PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sam Maniche (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Deon Du Plessis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Du Plessis has chosen Fort Minor - Remember the name as his entrance music. Deon Du Plessis struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.0lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Maniche
vs
Du Plessis

176 cm
25
156 lbs
12 - 14 - 1

175 cm
29
168 lbs
16 - 14 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 12 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Sam Maniche!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Deon Du Plessis!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Summer Carpenter and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maniche misses with a series of wild punches.
Maniche throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maniche fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Du Plessis.
Maniche misses with a head kick.
Maniche misses with a wild combination.
Maniche tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Du Plessis was well out of range. Poor timing from Maniche.
Du Plessis tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maniche swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maniche misses with a few strikes there.

Du Plessis gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Du Plessis fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Du Plessis lands a knee to the body.
Maniche wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Du Plessis missing with knees to the body.
Du Plessis displaying some good clinch control by pressing Maniche up against the cage.
Du Plessis working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Du Plessis's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Still in the clinch, Du Plessis scores with a nice short uppercut.

It looks like Sam Maniche has been cut.
Maniche is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Du Plessis works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Du Plessis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maniche swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Maniche pushes Du Plessis off and scrambles back to his feet.
Du Plessis is looking to clinch but Maniche is avoiding it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Maniche gets tackled into the cage by Du Plessis. Du Plessis maintains the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Maniche's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Maniche blocks an uppercut.

Maniche pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Maniche scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maniche throws a jab but it's blocked by Du Plessis.
Maniche misses with the combination.
Du Plessis tries to clinch but Maniche is having none of it.
A punch combination from Maniche misses.
Maniche rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Du Plessis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sam Maniche is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Maniche.
Du Plessis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Du Plessis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Maniche pinned against the cage. Maniche gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Du Plessis moves in looking to clinch but Maniche pushes him off.
Du Plessis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A punch combination from Maniche misses.
Du Plessis throws a series of punches but Maniche avoids them all with ease.
Sloppy strikes from Maniche. Those never looked like landing.

Du Plessis clinches up with Maniche and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Du Plessis goes for a takedown in the clinch but Maniche prevents it.
Sam Maniche has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Deon Du Plessis.
Du Plessis looks gassed!
A head punch on the inside from Du Plessis fails to land.
Maniche wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Du Plessis is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Maniche is defending well for now.
Maniche has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Maniche breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Du Plessis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maniche.
Du Plessis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maniche.
Maniche misses with the combination.
Maniche fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Du Plessis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maniche scores with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maniche lands the left hand.
Du Plessis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Maniche throws a head kick but Du Plessis moves out of range.
Du Plessis wants to clinch up but Maniche keeps it at a distance.
Maniche lands with a nice combination. Du Plessis backs away looking to recover.
Maniche throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Du Plessis closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Du Plessis wants to clinch.
Du Plessis fails with an attempt to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Du Plessis doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Du Plessis tries to clinch
and Du Plessis takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Du Plessis clinches up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sam Maniche will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sam Maniche's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maniche will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Du Plessis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Du Plessis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maniche.
Maniche has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A slow jab from Maniche misses its intended target.
Du Plessis moves in looking to clinch but Maniche pushes him off.
Du Plessis wants to clinch but Maniche slips to the side
and Maniche counters with a one-two to the body.
Sam Maniche is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Du Plessis blocks a jab.

Du Plessis gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Du Plessis tries to pull guard but Maniche won't allow it.
Du Plessis stalls.
Du Plessis utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Du Plessis lands with a left to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maniche is pressed up against the cage. Du Plessis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Maniche down to the mat. Maniche avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Maniche misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fight stays on the outside here - Du Plessis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Du Plessis slips a jab and a cross from Maniche.
Maniche fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Du Plessis is out of range.
Maniche throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Du Plessis is looking to clinch.
Du Plessis walks into a jab.
Du Plessis tries to clinch but Maniche is having none of it.
Maniche lands with a nice combination. Du Plessis backs away looking to recover.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maniche throws a right hand that Du Plessis ducks under and follows up with a left that Du Plessis also avoids with ease.
Maniche misses with a few strikes there.
A leg kick checked by Du Plessis.

Du Plessis moves into range and clinches up with Maniche.
Du Plessis lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Du Plessis tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Maniche's elbow.
Du Plessis tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maniche smiles and moves away.
Sam Maniche has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Deon Du Plessis.
Du Plessis takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
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!
Maniche throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Du Plessis.
Du Plessis throws a head kick that misses.

Du Plessis clinches up with Maniche and pushes him back against the cage.
Du Plessis effectively controlling the action here.
Du Plessis continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Du Plessis is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Du Plessis throws a punch but it's blocked by Maniche.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maniche wants to break the clinch but can't.
Du Plessis prevents Maniche from breaking the clinch.
Du Plessis tries to score a body lock takedown but Maniche shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Maniche's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maniche lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sam Maniche is winning the standup battle so far.
Maniche throws a series of punches but Du Plessis avoids them all with ease.
Maniche misses with a series of wild punches.
Du Plessis shoots in and drives through. Maniche sprawls well.
Maniche chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Du Plessis avoids a punch combination nicely.
Du Plessis tries to clinch but Maniche moves out of range.
Du Plessis tries to clinch up but Maniche circles away and keeps his distance.
Du Plessis avoids the body shot from Maniche.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maniche scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Du Plessis doesn't seem bothered though.
Maniche scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A good leg kick by Maniche.
Du Plessis wants to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maniche getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Maniche cracks Du Plessis with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Du Plessis tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Maniche manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maniche swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Maniche moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Du Plessis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
That kick from Maniche tenderised Du Plessis's leg. Du Plessis is trying to keep his angry face on.
Maniche scores with a head kick. Du Plessis tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Maniche moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Maniche dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sam Maniche's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Du Plessis has taken the fight to the clinch.
Du Plessis has a couple of punches blocked by Maniche.
A short uppercut from Du Plessis.
Du Plessis lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Maniche breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maniche jabs at Du Plessis's body.
Sloppy strikes from Maniche. Those never looked like landing.
No joy there for Maniche, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maniche. Du Plessis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Du Plessis tries to clinch up.
Du Plessis wants to clinch.
Du Plessis moves in looking to clinch but Maniche pushes him off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Du Plessis moves to clinch but Maniche breaks away
and Maniche counters with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Du Plessis tries to clinch but Maniche is having none of it.
Du Plessis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Du Plessis tries to clinch
letting Maniche counter with a right hand.
Maniche will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Du Plessis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maniche misses with a few strikes there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Maniche.
Du Plessis's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Du Plessis is looking to clinch but Maniche is avoiding it.

Du Plessis drives through and clinches with Maniche against the cage.
Maniche is trying to break the clinch but Du Plessis is controlling him.
A short uppercut from Du Plessis.
Maniche tries to break free but Du Plessis pushes him back against the cage.
Maniche is trying to break the clinch but Du Plessis is controlling him.
Du Plessis misses with an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Du Plessis pushes Maniche back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maniche tries to circle away but Du Plessis has him pinned against the cage.
Maniche prevents the takedown attempt.
Du Plessis looking to slow down the pace here.
Du Plessis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Maniche is trying to push Du Plessis away but Du Plessis has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Maniche has had enough of the clinch but Du Plessis keeps him there for the moment.
Maniche blocks a body shot from Du Plessis.
Du Plessis tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Du Plessis is trying to stall.

Maniche breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Du Plessis shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maniche but Maniche pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sam Maniche has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Deon Du Plessis.
Maniche lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Du Plessis backs up against the cage.
Du Plessis shoots for a takedown but Maniche saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Maniche throws a nice looking combination but Du Plessis bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Maniche lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Maniche lands with a nice combination. Du Plessis backs away looking to recover.
Maniche thumps Du Plessis with a low kick.
Sloppy strikes from Maniche. Those never looked like landing.
Maniche stalks Du Plessis and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Du Plessis's face. Du Plessis staggers backwards, shaken.
Maniche looks to land a combination but Du Plessis avoids it well.
Du Plessis wants to clinch up but Maniche keeps it at a distance.
Du Plessis tries to clinch up.
Maniche fails to land with a series of punches.
Du Plessis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Maniche misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Du Plessis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Du Plessis wants to clinch up but Maniche keeps it at a distance.
Du Plessis dodges the punch combination from Maniche.
Du Plessis tries to clinch up.
Du Plessis shoots in looking for a takedown. Maniche tries to sprawl out of it but Du Plessis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Maniche manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maniche swinging wildly here.
Deon Du Plessis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maniche feints and then cracks Du Plessis's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Du Plessis down.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A right-left combo lands from Maniche.
Du Plessis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Du Plessis takes one to the chin there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Maniche showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maniche, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Maniche!