PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chiku Maneno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saif Rasheed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chiku Maneno has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Maneno
vs
Rasheed

178 cm
23
177 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

170 cm
29
180 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Spartan Nutrition

GREEN!160

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chiku Maneno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Saif Rasheed!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rasheed takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Maneno throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rasheed on the side of the head.
Rasheed takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Maneno digs a good hook to Rasheed's body.
Maneno stuffs the takedown attempt from Rasheed. Rasheed gets slowly back to his feet.
Maneno throws a body punch but Rasheed moves out of range.
Chiku Maneno seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rasheed shoots in but no luck this time.
Maneno was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Rasheed takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Maneno lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Maneno scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
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!
Rasheed takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Rasheed shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Rasheed thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rasheed seems to be looking for submissions.
Maneno knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rasheed on the ground.

Rasheed is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Maneno is just riding it out for now. Rasheed eventually gives up the hold.
Rasheed is trying to control. Maneno wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Maneno is trying to stand up here but Rasheed is controlling him well.

Rasheed is working for a kimura but Maneno is defending it quite comfortably.
Rasheed thows a huge punch but Maneno dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rasheed is nestled in close to Maneno, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rasheed stops Maneno from getting back to his feet.
Maneno taking some punishment here, with Rasheed in his half guard.
Rasheed working Maneno over with strikes.

Rasheed is working for a submission of some sort.
Maneno tries to kick Rasheed off but Rasheed keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Maneno makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Rasheed takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maneno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maneno stuffs the takedown attempt from Rasheed. Rasheed gets slowly back to his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Maneno on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Chiku Maneno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Saif Rasheed.
Maneno lands with a nice body punch.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.
A jab from Maneno does it's job there.

Rasheed gets the takedown into side control.
Rasheed throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Rasheed in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Maneno wants to get back to his feet.
Maneno managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Rasheed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rasheed is trying to get an arm triangle but Maneno is defending well.
Rasheed lands a few punches from side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rasheed throws a strike aimed at the side of Maneno's head but Maneno avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maneno on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Maneno is trying to get back to his feet.

Rasheed tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Maneno is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Rasheed tries to score with some ground and pound. Maneno controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chiku Maneno dominated that round.
That's time! Maneno's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maneno scores with a nice strike.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.
It looks like Maneno has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Maneno throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Rasheed counters with a nice double leg into side control. Maneno won't be happy with that.

Maneno sneaks out the side door and pushes Rasheed away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Rasheed dives in and grabs Maneno's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maneno pushes down on Rasheed's head and hops out.
Maneno jabs Rasheed to the body, keeping him at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maneno takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rasheed shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maneno counters with a straight right hand.
Rasheed on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Rasheed is rocked!
Maneno lands a body shot.
Rasheed is still on wobbly legs! Can Maneno finish him?
Maneno drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Rasheed right on the button. Rasheed goes down! Maneno follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Maneno gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chiku Maneno!
Chiku Maneno seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.