PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chiku Maneno (ranked 203 p4p, 29 weight class) and Bronko Strunz (ranked 280 p4p, 38 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maneno
vs
Strunz

178 cm
34
177 lbs
31 - 16 - 2

178 cm
30
175 lbs
23 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
IniTech Nutrition

Aspire Clothing
KAISER Nutrition - Q160

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 31 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chiku Maneno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bronko Strunz!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Maneno.
Maneno takes a swing at Strunz's ribcage but misses.
Strunz wants to counter the offense by Maneno and move into the clinch position.
Strunz connects with a jab.
Strunz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maneno.
An attempted straight right counter from Maneno misses the target.
Strunz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Strunz lands an overhand right.
Strunz throws out a loose jab but Maneno uses good head movement to avoid it.
Strunz misses with a low kick as Maneno jumps back.
Strunz has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Maneno is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Maneno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maneno misses with a body shot.
Maneno throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Strunz throws the left hand but Maneno avoids the punch easily.
Maneno walks into a straight right hand from Strunz.
Maneno gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Strunz.
Maneno ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Strunz moves away.
Strunz looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Maneno fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Maneno is looking to wear down Strunz with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maneno misses with an uppercut. Strunz saw that one coming.
Strunz scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Maneno.
Maneno throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Strunz stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maneno tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A clash of legs there as Maneno blocks the low kick.
Strunz defending well as Maneno loads up on a big left hand.
Maneno seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Strunz avoids the body shot from Maneno.
Strunz lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Maneno checks a leg kick.
It looked like Maneno was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Strunz.
Strunz throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Maneno to counter with a crisp jab.

Strunz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Strunz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maneno's efforts to push away.
Strunz misses with the head strike.
A frustrated look appears on Maneno's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Maneno has had enough of the clinch but Strunz keeps him there for the moment.
Maneno looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Maneno wants to get back to striking at distance but Strunz won't allow it.
Strunz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maneno's efforts to push away.
Maneno has had enough of the clinch but Strunz keeps him there for the moment.
Strunz keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maneno's efforts to push away.
Strunz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strunz tries a body shot but Maneno blocks it.

Maneno breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Strunz connects with a good right hand that stumbles Maneno. Maneno circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Strunz throws a big shot that misses.
Maneno throws the left hand but Strunz avoids the punch easily.
Bronko Strunz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Strunz throws a front kick aimed at Maneno's knee but Maneno avoids it well.
Maneno lunges at Strunz with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Strunz's hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maneno throws a body punch but Strunz moves out of range.
Maneno keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Strunz.
Strunz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Strunz lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Strunz cracks Maneno with a good jab.
Maneno jabs Strunz to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Strunz motions for Maneno to come forward. Strunz throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Strunz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Maneno has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Strunz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Maneno makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Maneno blocks a leg kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Maneno misses its target.
Strunz throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strunz misses with a two punch combination.
A little feinted left hand from Maneno on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Maneno ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Strunz moves away.
Good leg kick by Strunz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Strunz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Strunz throws the left hand but Maneno avoids the punch easily.
Strunz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Maneno.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.
A little jabbing left from Strunz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Strunz throws the left hand but Maneno avoids the punch easily.
Strunz lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Maneno displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Strunz throws out the jab.
Maneno dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Maneno connects with a right hand. Strunz shakes it off.
Strunz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Strunz tries to counter by closing the distance.
Maneno with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Maneno lands with a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Strunz lands with a kick to the ribs.
Maneno slips a straight right by Strunz.

Strunz gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maneno wants to get back to striking at distance but Strunz won't allow it.

Maneno breaks the clinch.
Strunz attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Maneno connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Strunz momentarily.
Strunz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maneno.
Maneno dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Strunz is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Maneno had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
A solid leg kick lands there for Strunz.
Maneno misses with an uppercut. Strunz saw that one coming.
Strunz misses with a head kick.
Maneno scores with a hook to the body. Strunz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Strunz throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A big left from Maneno misses.
A punch combination from Strunz misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strunz uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maneno.
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Strunz manages to avoid it.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Strunz.
Maneno lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Strunz at a distance.
Maneno uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Strunz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bronko Strunz will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Maneno checks the leg kick.
A slow jab from Strunz misses its intended target.

Strunz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maneno, pushing him back against the cage.

Maneno breaks the clinch.
Strunz throws out a leg kick but Maneno moves out of range and Strunz only half commits.
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.
Maneno swings for the body but Strunz moves out of range.
Strunz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maneno manages to avoid it.
Maneno was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Strunz throws a leg kick but Maneno sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Maneno checks the leg kick.
Strunz finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Maneno throws a hook to the side of Strunz's head but Strunz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Strunz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Strunz tries to work over Maneno's front leg with a kick but Maneno checks it.
Strunz sizes up Maneno with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A big right from Strunz misses.
Maneno takes a swing at Strunz's ribcage but misses.
Strunz tries to clinch there but Maneno circles away.
Strunz throws a head kick but Maneno moves out of range.
Maneno throwing a counter right hand but Strunz manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maneno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It seemed like Strunz was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Strunz keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Maneno throws a body shot but no joy.
Maneno uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Strunz.
Maneno lands with a good body shot.
Strunz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A nice inside leg kick there by Strunz. That's going to slow Maneno down.
Maneno waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Strunz.
Maneno fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Strunz lands a head kick. Maneno smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A shot to the liver by Maneno. Beautiful body shot.
Maneno gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Maneno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Strunz takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Maneno swings for the body but Strunz moves out of range.
Maneno looks to score with a jab to the body but Strunz is just out of range.
Maneno cracks Strunz with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strunz takes one on the button.
Bronko Strunz seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Strunz misses the jab.
Strunz throws a hook but Maneno avoids it easily.
Maneno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Strunz looks to land a right hand but Maneno moved out of range.
Strunz ducks right into an uppercut from Maneno.
Strunz drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.
Strunz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Maneno counter with a right hand.
Maneno takes a swing at Strunz's ribcage but misses.
Maneno connects with a body shot.
Maneno takes a swing at Strunz's ribcage but misses.
Maneno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Strunz throws a shot from downtown. Maneno moves away and avoids it.
Strunz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maneno.
Strunz throws out a counter right but Maneno avoids it with no problem.
A punch lands to the side of Strunz 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Maneno avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maneno throwing a counter right hand but Strunz manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strunz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Maneno checks a low kick from Strunz.
Strunz swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Maneno counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Strunz misses with an uppercut.
Strunz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Strunz scores with a jab to the jaw.
Maneno takes a swing at Strunz's ribcage but misses.
Strunz throws out a loose jab but Maneno uses good head movement to avoid it.
Strunz works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Strunz throws a push kick but Maneno slaps the foot to one side.
Maneno was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Strunz throws a right hand that misses
and Maneno connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Strunz throws a jab but it's blocked by Maneno.
Maneno throws the left hand but Strunz avoids the punch easily.
Strunz throws a low kick, looking for Maneno's leg but Maneno calmly moves out of range.
Maneno has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Maneno there as he acknowledges the shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maneno lands with a right hand.
Strunz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Maneno counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strunz fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Maneno is out of range.
Strunz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Strunz needs to keep his hands up - Maneno had a free shot at his head there.
Strunz throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Maneno takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Strunz connects with a leg kick. Maneno looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Strunz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maneno lands a nice looking body shot.
Maneno blocks a jab.
A little feinted left hand from Maneno on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Maneno walks into a stiff left hand from Strunz.
Strunz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Strunz throws a low kick but it's checked well by Maneno.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Strunz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Maneno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maneno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Strunz throws out a loose jab but Maneno uses good head movement to avoid 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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Strunz misses with an uppercut. Maneno saw that one coming.
A chopping leg kick lands by Strunz.
Strunz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Maneno throws a body shot but no joy.
Decent striking displayed by Maneno there.
Maneno throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Strunz counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Maneno misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Strunz.
Maneno misses with an uppercut
and Strunz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Strunz tries to work over Maneno's front leg with a kick but Maneno checks it.
Strunz displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maneno throws out the jab.
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.
That kick from Strunz tenderised Maneno's leg. Maneno is trying to keep his angry face on.
A jab from Maneno misses.
Maneno tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Strunz was well out of range. Poor timing from Maneno.
Strunz misses with an uppercut. Maneno saw that one coming.
Sloppy strikes from Strunz. Those never looked like landing.
Strunz moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strunz fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Strunz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Strunz tries to land a front kick but Maneno steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Maneno takes one to the side of the head.
Maneno throws a big shot that misses.
A leg kick checked by Maneno.
Strunz throws a poor cross that misses
and Maneno makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Strunz keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Maneno misses with a straight left.
Good leg kick by Strunz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Maneno scores with a jab to the body.
Strunz misses with a hook. Maneno ducked under it nicely.
Strunz throws a hook but Maneno blocks it.
Strunz uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maneno uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Strunz has time to react.
Strunz turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Maneno stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strunz tries to clinch
and Maneno connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maneno lands a jab to the nose.
Strunz misses with a low kick.
Maneno wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Strunz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Strunz misses with a straight right.
Strunz misses with an uppercut.
Maneno looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Strunz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Maneno counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Strunz is rocked!
Maneno ducks under a wild hook from Strunz.
It looked like Maneno wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Strunz is still on wobbly legs! Can Maneno finish him?
Maneno closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Strunz! Maneno dives in looking to finish! Strunz is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chiku Maneno!
A relieved looking Chiku Maneno thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.