PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chiku Maneno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Naoki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Maneno
vs
Naoki

178 cm
30
177 lbs
23 - 14 - 0

182 cm
36
179 lbs
27 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

King of Clothes
Hellbent

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 23 - 14 - 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 27 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Takeshi Naoki!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Naoki takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Maneno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maneno blocks the body kick.
Naoki scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Maneno doesn't seem bothered though.
Naoki throws a head kick that misses.
Naoki misses with a shot to the body
and Maneno counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Maneno tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Naoki was well out of range. Poor timing from Maneno.
Maneno seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Naoki looks to land a right hand but Maneno moved out of range.
It looked like Maneno wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Maneno's jab looks to have found its range, popping Naoki under the eye.

It looks like Takeshi Naoki has been cut.
Naoki scores with a spinning back kick!
Naoki tries to move into range but Maneno moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Naoki has closed the distance and engaged Maneno in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Naoki misses with a body punch.
Naoki lands a right hand.

Naoki breaks from the clinch.
Maneno lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Naoki fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Maneno.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maneno. Naoki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Maneno takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maneno avoids the head kick by Naoki.
The fighters circle momentarily. Naoki darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Maneno moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Maneno misses with a hook. Naoki ducked under it nicely.
Naoki lands a front kick.
Naoki on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Takeshi Naoki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Naoki fails with an attempt to clinch.

Maneno gets tackled into the cage by Naoki. Naoki maintains the clinch.
Naoki keeps control of Maneno as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Naoki just leaning against Maneno, taking a breather.
Maneno wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Naoki has him pressed against the cage.
Naoki lands a right hand that snaps the head of Maneno backwards.
Naoki keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maneno's efforts to push away.
Naoki scores with a hook to the body.

Maneno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Naoki throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Naoki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maneno swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naoki connects with a single shot there.
Maneno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maneno takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Maneno takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A thudding body kick lands there by Naoki!
Maneno waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Naoki.
Maneno keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Maneno lands with a right hand.
Naoki looks to throw the jab but Maneno is out of range.
Maneno sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Naoki throws a shot from downtown. Maneno moves away and avoids it.
Maneno ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Naoki moves away.
Maneno stuns Naoki with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Maneno enables Naoki to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Maneno manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maneno wants to stand but Naoki is controlling the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Naoki's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Maneno wants to stand but Naoki is controlling the position.
Naoki scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Naoki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maneno wants to stand and escape but Naoki is having none of it.
Naoki showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Naoki throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Maneno wants to get back to his feet but Naoki passes into half guard.
Naoki looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Naoki thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maneno's head.
Maneno pushes Naoki off looking to stand but Naoki dives back in and keeps control.
Naoki throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Maneno to regain full guard.
Naoki lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Naoki with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Naoki won't allow Maneno to get back to his feet.
Naoki scoring with punches to the head and body.
Naoki scoring with punches to the head and body.
Maneno wants to stand up but Naoki is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takeshi Naoki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Takeshi Naoki's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Maneno lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Naoki at a distance.
Naoki's corner calls for a 1-2. Naoki obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Maneno swings for the body but Naoki moves out of range.
Maneno lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Naoki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Maneno is fending him off so far but Naoki persists. Nope, Maneno circles away and we're back to standing.
Takeshi Naoki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Naoki lands a nice looking body kick.
A jab from Naoki finds it's way through Maneno's defenses.
Naoki avoids the body shot from Maneno.
Naoki only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Maneno circles away from the clinch attempt.
Maneno throws a body punch but Naoki moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naoki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Naoki manages to avoid it.
Naoki feints and then cracks Maneno's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maneno down.
Maneno throws a big shot that misses.
Naoki misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naoki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maneno throws a body punch but Naoki moves out of range.
Chiku Maneno is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Naoki avoids the body shot from Maneno.
Maneno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from Maneno does it's job there.
Naoki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Naoki scores with the left hand. Maneno knows he should have avoided that one.
Maneno slips under a jab.
A quick step to the side and Maneno tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Naoki throws a low kick but it's checked well by Maneno.
Maneno throws a hook but Naoki avoids it easily.
Naoki misses with an uppercut
letting Maneno counter with a right hand.
Naoki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maneno.
Maneno takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Maneno takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Maneno on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Naoki. Naoki obviously looking to wear him down.
Naoki lands a nice looking kick to the body. Maneno takes a step back to recover.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maneno tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Naoki was well out of range. Poor timing from Maneno.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maneno moves out of range of the body kick from Naoki.
Maneno moves out of range of the body kick.
Maneno was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Naoki feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Manenos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Naoki takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Maneno swings for the body but Naoki moves out of range.
Naoki follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.
Maneno darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Naoki is looking to score with low kicks.
Naoki throws a head kick that misses
and Maneno counters with a stiff right hand.
Maneno lands an overhand right.
Maneno lands a nice shot that snaps Naoki's head back.
Maneno throws a hook but Naoki avoids it easily.
A little jabbing left from Naoki on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Maneno is looking to wear down Naoki with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Maneno misses with a hook
enabling Naoki to counter with a crisp jab.
Maneno scores with a hook to the body. Naoki takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Naoki moves out of range of the strikes.
Maneno swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naoki throws a leg kick but Maneno checks it.
Naoki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maneno was well out of range. Poor timing from Naoki.
Maneno defending well as Naoki loads up on a big left hand.
Naoki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maneno.
Maneno takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Maneno misses with a hook. Naoki ducked under it nicely.
Nice body punch from Maneno.
A solid leg kick lands there for Naoki.
Maneno on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maneno. Naoki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Naoki looks for a takedown but Maneno sprawls well.
Maneno throwing a counter right hand but Naoki manages to avoid it.
Naoki takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naoki gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Maneno tests Naoki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Naoki staying out of range there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Naoki.
Maneno misses the jab.
Naoki misses the shot to the body.
Maneno slips under a jab from Naoki.
Maneno misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Naoki.
Maneno closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Naoki changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Maneno takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Naoki misses with a wild body shot.
A quick step to the side and Maneno tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maneno takes a swing at Naoki's ribcage but misses.
Maneno throws a predictable looking body shot
and Naoki counters with a low kick, right behind Maneno 's knee.
Naoki takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chiku Maneno will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Takeshi Naoki's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Naoki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Naoki scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Maneno doesn't seem bothered though.
Naoki scores with a nice right hand.
Maneno lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Maneno misses with a looping left.
Naoki misses with a body shot
and Maneno counters with a straight right hand.
Maneno slips a straight right by Naoki.
Naoki scores with a body shot.
Maneno throws a hook but Naoki avoids it easily.
Naoki wants to counter the offense by Maneno and move into the clinch position.
Maneno ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Naoki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Naoki steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Naoki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maneno moves away.
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Naoki manages to avoid it.
Maneno will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Maneno connects with a right hand. Naoki shakes it off.
Naoki has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Naoki ducks under a wild hook from Maneno.
Naoki appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maneno jabs Naoki to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naoki uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maneno.
Naoki was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Maneno misses with a body shot
and Naoki counters with a good, hard body kick but Maneno shrugs it off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Naoki throws a body shot but no joy.
Naoki throws a leg kick which misses Maneno's front leg but catches the back leg as Maneno tries to avoid it.
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.
Naoki appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Maneno lands a slapping body shot.
Maneno needs to keep his hands up - Naoki had a free shot at his head there.
Maneno throws a jab when Naoki was well out of range.
Maneno thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maneno misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Naoki.
Maneno swings for the body but Naoki moves out of range.
Maneno is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Naoki moves into the clinch successfully.
Naoki jumps guard but Maneno turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Naoki breaks the clinch.
Maneno throws a hook but Naoki avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naoki is looking to slow Maneno down with leg kicks.
Naoki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maneno manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maneno takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Naoki misses with a hook
and Maneno cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maneno takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Jab from Maneno.
Maneno throws a sloppy body shot
and Naoki counters with a leg kick.
Maneno blocks the body kick.
Maneno throws a hook but Naoki blocks it.
Naoki jabs Maneno right on the nose. Maneno blinks but takes it well.
Naoki changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Maneno lands with a cross.
A jab from Maneno misses.
Maneno gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Maneno tries to sprawl but Naoki drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naoki stops Maneno from getting back to his feet.
Naoki stalling.
Naoki has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Naoki lands strikes from half guard.
Naoki scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Naoki is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Naoki working over Maneno with some ground and pound. Maneno looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Maneno is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naoki working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Naoki throwing shots but Maneno is blocking nicely.
Maneno looks like he's trying to stand up.
Naoki thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Maneno's head.
Maneno is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Naoki scores with a couple of nice shots.
Naoki scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Naoki wants to pass the guard but Maneno is defending well.
Maneno on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Maneno tries to kick Naoki off but Naoki keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Naoki not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Naoki looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takeshi Naoki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Naoki has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takeshi Naoki!
A determined Takeshi Naoki didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!