PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Cicero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Maniche (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cicero comes to the cage accompanied by Woke Up This Morning . 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.

Cicero
vs
Maniche

162 cm
28
158 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

176 cm
28
156 lbs
14 - 21 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Decent elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

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 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul Cicero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Sam Maniche!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Donatello Bradman and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maniche tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Maniche swinging wildly here.
Maniche throws a leg kick but Cicero sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Cicero keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maniche.
Cicero cracks Maniche with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A combination from Maniche does no damage.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cicero.
A punch combination from Maniche misses.
Cicero slips a jab from Maniche.
Cicero connects with a body shot.
Maniche scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cicero cracks Maniche with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

It looks like Sam Maniche has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maniche throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A nice combination there by Maniche.
A combination from Maniche does no damage.
Maniche looks to land a combination but Cicero avoids it well.
Cicero throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cicero lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A leg kick checked by Maniche.
Maniche throws a right and a left that Cicero avoids nicely.
Cicero ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maniche moves away.
Maniche misses with a left hand
and Cicero cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cicero lands with a kick to the ribs.
Maniche looks gassed!
Maniche swinging wildly here.
Cicero punishes Maniche's body with a nice straight punch.
Maniche lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Maniche misses with the combination.
Cicero looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Maniche on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Nice straight punches there by Cicero. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Cicero.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cicero throws a chopping leg kick but Maniche manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Maniche misses with a series of wild punches.
Sam Maniche seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maniche keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maniche looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cicero throws a front kick aimed at Maniche's knee but Maniche avoids it well.
Jab from Cicero.
Cicero wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Cicero looks to score with a jab to the body but Maniche is just out of range.
Cicero showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maniche.
Cicero misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cicero throws a push kick but Maniche slaps the foot to one side.
Maniche ducks under a wild hook from Cicero.
Maniche throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cicero lands with a thumping leg kick.
Maniche avoids the head kick by Cicero.
Maniche misses with the combination.
Maniche takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Maniche with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Maniche throws a nice head kick!
A telegraphed right hand from Cicero misses the target.
Maniche is looking to score with low kicks.
Maniche has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Cicero.
Maniche throws a head kick that Cicero semi-blocks.
Cicero lands with a thumping leg kick.
Maniche misses with a double jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maniche. Cicero does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cicero tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maniche was well out of range. Poor timing from Cicero.
Cicero ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Cicero moves into range and connects with a jab.
Maniche chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Cicero can pounce on him.
Maniche throws a leg kick
letting Cicero counter with a right hand.
Cicero misses with an attempted mid kick.
Cicero misses with a low kick.
A big left from Cicero misses.
Cicero is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Maniche moves into range and connects with a jab.
Cicero throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maniche swings for the body but Cicero moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maniche rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cicero moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Maniche avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Cicero connects with a jab.
Maniche with a nice cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Cicero dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sam Maniche's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cicero works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Maniche lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cicero circles away quickly and effectively.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maniche. Cicero does a little dance to reset his feet.
Maniche throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cicero lands a jab to the head.
Maniche lands a two punch combo.
Cicero misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maniche.
Maniche lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Cicero backs up against the cage.
Cicero throws a low kick but it's checked well by Maniche.
Maniche takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Cicero feints and then cracks Maniche's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maniche down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cicero steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maniche.
Maniche lands a nice hook to Cicero's body. Cicero takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A head kick misses from Cicero.
Maniche lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cicero throws a low kick, looking for Maniche's leg but Maniche calmly moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cicero.
Maniche gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Cicero.
Cicero lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Paul Cicero is winning the standup battle so far.
Cicero tries to land a leg kick but Maniche saw it coming and moves away.
Cicero scores with a leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Cicero misses the target.
Maniche swings for the body but Cicero moves out of range.
Cicero lands a nice leg kick that just misses Maniche's sensitive parts.
Maniche is breathing heavily.
Cicero works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Cicero fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maniche manages to avoid it.
Maniche throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maniche misses with a wild combination.
Maniche jabs Cicero to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cicero uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maniche.
Cicero moves out of range of the body kick from Maniche.
Cicero misses with an uppercut. Maniche saw that one coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Cicero, as that shot connected.
Cicero thows a body shot but no joy.
Maniche throws a sloppy head kick and Cicero moves out of range easily.
Cicero cracks Maniche with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Cicero scores with a crisp jab that stopped Maniche in his tracks.
Maniche throws a right hand that Cicero ducks under and follows up with a left that Cicero also avoids with ease.
Maniche pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Cicero throws the left hand but Maniche avoids the punch easily.
Maniche's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Cicero takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cicero looks to throw the jab but Maniche is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cicero bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Maniche's head backwards.
Maniche steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cicero.
Cicero throws a leg kick but Maniche checks it.
Sloppy strikes from Maniche. Those never looked like landing.
Nice defenses there by Maniche.
Cicero misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maniche.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cicero.
Cicero lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Cicero dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Maniche. That did some damage!
Cicero throws a low kick but Maniche moves out of range easily.
Cicero scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cicero lands with a nice body punch.
A slow jab from Maniche misses its intended target.
Maniche avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cicero throws a chopping leg kick but Maniche manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cicero lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Maniche at a distance.
Maniche misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cicero lands with a thumping leg kick.
A combination from Maniche does no damage.
Maniche blocks a low kick nicely.
Maniche ducks under a wild hook from Cicero.
Cicero scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Cicero scores with a leg kick.
Cicero throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Maniche stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Cicero throws a combination. Maniche tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cicero with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Cicero walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Maniche checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Cicero is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maniche.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Cicero dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sam Maniche's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Cicero dodges the punch combination from Maniche.
An inside leg kick lands from Maniche.
Cicero throws a hook but Maniche blocks it.
Cicero throws a jab when Maniche was well out of range.
Some wild striking there from Maniche.
Maniche motions for Cicero to come forward. Maniche throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Maniche lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Cicero connects with a leg kick. Maniche looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Cicero finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Cicero throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cicero paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sam Maniche is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maniche throws a series of punches but Cicero avoids them all with ease.
Maniche has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Cicero throws a nice outside leg kick.
Maniche takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maniche misses with the combination.
Maniche lands a jab.
Cicero lands a jab to the head.
Cicero cracks a nice hook into Maniche's ribs.
Cicero lands a nice shot that snaps Maniche's head back.
Cicero fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Maniche takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Cicero swings for the body but Maniche moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Maniche.
Maniche blocks a low kick nicely.
Maniche uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cicero.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cicero connects with a solid leg kick.
Maniche wants to land a leg kick but Cicero is out of range.
Maniche throws a big shot that misses.
Cicero scores with a nice head shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cicero throws an overhand right that lands on Maniche's shoulder, as Maniche tries to avoid the shot.
An inside leg kick from Cicero misses.
Cicero getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Cicero throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maniche throws a sloppy head kick and Cicero moves out of range easily.
Maniche keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maniche throws a right hand that Cicero ducks under and follows up with a left that Cicero also avoids with ease.
Cicero attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cicero lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Cicero scores with a nice head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cicero throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Maniche on the side of the head.
A big left from Maniche misses.
Cicero tries a low kick but Maniche avoids it.
Maniche connects with a body shot.
Maniche throws a leg kick but Cicero sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cicero throws a leg kick but Maniche checks it.
Maniche misses with a double jab.
Maniche lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cicero circles away quickly and effectively.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cicero.
Maniche on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Paul Cicero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cicero looks to land a combination but Maniche avoids it well.
Maniche throws a right hand that Cicero ducks under and follows up with a left that Cicero also avoids with ease.
Cicero fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Maniche is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maniche has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cicero finds it's way round the side to connect with Maniche's head.
Maniche fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maniche takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Maniche takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Cicero is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maniche can do to turn this around?
Maniche avoids the body shot from Cicero.
A clash of legs there as Maniche blocks the low kick.
Cicero cracks the inside of Maniche's front leg.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cicero slips a jab from Maniche.
Decent striking displayed by Cicero there.
A clash of legs there as Cicero blocks the low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maniche throws an off balance right hand
and Cicero counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Maniche thinking.
Maniche throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sam Maniche has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cicero thuds a left hand into Maniche's body.
Cicero dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Maniche. That did some damage!

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Cicero showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Cicero has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Cicero!