiken is looking for a sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tuilagi scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at MacAiken to see if he's OK.
Tuilagi trying to control the action but MacAiken is working from the bottom.
Tuilagi happy to just control the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Tuilagi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

MacAiken has a takedown stuffed.
MacAiken misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
MacAiken scores with a head kick. Tuilagi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
MacAiken looks to throw a body kick
and Tuilagi counters with a good low kick that MacAiken was not able to check.
The crowd cheers as Tuilagi lands an impressive looking overhand right. MacAiken doesn't seem phased though.
Tuilagi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Tuilagi shoots in and bounces MacAiken off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
MacAiken keeping moving, preventing Tuilagi from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

MacAiken looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Tuilagi is defending well. MacAiken quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Tuilagi has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! MacAiken celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ian MacAiken!
Ian MacAiken very nearly forgot to thank Perkele! amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.