PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lazuran Riku (ranked 1027 p4p, 534 weight class) and Mana Festation (ranked 124 p4p, 66 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Riku
vs
Festation

175 cm
42
163
41 - 14 - 2

166 cm
41
158
34 - 18 - 4

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Vegan Gains

Voodoo Nutrition
Altitude Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 41 - 14 - 2, fighting out of New York, Lazuran Riku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 18 - 4, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mana Festation!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Ackerman and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Festation feints and then cracks Riku's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Riku down.
Festation scores with a jab. Riku acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Festation throws out a leg kick but Riku moves out of range and Festation only half commits.
Festation moves out of range of the leg kick from Riku.
Riku avoids the body shot from Festation.
Riku tried to counter with a leg kick but Festation avoided it.
Festation works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Festation looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Festation tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Riku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Festation is looking to score with low kicks.
Riku looks to score with a jab to the body but Festation is just out of range.
Festation flicks out a counter leg kick but Riku steps away.
Riku slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Festation scores with a shot to the body.
Festation throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Riku stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Festation misses the jab.
Festation misses with the combination.
Festation with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Festation throws a predictable looking body shot
and Riku counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Festation tries to clinch up but Riku circles away and keeps his distance.
Festation throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Festation drives through and clinches with Riku against the cage.
Festation lands a body shot.
Festation lands a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Festation utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Riku wants to break free but Festation has control.

Riku escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Riku misses the jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A telegraphed right hand from Festation misses the target.
An attempted straight right counter from Riku misses the target.
Riku shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Festation eats them both and turns towards Riku to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Festation has Riku up against the cage in a clinch.
Riku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Riku tries to circle away but Festation has him pinned against the cage.
Festation tries to land knees in the clinch but Riku avoids the damage to the body.
Festation makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Riku tries to work over Festation's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Festation lands a knee to the body.
Festation pushes Riku back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riku tries to work over Festation's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Riku breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Festation scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Festation lands with a nice body punch.
Riku throws a leg kick
and Festation counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Festation moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Riku misses with a body punch

and Festation counters by clinching up.
Festation lands a left hand that snaps the head of Riku backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Festation.
Festation prevents Riku from breaking the clinch.
Riku doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Festation lands a good knee to the midsection. Riku won't want to take too many of those.
Festation scores with a knee to the head.
Riku takes a shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riku goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Festation digs a right hand into Riku's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Riku's gas tank.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riku blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Festation doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Riku is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Riku blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Riku tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A knee to the head by Festation.
Festation has Riku pressed against the cage, preventing Riku from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The referee is keeping an eye on Festation - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Riku lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Riku tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Festation's elbow.
Riku blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Festation working Riku over with knees to the body.
Festation misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Riku.
Festation has Riku pressed against the cage, preventing Riku from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Festation avoiding damage.
Festation working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mana Festation dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Festation misses with a leg kick.
Festation throws a shot to the body.
Riku with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Festation tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Riku manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Riku looks to land a left hand but Festation moved out of range nicely.
A jab from Festation does it's job there.
Riku scores with a shot to the body.
Festation lands with a good body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riku misses with a kick to the body
and Festation counters with a three punch combo that has Riku backing up. Riku nods at Festation to acknowledge the strikes.
Festation has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Festation swings for the body but Riku moves out of range.
Riku takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riku has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riku throws a hook but Festation blocks it.
Festation uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Riku has time to react.
Riku throws a low kick but Festation avoids it.
Festation lands with a cross.
Festation fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Riku manages to avoid it.
An attempted straight right counter from Riku misses the target.
Danga de danga de dang - Festation scores with a four punch combination!
Festation takes a swing at Riku's ribcage but misses.
As Festation backs away, Riku returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Riku throws a leg kick but Festation sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Riku.
Riku takes a swing at Festation's ribcage but misses.
Riku throws a looping overhand right but Festation ducks down to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Festation lands with a good body shot.
Festation throws a body shot but no joy.
Festation ducks right into an uppercut from Riku.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Festation ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Riku throws a head kick but Festation moves out of range.
A slow jab from Festation misses its intended target.
Mana Festation seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Decent striking displayed by Riku there.
Festation looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Festation swinging wildly here.
Riku fires out a quick counter leg kick but Festation just manages to avoid it.
Festation throws a body punch but Riku moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Festation looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Festation lands with a kick to the ribs.
Some bone on bone action there as Riku checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Festation just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromRiku.
Festation jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Festation slips a straight right by Riku.
Riku fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Festation looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A bone on bone clash there as Festation blocks the leg kick.
Riku tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Riku keeps the fight on the outside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riku throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Festation moves into the clinch.
Festation scores a nice knee to the body.
Riku blocks a body shot from Festation.
Festation misses with a knee to the head.
Riku doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Riku wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Festation lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Festation has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Riku seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Festation can turn it around.
Festation missing with knees to the body.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Riku wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Riku's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Festation is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Riku rather than just go for the knockout.
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!
Festation connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A leg kick checked by Festation.
Festation doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Festation pushes Riku up against the cage in a clinch.
Festation tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Riku presses Festation against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Festation lands a shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mana Festation showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Riku getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Riku misses with a left hand
and Festation counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Festation wants to clinch up but Riku keeps it at a distance.
A little feinted left hand from Riku on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Festation throws a body kick that misses.
Riku misses with a lunging right hand
and Festation counters with an outside leg kick.
Riku throws a hook but Festation blocks it.
Riku looks to score with a jab to the body but Festation is just out of range.
Festation throws a nice looking combination but Riku bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Riku was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riku on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Festation keeps Riku at a distance using the push kick.
Festation misses with a double jab.
Riku throws a quick counter kick to the body but Festation avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Festation throws a leg kick
and Riku counters with an inside leg kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Festation!
Festation changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Festation swings for the body but Riku moves out of range.
Festation throws a body punch but Riku moves out of range.
Riku takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Festation throws a right and a left that both miss.
Festation lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Riku pivots, looking for a leg kick but Festation is out of range and Riku settles back down.
Festation scores with a crisp jab that stopped Riku in his tracks.
Riku misses with a wild body shot.
Riku backing away here, and Festation unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Festation scores with a four punch combination!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Riku connects with a looping right hand.
Festation jabs Riku to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Festation takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Festation throws a nice looking combination but Riku bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Festation is looking to clinch.

Festation closes the distance and pushes Riku back into the cage.
Riku tries to throw a body punch but Festation avoids it by throwing Riku back against the cage.
Festation tries to land knees in the clinch but Riku avoids the damage to the body.
Riku tries to work over Festation's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Riku is looking to break free of the clinch but Festation has double underhooks.
Riku tries to break free but Festation pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Festation tries to land knees in the clinch but Riku avoids the damage to the body.

Riku breaks from the clinch.
Riku throws the left hand but Festation avoids the punch easily.
Festation lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Festation avoids the body shot from Riku.
Riku showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Festation.
Festation throws a leg kick
and Festation takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Festation misses with a few strikes there.
Festation attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Riku throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Riku throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riku lands with a shot to the body.
Mana Festation is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Festation blocks a leg kick.
Festation wants to clinch.
Riku appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A jab lands there for Festation.
Lazuran Riku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Riku keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Festation throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mana Festation comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Festation 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mana Festation!
A pretty intense looking Mana Festation took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.