PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Donato Bilancia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chiku Maneno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chiku Maneno has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bilancia
vs
Maneno

175 cm
22
180 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

178 cm
23
177 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

GREEN!160
Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Donato Bilancia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chiku Maneno!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the body from Maneno misses

and Bilancia decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maneno's guard.
Maneno keeping full guard, as Bilancia tries to pass.
Maneno is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bilancia is controlling him.

Bilancia drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bilancia jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Bilancia is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Maneno is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Maneno has escaped and now he's on top!

Maneno postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bilancia working for submissions but it's allowed Maneno to get to half guard.
Maneno wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bilancia actively working from the bottom here.
Maneno tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Bilancia looking for submissions off his back.
Bilancia wants to get back to full guard.

Bilancia looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Maneno tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Bilancia tries to roll over but Maneno keeps him under control.

Bilancia looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Maneno wants to stand up but Bilancia is controlling the position.
Bilancia is looking for a sweep. Maneno is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Maneno is going to stand back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Maneno digs a good body shot into Bilancia's ribs.
Maneno has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Bilancia is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Maneno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bilancia looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Bilancia has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bilancia there as he acknowledges the shot.
Maneno keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Maneno connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bilancia's hands.

It looks like Donato Bilancia has been cut.
Nice uppercut lands for Maneno. That snapped Bilancia's head back.
Maneno throws a big shot that misses.
Maneno swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Bilancia counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bilancia.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bilancia tries to free his leg and advance position but Maneno is retaining full guard.

Bilancia drops back looking for a leg! Maneno is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Maneno manages to kick Bilancia off! Bilancia jumps back into Maneno's guard.
Bilancia looking to sit in guard and control but Maneno gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Maneno has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bilancia is proving hard to escape from.
Maneno really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bilancia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Bilancia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maneno wants to get up but he can't break Bilancia's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Bilancia is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Maneno has his hands clasped together but Bilancia extends and breaks Maneno's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Bilancia.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Donato Bilancia!
Donato Bilancia bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.