PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Meida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matteo Mancini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matteo Mancini has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Meida
vs
Mancini

210 cm
23
285 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

194 cm
22
277 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thiago Meida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matteo Mancini!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Paul Gruel and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mancini lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Meida circles away quickly and effectively.
Meida swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Matteo Mancini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Meida stalks Mancini and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Mancini's face. Mancini staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Matteo Mancini has been cut.
Meida ducks under a wild hook from Mancini.
Meida swings away with a body shot that misses
and Meida takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mancini rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Meida moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Meida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mancini dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Meida. That did some damage!
Mancini pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Meida is looking for a counter combo.
Meida circles away from the clinch attempt
and Meida counters with a nice uppercut.
Meida lands a nice looking kick to the body. Mancini takes a step back to recover.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mancini tries to close the distance and clinch but Meida swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Meida uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mancini.
Meida ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mancini moves away.
Meida swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Meida throws a hook but Mancini blocks it.
Mancini now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Mancini throws a lazy right hand but Meida sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mancini takes one to the side of the head.
Mancini fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Meida avoids it really well and circles away.
Meida shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Mancini swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Mancini takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Meida throws a right hand that Mancini ducks under and follows up with a left that Mancini also avoids with ease.
Mancini misses with a two punch combination.
Mancini sizes up Meida with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Meida slips a jab and a cross from Mancini.
Meida lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Mancini looks to land a combination but Meida avoids it well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Meida displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Meida keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mancini.
Meida swinging wildly here.
Mancini thows a leg kick but Meida checks it

and Meida counters with a crisp one two that drops Mancini! Meida thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Mancini to his feet! Mancini is in big trouble!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mancini throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Meida connects with a looping right hand.

Mancini is rocked!
Meida will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Meida swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Mancini tries to clinch up.
Mancini throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It looked like Meida was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Mancini rushes Meida and presses him up against the cage.

Mancini escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Meida uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mancini.
Jab from Meida.
Mancini doesn't manage to clinch there - Meida circles away.
Meida throws a right and a left that Mancini avoids nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Meida. Those never looked like landing.

Mancini drives through and clinches with Meida against the cage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meida tries to bum rush Mancini with a series of wild strikes but Mancini uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Meida throws a combination. Mancini tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Meida swinging wildly here.
Meida throws a right hand that Mancini ducks under and follows up with a left that Mancini also avoids with ease.

Mancini closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Meida quickly recovers to half guard.

Mancini is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Mancini is looking for a kimura here.
Mancini is nestled in close to Meida, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Meida is staying active underneath Mancini, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mancini wants to pass the guard but Meida is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meida tries to kick Mancini off in order to stand up. Mancini Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An elbow from Mancini crashes against the mat.
Meida wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Meida gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Mancini controlling from the full mount.
Mancini sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Mancini jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Meida manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meida is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mancini has just dragged him back down to the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Thiago Meida will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matteo Mancini's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mancini slips a jab and a cross from Meida.
Meida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mancini misses with a leg kick.
Meida looks to land a combination but Mancini avoids it well.
Mancini will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Meida lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Meida ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Thiago Meida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mancini throws the left hand but Meida avoids the punch easily.
Mancini fails to land with a series of punches.
Meida went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Mancini moves in looking to clinch but Meida pushes him off.
An attempted straight right counter from Meida misses the target.
Mancini attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Mancini fails with the takedown.
Mancini misses with a hook to the body
and Meida counters with a nice body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A slow jab from Mancini misses its intended target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mancini looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mancini is breathing heavily.
Mancini moves out of range of the body kick.
Mancini throws a hook to the side of Meida's head but Meida sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Meida seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mancini shoots in for a double leg but Meida sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Thiago Meida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matteo Mancini.
Meida looks to land a combination but Mancini avoids it well.
Meida misses with a series of wild punches.
Sloppy strikes from Meida. Those never looked like landing.
Mancini throws a jab but it's blocked by Meida.
As Mancini looks to move away, Meida throws a big counter combo but Mancini just gets out of the way.
Mancini tries to clinch there but Meida circles away.
Meida is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Sloppy strikes from Meida. Those never looked like landing.
Mancini keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mancini drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Meida defends it well.
Mancini wants to clinch up but Meida keeps it at a distance.
Mancini with a poor takedown
and Meida counters with a two punch combo.
Thiago Meida is winning the standup battle so far.
Meida misses with a jab, cross combination.
Meida steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mancini.
It looked like Meida was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meida bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
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!
Mancini throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Meida sees it coming and avoids it easily.
As Mancini looks to move away, Meida throws a big counter combo but Mancini just gets out of the way.
A slow jab from Mancini misses its intended target.
Mancini takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
It looks like Meida has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Thiago Meida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Meida throws a right hand that Mancini ducks under and follows up with a left that Mancini also avoids with ease.
Mancini tried to score with a low kick but Meida checks it.
It looked like Meida was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Meida scores with a three punch combo!
Mancini throws a right and a left that Meida avoids nicely.
Mancini throws a solid leg kick but Meida takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Mancini.
Danga de danga de dang - Meida scores with a four punch combination!
Mancini is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Meida is looking for a counter combo.
Meida throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Meida lands a left and a right that send Mancini crashing to the mat, dazed. Meida thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Mancini is still on wobbly legs! Can Meida finish him?
Mancini throws a looping overhand right but Meida ducks down to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Meida is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mancini can do to turn this around?
Mancini tries to clinch up.
Mancini seems to have recovered his senses.
Mancini connects with a nice looking jab.
Mancini tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Mancini throws out a loose jab but Meida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mancini throws a looping overhand right but Meida ducks down to avoid it.
Meida tests Mancini's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That has opened up Matteo Mancini's cut even more.
Meida looks to land a combination but Mancini avoids it well.
Meida displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mancini.
Meida fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mancini takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Mancini closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Meida quickly recovers to half 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!
Mancini is keen to just control but Meida is a slippery customer.
Mancini is nestled in close to Meida, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mancini with the ground and pound but Meida uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mancini's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mancini wants to control from the top but Meida keeps moving.
Meida utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mancini lands a couple of digs.
Meida avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Meida preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mancini won't allow Meida to get back to his feet.

Meida manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mancini throws a punch but it's blocked by Meida.
Mancini tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Meida smiles and moves away.
Meida is working the combinations to good effect here.
Meida fails to land with a series of punches.
Mancini thuds a left hand into Meida's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Meida dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matteo Mancini's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mancini misses with a double jab.

Mancini gets a clinch.
Mancini working aggressively here.
Meida wants to get back to striking at distance but Mancini won't allow it.
Mancini with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mancini working aggressively here.
Meida working hard to break the clinch.
Mancini pushes Meida back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mancini using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Meida has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meida can't break the clinch.
Mancini has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Meida is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mancini lands an uppercut.
Mancini has Meida pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Meida manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Meida manages to break the clinch.
Meida throws a series of punches but Mancini moves out of range.
Meida gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Mancini misses with a hook.
Meida gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Mancini.
Meida throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mancini.
A big right from Mancini misses.
Meida looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Mancini throws a right hand that misses
and Meida counters with a series of strikes. Mancini will be more careful next time no doubt.
Mancini jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mancini throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Meida.
Mancini takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Meida slips under a jab from Mancini.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Meida defending well as Mancini loads up on a big left hand.
Meida ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Meida swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mancini.
Matteo Mancini has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mancini lands with a hook. Meida tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Mancini misses the jab.
Mancini swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Meida throws a big counter combination but Mancini scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Sloppy strikes from Meida. Those never looked like landing.
Meida throws a nice looking combination but Mancini bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A little jabbing left from Mancini on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Meida looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice sprawl there from Meida as Mancini shoots in.
Thiago Meida has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matteo Mancini.
Mancini cracks Meida with a good jab.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mancini.
Mancini tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Meida defends well and Mancini ends up having to push Meida into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mancini shoots in looking for a takedown but Meida manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mancini's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Meida throws a series of strikes that have Mancini backpedaling.

Meida drops Mancini with a beautiful combination! Mancini stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Meida is looking for the KO!
Mancini is starting to get sloppy and is letting his hands down. Meida just took advantage and landed a stinging jab. Oh! Now a right hook, right on the button! Mancini has gone limp and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Thiago Meida!
In his post fight interview, Thiago Meida started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.