PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Akihiro Gomi (ranked 800 p4p, 91 weight class) and Peter Manuel (ranked 2067 p4p, 225 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gomi
vs
Manuel

175 cm
33
150 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

163 cm
32
146 lbs
21 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Akihiro Gomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Peter Manuel!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Chris Edwards and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manuel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Manuel takes one on the chin but seems OK.

It looks like Peter Manuel has been cut.
Manuel uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Manuel takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gomi misses with a hook.
Manuel connects with a body shot that sends Gomi's belly button to the back.
Manuel misses with a jab to the body
and Gomi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Manuel is rocked!
No joy there for Gomi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Manuel is still on wobbly legs! Can Gomi finish him?
Manuel has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A lazy left from Manuel finds it's target.
A decent looking cross lands there for Manuel.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manuel lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gomi at a distance.
Gomi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Manuel.
Gomi appears to be looking for a big counter.
Manuel listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Manuel misses with an uppercut
and Gomi counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Manuel seems to have recovered his senses.
Manuel digs a good hook to Gomi's body.
Manuel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gomi throws a chopping leg kick but Manuel manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Gomi.
Manuel misses with a hook.
Manuel swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jab by Manuel.
Gomi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gomi scores with a body shot.
Manuel throws out a loose jab but Gomi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gomi dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gomi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Manuel was well out of range. Poor timing from Gomi.
Manuel moves out of range as Gomi throws a body kick.
Gomi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Manuel smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Gomi stuffs the takedown.
Manuel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gomi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Manuel throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gomi appears to be looking for a big counter.
Gomi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gomi throws a hook but Manuel avoids it easily.
Manuel lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gomi at a distance.
Gomi ducks under a wild hook from Manuel.
Gomi swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gomi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Manuel.
Manuel lands with a shot to the body.
Gomi ducks under a wild hook from Manuel.

Manuel feints and as Gomi raises his hands in defense, Manuel changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Manuel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gomi is keeping the position for now.
Gomi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gomi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Manuel wants to control from the top but Gomi keeps moving.
Gomi keeping full guard, as Manuel tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi is looking to stand up but Manuel isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manuel trying to control but Gomi is working from the bottom.
Manuel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gomi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gomi wants to get back to his feet but Manuel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Manuel passes Gomi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Manuel stops Gomi from getting back to his feet.
Manuel wants to pass to mount but Gomi is defending the position.

Gomi pushes Manuel off and gets back to his feet.
Manuel moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Gomi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Gomi drops his hands momentarily and Manuel takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Manuel.
Manuel connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Manuel misses with a wild combination.
Manuel looks to land a left hand but Gomi moved out of range nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gomi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Manuel swings for the body but Gomi moves out of range.
Gomi swings widly with a right hand
and Manuel counters with a nice body shot.
Peter Manuel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manuel scores with a jab to the jaw.

Manuel is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gomi's half guard.
Gomi is trying to stand up here but Manuel is controlling him well.

Manuel is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gomi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gomi wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Manuel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Peter Manuel's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gomi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Manuel.
Manuel lands a nice shot that snaps Gomi's head back.
Gomi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Manuel.
A little feinted left hand from Gomi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Gomi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Manuel takes a shot to the head.
Gomi has a couple of punches blocked by Manuel.
Manuel softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gomi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Manuel working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Manuel tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gomi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Manuel jumps guard but Gomi stands there with Manuel around his waist. Manuel gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch on the inside from Gomi fails to land.
Gomi misses with a punch on the inside.
Manuel tries to pull guard but Gomi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Manuel trying to control the position but instead, Gomi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Manuel into the cage.
Manuel fails to pull guard.
Akihiro Gomi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Peter Manuel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel misses with the head strike.
Manuel tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gomi smiles and moves away.
Gomi throws the left hand but Manuel avoids the punch easily.
Manuel blocks a jab.
Manuel throws out a counter right but Gomi avoids it with no problem.
Gomi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Manuel was well out of range. Poor timing from Gomi.

Manuel decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Gomi kicks Manuel off and gets back to his feet.
Gomi misses with a leg kick.

Gomi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Manuel jumps guard but Gomi stands there with Manuel around his waist. Manuel gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Manuel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Manuel swings widly with a right hand
and Gomi counters with a lovely shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Manuel drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Gomi is not content to let Manuel control the position.
Gomi pushes Manuel away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Manuel gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Manuel content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Gomi pushes Manuel away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Manuel gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Manuel tries to move to mount but Gomi blocks the move with his legs.

Manuel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gomi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Manuel is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Gomi is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gomi wants to get back to his feet but Manuel drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manuel is trying to get an arm triangle but Gomi is defending well.

Gomi throws Manuel to one side and escapes!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Manuel.
Manuel connects with a body shot.
Gomi moves in looking to clinch but Manuel pushes him off.
Manuel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gomi throws a big counter combination but Manuel scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Gomi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Manuel counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Manuel misses with an uppercut. Gomi saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Manuel missing with a left hand there. Gomi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Akihiro Gomi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Manuel connects with a single shot there.
Gomi throws a series of punches but Manuel avoids them all with ease.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gomi throws a shot from downtown. Manuel moves away and avoids it.
Manuel works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Gomi checks a low kick from Manuel.
Manuel misses with a hook to the body
and Gomi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Peter Manuel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Manuel throws the left hand but Gomi avoids the punch easily.
Gomi misses with a straight right.
It seemed like Manuel was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Gomi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Manuel counters with a good low kick that Gomi was not able to check.
Manuel takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Peter Manuel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Peter Manuel's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gomi tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Manuel doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gomi checks a leg kick.
Gomi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Jab, jab by Manuel - just one landing.
Manuel throws a hook but Gomi blocks it.
Gomi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Manuel.
Gomi misses with a hook
and Manuel counters with a stiff right hand.
Gomi misses with a straight left.
Manuel moves forwards but Gomi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Manuel misses.
As Manuel looks to move away, Gomi throws a big counter combo but Manuel just gets out of the way.
Manuel goes for a double leg but Gomi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gomi continues to drive forward.
Gomi throws a solid leg kick but Manuel takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Gomi.
Gomi looks to land a combination but Manuel avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel misses the jab.
Gomi throws a lazy body kick
and Manuel counters with a nice uppercut.
Gomi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Manuel keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Manuel looks to land a left hand but Gomi moved out of range nicely.
Gomi slips under a jab.
Gomi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Manuel.
Manuel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Manuel misses with a wild body shot.
Gomi blocks a jab.
Gomi was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Manuel getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Manuel has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Manuel there as he acknowledges the shot.
Manuel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gomi.
Akihiro Gomi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel dives in for a single leg takedown but Gomi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Gomi is looking for a counter combo.
Manuel slips a straight right by Gomi.
Manuel lands with a nice body punch.
A head kick misses from Gomi.
Manuel changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A lazy left from Gomi finds it's target.
Gomi drops Manuel with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Manuel! Gomi dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Akihiro Gomi!
A very excited looking Akihiro Gomi rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.