PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dusan Kikovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vincent Mangano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kikovic
vs
Mangano

168 cm
25
143 lbs
12 - 7 - 1

185 cm
27
138 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Milwaukee's Best 160
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Dusan Kikovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vincent Mangano!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kikovic misses with a hook
and Mangano counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kikovic misses with a body kick.
Mangano ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Horrible takedown by Kikovic or perhaps it was just good defense by Mangano which made him look bad.
Nice sprawl there from Mangano as Kikovic shoots in.
Kikovic takes a swing at Mangano's ribcage but misses.
Mangano is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mangano throws a push kick but Kikovic slaps the foot to one side.
Kikovic uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mangano has time to react.
Kikovic just misses with a punch to the body.
Mangano lands with a good body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Kikovic. Those never looked like landing.
Kikovic walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Mangano checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Mangano lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Dusan Kikovic has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kikovic misses with a body shot.

Kikovic gets a clinch.
Mangano has Kikovic pushed against the cage.
Mangano is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
We've been hearing reports that Kikovic has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Come on Mangano - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mangano.
Kikovic misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kikovic throws a head punch that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Kikovic.
The referee is keeping an eye on Mangano - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kikovic.
Mangano leaning his opponent against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Vincent Mangano.
Kikovic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mangano tries to avoid it but Kikovic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mangano to the ground. Mangano escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dusan Kikovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kikovic drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Mangano preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kikovic wants to control from the top but Mangano keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kikovic passes Mangano's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kikovic is looking to advance position but Mangano won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kikovic is working hard here to advance position.
Kikovic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kikovic is pressing down on Mangano's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mangano is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kikovic seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Mangano has recovered full guard.
Kikovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Mangano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mangano managing to control the position.
Mangano keeping moving, preventing Kikovic from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mangano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dusan Kikovic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dusan Kikovic's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mangano misses the shot to the body.
Kikovic misses with a wild body shot.
Kikovic swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kikovic looks to land a right hand but Mangano moved out of range.
Kikovic pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Mangano back to the cage. Kikovic follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Mangano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kikovic manages to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Kikovic.

Kikovic bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kikovic is putting a hurting on Mangano here, landing some big shots from side control.
Mangano is looking for a sweep.
Mangano is not content to let Kikovic control the position.
Kikovic taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Kikovic.
Kikovic tries to stand but Mangano controls the position and pulls Kikovic into his guard.
Kikovic postures up in Mangano's guard and throws a big left but Mangano blocks it.
Mangano trying to keep a closed guard but Kikovic is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kikovic throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kikovic tries to free his leg and advance position but Mangano is retaining full guard.
Mangano trying to keep a closed guard but Kikovic is proving a slippery customer.
Kikovic wants to stand and escape but instead Mangano has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Kikovic looking to control but Mangano passes into half guard.
Kikovic trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangano sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Dusan Kikovic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kikovic wants to control but Mangano is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kikovic gets full guard.
Kikovic trying to keep a closed guard but Mangano is proving a slippery customer.

Kikovic throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Mangano escapes and throws Kikovic's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kikovic looking for a sweep but Mangano has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Kikovic is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mangano trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kikovic is looking to improve his position but Mangano isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dusan Kikovic dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dusan Kikovic's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Mangano shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kikovic eats them both and turns towards Mangano to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
An inside leg kick lands from Kikovic.
Kikovic missing with a left hand there. Mangano was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kikovic takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mangano walks into a stiff left hand from Kikovic.
Mangano takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Kikovic goes for a double leg but Mangano avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mangano continues to drive forward.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kikovic as Mangano tries to tie him up.
Mangano prevents a body shot from Kikovic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mangano blocks a body shot from Kikovic.

Kikovic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vincent Mangano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kikovic lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Dusan Kikovic is winning the standup battle so far.
Kikovic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mangano avoids it really well and circles away.
Mangano swinging wildly here.
Mangano is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kikovic rather than just go for the knockout.
Nice shot by Kikovic.
Kikovic looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kikovic lands a leg kick that knocks Mangano off balance momentarily.
Kikovic connects with a solid leg kick.
A punch combination from Kikovic misses.
Dusan Kikovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kikovic ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kikovic misses with a low kick.
Kikovic throws a head kick but Mangano moves out of range.
Mangano shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Mangano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd cheers as Mangano lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kikovic doesn't seem phased though.
Kikovic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mangano manages to avoid it.

Kikovic shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mangano is looking for a sweep. Kikovic is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vincent Mangano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mangano holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Kikovic thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mangano's head.
Kikovic sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kikovic tries to pass to full mount but Mangano defends it.
Kikovic trying to control the action but Mangano is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kikovic trying to mount his opponent but Mangano defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kikovic is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mangano keeping hold of Kikovic's head, controlling as best he can.
Mangano trying to get back to full guard but Kikovic takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kikovic can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mangano is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dusan Kikovic showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kikovic 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dusan Kikovic!
Dusan Kikovic decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.