PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Amp (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chiku Maneno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Amp
vs
Maneno

182 cm
25
182 lbs
13 - 3 - 1

178 cm
24
177 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
V-Mask Clothing (10%)

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 13 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michael Amp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chiku Maneno!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paulsen Ambrosius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maneno takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Amp lands with a nice body kick.
Maneno avoids the body shot from Amp.
Amp fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maneno manages to avoid it.
A jab from Maneno misses.
Maneno misses with a body shot.
Amp is looking to counter punch.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.
Maneno looks to land a right hand but Amp moved out of range.
Maneno throws a body punch but Amp moves out of range.
Maneno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've been told by Amp's head coaches at Sanitarium that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Amp moves into the clinch.
Maneno looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Amp working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maneno wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Amp has him pressed against the cage.
Amp scores with a nice hook to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Amp.
A head punch on the inside from Amp fails to land.

Maneno's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maneno scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maneno looks to score with a jab to the body but Amp is just out of range.
Amp throws the kick towards the body but Maneno avoids it.
A jab from Maneno misses.
Maneno thuds a left hand into Amp's body.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.
A lazy left from Maneno finds it's target.
Amp throws a jab when Maneno was well out of range.
Maneno swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Maneno is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Amp rather than just go for the knockout.
Maneno lands a nice shot that snaps Amp's head back.
Amp slips under a jab.
An attempted straight right counter from Amp misses the target.
A head kick misses from Amp.
Maneno swats away the attempt to clinch by Amp.
Maneno bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Maneno avoids the head kick by Amp.
Maneno throws out a counter right but Amp avoids it with no problem.
A shot to the liver by Amp. Beautiful body shot.
The fighters circling - Maneno throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Amp manages to avoid it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Maneno, as that shot connected.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice defenses there by Maneno.
Amp changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Amp closes the distance and clinches.
Amp keeps control of Maneno as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Amp keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maneno's efforts to push away.

Maneno breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Amp forces Maneno back against the cage and clinches.
Amp tries a body shot but Maneno blocks it.
Maneno has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Amp misses with a punch to the body.
Maneno is trying to break free.
Maneno has had enough of the clinch but Amp keeps him there for the moment.
Maneno is looking to break free of the clinch but Amp has double underhooks.
Maneno is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Maneno's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amp throws the left hand but Maneno avoids the punch easily.
Maneno ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Maneno's corner calls for a 1-2. Maneno obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Amp throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Maneno's head.
Amp uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maneno.
Maneno scores with a nice right hand.

It looks like Michael Amp has been cut.
Amp throws a series of punches but Maneno avoids them all with ease.
Maneno looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Amp staying out of range there.
Maneno comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Amp throws a poor cross that misses
and Maneno counters with a nice uppercut.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.
Maneno looks to throw the jab but Amp is out of range.
Amp scores with a head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Amp manages to avoid it.
Amp is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amp missing with a left hand there. Maneno was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A slow jab from Amp misses its intended target.
Amp uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maneno.
Maneno scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Amp is rocked!
Maneno works Amp's body with a nice hook.
Amp misses with a wild body shot.
Amp scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Maneno is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Amp.
Amp is looking to clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Amp.
Maneno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Amp went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Maneno gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Maneno moves out of range of the body kick from Amp.
Maneno fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Some wild striking there from Amp.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Chiku Maneno will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michael Amp'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.

Maneno tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Amp was well out of range. Poor timing from Maneno.
Amp misses the body punch
and Maneno counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Maneno lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Oh Amp is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Maneno tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Amp was well out of range. Poor timing from Maneno.
Amp seems to have got his legs back now.
Amp throws a sloppy head kick and Maneno moves out of range easily.
Maneno looks to score with a jab to the body but Amp is just out of range.
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.
Maneno swings for the body but Amp moves out of range.
Maneno misses the body punch
and Amp connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Amp misses with a wild body shot.
Maneno let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Amp scores with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Amp closes the distance and clinches.
Maneno wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Amp has him pressed against the cage.
Maneno is trying to force a seperation but Amp has the dominant position.
Maneno can't break the clinch.
Amp pushes Maneno back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Amp tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maneno is trying to push Amp away but Amp has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Amp stalling in the clinch but Maneno improves position.
A hook to the body from Amp.

Maneno breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maneno blocks the body kick.
A jab from Maneno misses.
Maneno loads up on a big right hand but Amp slips the punch.
Maneno scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Amp doesn't seem bothered though.
Maneno throws a hook to the side of Amp's head but Amp sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maneno blocks a head kick by Amp.
Maneno throws an overhand right that lands on Amp's shoulder, as Amp tries to avoid the shot.
Maneno steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Amp. That one must have hurt.

Amp has Maneno up against the cage in a clinch.
Maneno looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Amp tries to work over Maneno's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maneno is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Amp is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A hook to the body from Amp.

Amp breaks from the clinch.
A cross from Amp lands.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.
Maneno throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Amp sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Amp lands a jab to the nose.
Maneno lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Maneno misses with a lunging right hand
and Amp counters with a head kick. That will keep Maneno thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Amp staying out of range there.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Amp tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maneno manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Maneno walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Amp fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Maneno misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amp uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Maneno.
Amp is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Maneno.
Maneno misses with a body shot.
Amp seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Amp throws a push kick but Maneno slaps the foot to one side.
Amp thuds his right hand into Maneno's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Amp misses with a two punch combination.
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.
Maneno misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Amp.
Maneno moves out of range of the strikes.
A jab from Maneno finds it's way through Amp's defenses.
Maneno throws a hook to the side of Amp's head but Amp sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Chiku Maneno seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A swing and a miss from Maneno.
Amp scoring well with a low kick there.
Maneno swings for the body but Amp moves out of range.
Amp tried to counter with a leg kick but Maneno avoided it.
Some wild striking there from Amp.
Maneno looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maneno changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Amp.
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!
Maneno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maneno swings for the body but Amp moves out of range.
Maneno misses with a body shot
and Amp counters with a thumping low kick.
Maneno throws a shot from downtown. Amp moves away and avoids it.
Amp uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maneno.
A quick step to the side and Amp tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maneno avoids a kick to the body.
Amp 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 looping hook to the body misses from Maneno. Amp does a little dance to reset his feet.
Amp tries to counter by clinching up but Maneno breaks away and moves out of range.
Amp ducks under a wild hook from Maneno.
Nice shot by Amp.
Amp works over Maneno's head and body with a nice combination.
Maneno lands a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Amp dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael Amp's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Amp feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Maneno's calf.
Maneno cracks Amp with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Amp tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Maneno pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Amp is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:12 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chiku Maneno!
Chiku Maneno seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.