PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Patrick Willis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominic Manucci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Patrick Willis could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Dominic Manucci's chin.

Willis
vs
Manucci

185 cm
30
240 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

194 cm
27
285 lbs
10 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Patrick Willis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Dominic Manucci!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manucci throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Willis's waist but Willis gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manucci off to one side.
Willis swats away the attempt to clinch by Manucci.
We've been hearing reports that Willis has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Manucci pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Manucci rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Willis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Manucci moves to clinch but Willis breaks away

and Willis decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Manucci's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manucci keeping full guard, as Willis tries to pass.
Willis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Manucci's head.

It looks like Dominic Manucci has been cut.
Willis prevents Manucci from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manucci controls Willis momentarily but Willis frees himself.
Willis trying to control but Manucci is working from the bottom.
Manucci is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Willis is trying to stand back up but Manucci is controlling him
Manucci trying to control the action but Willis is working from the bottom.
Willis wants to get back to his feet.
Willis is staying active underneath Manucci, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Manucci prevents Willis from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manucci throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Willis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Manucci.

Willis manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Willis feints and as Manucci raises his hands in defense, Willis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Manucci manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Manucci breaks from the clinch.

Manucci gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Willis to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Willis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Willis won't allow Manucci to get back to his feet.
Willis lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manucci wants to get back to his feet but Willis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Manucci working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Willis.
Manucci pulls Willis in close to prevent any damage.
Manucci avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Willis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Manucci utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Willis keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Manucci's head.
Manucci told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Manucci being controlled here, momentarily.
Willis throws a big right hand that misses.
Manucci is looking to stand up but Willis isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four 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.
Willis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Willis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Willis throwing strikes but missing.
Manucci can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Willis controls the pace.
Manucci is pulling down on Willis's head. It's preventing any offense from Willis, at least for the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Willis scores with a shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Willis dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dominic Manucci's cut.
That's time! Willis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Manucci tries to close the distance and clinch up but Willis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A low kick from Manucci misses

and Willis counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Willis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Manucci defending well though.
Willis missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Manucci tries to roll over but Willis keeps him under control.
Manucci on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Willis is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Manucci reverses the position - he's now on top in Willis's guard.
Manucci wants to pass the guard but Willis is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manucci loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Willis has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Manucci is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

Manucci manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Willis is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Manucci can do to turn this around?
Willis distracts Manucci with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That has opened up Dominic Manucci's cut even more.
Manucci seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Willis tries to free his leg and advance position but Manucci is retaining full guard.
Willis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Willis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Willis trying to control the position from guard on top but Manucci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manucci avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Willis here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Willis controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Willis prevents Manucci from getting back to his feet.
Willis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Manucci works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Willis lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Willis with a nice head shot there.

Dominic Manucci's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Dominic Manucci's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Patrick Willis!