PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sam Maniche (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hattori Chiba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Maniche
vs
Chiba

176 cm
26
156 lbs
13 - 15 - 1

170 cm
27
160 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 13 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Sam Maniche!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hattori Chiba!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Eliza Hachem and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maniche throws a jab when Chiba was well out of range.
Maniche throws a front kick aimed at Chiba's knee but Chiba avoids it well.
Chiba defending well as Maniche loads up on a big left hand.
Maniche swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Maniche falls off balance throwing a combination

and Chiba counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Chiba seems to be working for a kimura but Maniche defends the submission attempt.

Chiba is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Maniche is trying to stand.
It looks like Chiba is going to stand back up.
Chiba tries to pass to full mount but Maniche defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chiba seems to be working for a kimura but Maniche defends the submission attempt.

Chiba is trying to work for a kimura but Maniche is defending well.

Maniche pushes Chiba off and gets back to his feet.
Maniche throws a left and a right that both miss

and Chiba counters with a shoot takedown. Maniche fights it but they end up in guard.
Maniche keeping full guard, as Chiba tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Chiba is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Maniche is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Maniche has escaped and now he's on top!
Maniche has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Chiba is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chiba is trying to control the position but Maniche postures up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maniche wants to stand but Chiba is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chiba trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hattori Chiba hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Chiba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maniche.
Maniche misses with a wild combination.
Maniche scores with a three punch combo!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maniche throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Maniche thuds his right hand into Chiba's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A jab from Maniche misses.
A combination from Maniche does no damage.
Maniche scores with a shot to the body.
Chiba closes the distance and clinches up with Maniche, looking for a takedown. Chiba pushes Maniche against the cage but Maniche circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Chiba shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maniche is looking to stand up but Chiba isn't so interested in that idea.
Maniche is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chiba wants to pass the guard but Maniche is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hattori Chiba will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Maniche misses with an uppercut.
Chiba dodges the punch combination from Maniche.
A combination from Maniche does no damage.
Chiba slips a straight right by Maniche.
Chiba slips a jab and a cross from Maniche.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maniche throws a head kick but Chiba moves out of range.
Maniche throws a head kick that misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Maniche misses the target.
Chiba dodges the punch combination from Maniche.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chiba looks for a takedown but Maniche sprawls well.
Chiba shoots in but Maniche avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Maniche fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Chiba manages to avoid it.
Maniche tried to score with a low kick but Chiba checks it.
Chiba defending well as Maniche loads up on a big left hand.
Maniche is looking to chop away at Chiba's legs.
Maniche misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chiba slips under a jab from Maniche.
Maniche throws a jab when Chiba was well out of range.
Maniche swings for the body but Chiba moves out of range.
Maniche lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Chiba circles away quickly and effectively.
Sam Maniche seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maniche throws a body punch but Chiba moves out of range.
Maniche throws a sloppy head kick

and Chiba counters with a takedown into side control.

Chiba tries for a kimura but Maniche is defending well.

Chiba tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Chiba is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maniche has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chiba stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Maniche misses with a double jab.
Maniche scores with a punch to the head.
Sam Maniche is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maniche slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Chiba moves away from the strike by Maniche.

Chiba dives in and scores a takedown into Maniche's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chiba gets to his feet - Maniche follows without any prompting.
Maniche will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sam Maniche is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Chiba showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maniche.
Maniche throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chiba sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maniche misses with a leg kick

and Chiba counters with a single leg into guard. Maniche didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Chiba decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Maniche, up you get!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maniche looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maniche throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Maniche gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hattori Chiba 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Chiba fails with the takedown.
Maniche throws a leg kick

and Chiba counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Chiba has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Maniche is proving hard to escape from.
Chiba must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Chiba prevents Maniche from getting back to his feet.
Chibais looking to pass into half guard but Maniche pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Maniche is in guard.

Maniche stands up from Chiba's guard - Maniche perhaps looking for a knockout.
Maniche misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Maniche. No joy for Chiba on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maniche throws a left and a right that both miss

and Chiba counters with a takedown into side control.

Chiba decides to stand up, so the ref orders Maniche to his feet.
Maniche throws a right and a left that both miss.
Chiba shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Maniche pinned against the cage. Maniche gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sam Maniche has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hattori Chiba.
Chiba dodges the punch combination from Maniche.
Maniche defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Chiba.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chiba shoots in but Maniche avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sloppy strikes from Maniche. Those never looked like landing.
Maniche swings for the body but Chiba moves out of range.
Maniche lands with a nice combination. Chiba backs away looking to recover.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Chiba fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Maniche misses with a jab, cross combination.
Chiba changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maniche tries to avoid it but Chiba manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maniche to the ground. Maniche escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Some bone on bone action there as Chiba checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maniche misses with a hook to the body

and Chiba counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Chiba tries to pass the half guard into mount. Maniche knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Chiba is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Chiba is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Maniche is trying to stand up here but Chiba is controlling him well.

Chiba stands up and beckons Maniche to join him on the feet.
Chiba showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maniche.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chiba shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Maniche defends it nicely.
Maniche misses with a double jab

and Chiba counters with a shoot takedown. Maniche fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chiba won't allow Maniche to get back to his feet.
Chiba wants to get up but he can't break Maniche's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Chiba stops Maniche from standing up.
Sam Maniche has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hattori Chiba is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Chiba wants to control from the top but Maniche keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hattori Chiba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Chiba winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hattori Chiba!