PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chiku Maneno (ranked 13538 p4p, 3851 weight class) and Tigran Minasian (ranked 0 p4p, 502 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Maneno
vs
Minasian

178 cm
48
177
50 - 42 - 4

181 cm
35
183
8 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Glomco Nutrition

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 50 - 42 - 4, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chiku Maneno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tigran Minasian!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Minasian scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Minasian controls the position.
Minasian advances to mount.
Minasian looking to control and managing it successfully.
Minasian wants to take his opponent's back but Maneno doesn't allow it.
Minasian controlling from the full mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Minasian looking for a guillotine from mount but Maneno is having none of it.
Minasian looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minasian forces the positional change into back control.
Maneno is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

Minasian patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Minasian is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Maneno knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Maneno for a finish.
Maneno wants to get back to his feet.
Minasian controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maneno is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Minasian gets his way!
Minasian really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Maneno.

Minasian working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Well, with Minasian on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Maneno is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

Minasian is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Minasian has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Maneno's body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Maneno defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Minasian has his opponent's back but Maneno is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Minasian.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maneno. Minasian does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tigran Minasian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Minasian fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Maneno to the ground. Minasian is now in Maneno's guard.
Minasian won't allow Maneno to get back to his feet.
Minasian controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Minasian's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Maneno knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Minasian on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Minasian might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Minasian won't allow Maneno to get back to his feet.
Minasian slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Maneno is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Minasian is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Minasian uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maneno.
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Minasian manages to avoid it.

Minasian closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Maneno quickly recovers to half guard.
Minasian uses his free foot to push down on Maneno's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Maneno.
Minasian looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Minasian takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tigran Minasian dominated that round.
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 throws a body shot but no joy.
Maneno misses with a body shot.
Maneno definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Minasian shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maneno but Maneno pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Minasian looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Minasian is working for a kimura but Maneno is defending it quite comfortably.
Maneno pushes Minasian off looking to stand but Minasian dives back in and keeps control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minasian is looking to advance position but Maneno won't allow it.
Minasian keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Maneno is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minasian working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Maneno's thigh. Maneno counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Minasian controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
More stalling from Minasian.
Minasian stops Maneno from standing up.
Minasian controlling from the top position.
Minasian looking to pass the guard.
Minasian sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Chiku Maneno is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Minasian has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Minasian has Maneno pressed against the cage, preventing Maneno from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Minasian tightens his grip and picks Maneno up, before dumping him to the ground. Maneno manages to land in guard.
Minasian stays in close to Maneno's body and controls the position.
Maneno wants to stand up but Minasian is controlling him.
Minasian is stalling in the full guard.
Minasian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maneno is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Minasian is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Minasian with more of the same as he continues to hold on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minasian works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Minasian controlling the action here.
Minasian is continuing to stall.
Minasian stops Maneno from getting back to his feet.
Minasian passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Maneno!
Minasian fails to take his opponent's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minasian controlling the position easily from mount.
Maneno is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Minasian content just to control the position here.
Maneno is trying to stand.
Minasian moves to back control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Minasian controlling the position well here. Maneno rolled but Minasian kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tigran Minasian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Minasian shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maneno but Maneno pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Maneno throwing a counter right hand but Minasian manages to avoid it.
Maneno throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Minasian darts in and clinches Maneno up against the cage.
Maneno tries to circle away but Minasian has him pinned against the cage.
Minasian has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Maneno is looking to break free of the clinch but Minasian has double underhooks.
Minasian is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Maneno gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Maneno's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Minasian manages to avoid it.
Minasian looks for a takedown but Maneno sprawls well.
It looked like Maneno was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Minasian.
Chiku Maneno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tigran Minasian.
Maneno looks to score with a jab to the body but Minasian is just out of range.
Minasian is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Minasian closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Minasian lands in his opponent's guard.
Minasian sitting in guard here, content to control.
Minasian is pushing down on Maneno's leg trying to pass to half guard. Maneno is fighting to maintain full guard but Minasian has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minasian stops Maneno from getting back to his feet.
Minasian controlling the action here.
Minasian uses his free foot to push down on Maneno's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Maneno.
Minasian controlling from mount.
Let's hope that Minasian has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minasian forces the positional change into back control.

Maneno won't enjoy being in this position. Minasian looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Maneno is tapping - it's over boys! Minasian picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tigran Minasian!
Our winner, Tigran Minasian, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.