PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Raniel Mancuso (ranked 3656 p4p, 23277 weight class) and Chel Diokno (ranked 200 p4p, 263 weight class). Mancuso comes to the cage accompanied by O RetrÃ´ Ativo - HerÃ³is do Status Quo. Diokno has chosen This is my story as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Mancuso
vs
Diokno

180 cm
27
147
7 - 4 - 0

167 cm
26
135
0 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Raniel Mancuso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chel Diokno!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diokno throws a sloppy head kick and Mancuso moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Diokno.

Diokno gets tackled into the cage by Mancuso. Mancuso maintains the clinch.
Diokno tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mancuso on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Diokno lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Diokno trying to control the position but instead, Mancuso has worked for underhooks and has pushed Diokno into the cage.
Mancuso wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Mancuso blocks an uppercut.
Diokno effectively controlling the action here.
Diokno throws a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mancuso.
Diokno is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mancuso is keeping busy.
Diokno is trying to maintain a safe position but Mancuso gets an underhook and turns Diokno into the cage.
Mancuso is looking to break free of the clinch but Diokno has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mancuso blocks an elbow strike from Diokno.
Mancuso on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Diokno tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mancuso avoids it.
Diokno is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mancuso is defending well for now.
Mancuso using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Diokno is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Diokno looking to stall.

Diokno breaks the clinch.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Diokno lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mancuso has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mancuso and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Diokno throws a leg kick but Mancuso sees it coming and moves out of range.
Mancuso goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Mancuso keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mancuso throws a sloppy head kick and Diokno moves out of range easily.
Diokno steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Mancuso.
Diokno misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mancuso throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Diokno looks winded!
Mancuso misses with a jab, cross combination.
Diokno throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mancuso lands a head kick. Diokno smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
We've been told by Mancuso's head coaches at Kaptajnernes TrÃ¦ningscenter that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Diokno takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Mancuso moves into range and clinches up with Diokno.
Diokno tries to land a knee to the head but Mancuso blocks with his arms.

Mancuso escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mancuso misses with a few strikes there.

Mancuso drops Diokno with a beautiful combination! Diokno stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Mancuso is looking for the KO!

Diokno is rocked!
Diokno throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Diokno is still on wobbly legs! Can Mancuso finish him?
Mancuso lets loose with a powerful body kick. Diokno will feel that in the morning.
Mancuso throws a sloppy head kick and Diokno moves out of range easily.
Diokno throws a push kick but Mancuso slaps the foot to one side.
Mancuso appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Diokno pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Diokno seems to have recovered his senses.
Diokno takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Mancuso rushes Diokno and starts throwing punches like they are going out of style! Diokno is up against the cage and has nowhere to go. Mancuso piles on the pressure and Diokno crumples to the floor! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Raniel Mancuso!
After the fight, Raniel Mancuso was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
Chel Diokno was interviewed post fight and said 'Granite Chin will come back!'.