PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Karim Chamakh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chamakh's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Robyn - Indestructible. McManus has chosen Jeff Danna - 'The Blood of Cú Chulainn' as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Chamakh
vs
McManus

168 cm
37
159 lbs
39 - 19 - 6

177 cm
32
167 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 39 - 19 - 6, fighting out of Helsinki, Karim Chamakh!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Connor McManus!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chamakh gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McManus.
The fighters circle momentarily. McManus darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

It looks like Karim Chamakh has been cut.
McManus swings away with a body shot that misses

and Chamakh counters with a shoot takedown. McManus fights it but they end up in guard.
McManus utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Chamakh avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Chamakh connects with a couple of short punches.

McManus throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chamakh in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McManus trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as McManus holds on and takes a little breather.
McManus doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

McManus is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Chamakh is aware though and is defending well.
Chamakh stands up over McManus, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
McManus is trying to control the position but Chamakh postures up.
Chamakh postures up in McManus's guard and throws a big left but McManus blocks it.

Chamakh avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McManus working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Chamakh avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chamakh lands a couple of elbows.
Chamakh is working McManus over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Chamakh trying to control the position from guard on top but McManus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chamakh prevents McManus from getting back to his feet.
McManus is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Chamakh wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chamakh moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
McManus slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
McManus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chamakh is keeping the position for now.
McManus missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McManus sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Chamakh's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McManus seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Chamakh does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McManus throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McManus wants to pass the guard but Chamakh is defending well.
Chamakh is looking to improve his position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
McManus throws a poor cross that misses

and Chamakh counters by moving into the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chamakh is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Chamakh stalls.
A battle for position here, 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 Karim Chamakh will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Karim Chamakh's cut.
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.

McManus throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Chamakh counters with a takedown into side control.
Chamakh creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
McManus holding on.
McManus takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Chamakh creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
McManus is looking to regain half guard here but Chamakh keeps moving and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A control attempt from McManus but he's now mounted!
McManus really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chamakh working the ground and pound effectively.
Chamakh connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
A nice elbow there by Chamakh.
Chamakh lands a big elbow.
Chamakh unloading with bombs!

McManus is rocked!
Chamakh unloads with some vicious shots from mount and McManus wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Chamakh celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Karim Chamakh!
Karim Chamakh is the new lightweight champion!