PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cheik Imbula (ranked 111 p4p, 17 weight class) and Chiku Maneno (ranked 224 p4p, 33 weight class). Imbula's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, ~Apache~. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Imbula
vs
Maneno

185 cm
25
180 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

178 cm
33
177 lbs
29 - 15 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Aspire Clothing

Fanatic Inc.
IniTech Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cheik Imbula!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chiku Maneno!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Imbula closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Imbula manages to avoid it.
Imbula was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Imbula manages to avoid it.
Imbula is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Maneno cracks a nice hook into Imbula's ribs.
Maneno lands a body shot.
Imbula is looking to chop away at Maneno's legs.
Imbula scores with a body shot.
Imbula throws a head kick that misses.
Maneno scores with a punch to the head.
Maneno steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Imbula.
Imbula has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Imbula lands with an overhand left.
Chiku Maneno seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Imbula does it's job there.
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!
Imbula throws a body punch but Maneno moves out of range.
Maneno tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Imbula was well out of range. Poor timing from Maneno.
Imbula swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Maneno wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imbula throws a body kick that misses
and Maneno counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Imbula fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Imbula misses the target.
Maneno getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Maneno is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Imbula rather than just go for the knockout.
Imbula moves forwards but Maneno connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Maneno misses with a wild body shot.
Imbula thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maneno throws the left hand but Imbula avoids the punch easily.
Maneno looks to throw the jab but Imbula is out of range.
Nice jab there from Imbula.
Imbula throws a sloppy body shot
and Maneno counters with a straight right hand.
A big left from Maneno misses.
Maneno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Imbula takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Imbula manages to avoid it.
Maneno throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maneno blocks a leg kick.
Maneno misses with a body shot.
Maneno blocks a low kick nicely.
Imbula shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Imbula rushes Maneno and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Imbula lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Imbula fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Imbula misses with a punch on the inside.
Imbula tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Imbula tries a body shot but Maneno blocks it.
Imbula tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Imbula tries to throw a body punch but Maneno avoids it by throwing Imbula back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Imbula fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imbula lands an uppercut.
Imbula jumps guard but Maneno turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Maneno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters circling a little - Imbula finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Imbula chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Maneno misses with an uppercut

and Imbula counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Imbula tries to work over Maneno's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Imbula throws a head punch that misses.
Imbula fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Imbula stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Maneno manages to break the clinch.
Maneno swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Maneno moves out of range of the body kick from Imbula.
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.
Imbula looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Maneno takes a swing at Imbula's ribcage but misses.
A little feinted left hand from Imbula on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Maneno misses the body punch
and Imbula counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Imbula tries to move into range but Maneno moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Maneno takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Maneno avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Imbula throws a half hearted mid kick.
Imbula swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maneno is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Imbula with a body shot.
Maneno slips a straight right by Imbula.
Imbula slips a straight right by Maneno.
Maneno connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Imbula slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Maneno pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maneno lands an overhand right.
Maneno is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Imbula had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maneno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
An attempted straight right counter from Imbula misses the target.
Imbula misses with a body kick.
A little jabbing left from Maneno on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Maneno ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Imbula moves away.
Imbula misses with a low kick.
Maneno fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Imbula on the side of the head.
Maneno lunges at Imbula with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Imbula's hand.

Imbula is rocked!
Imbula ducks under a wild hook from Maneno.
Oh Imbula is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Imbula lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Maneno backs up against the cage.

It looks like Chiku Maneno has been cut.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Maneno crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Imbula - the referee stops the clock and Maneno gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Imbula. Maneno manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Imbula seems to have got his legs back now.
Imbula misses with a low kick.
Imbula has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Imbula there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nice shot lands for Maneno.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maneno thuds a left hand into Imbula's body.
Maneno has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Maneno throws out a powerful jab.
Imbula uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maneno.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imbula takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Chiku Maneno seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Maneno throws a jab when Imbula was well out of range.
Maneno lands with a straight right. Imbula didn't see that one coming.
Imbula takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Maneno misses with a body shot.
Maneno scores with a jab.
Maneno looks to score with a jab to the body but Imbula is just out of range.
Imbula appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Maneno has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Maneno shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maneno. Imbula does a little dance to reset his feet.
A slow jab from Imbula misses its intended target.
Maneno throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Imbula sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Maneno takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Maneno lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.
Imbula listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A decent looking cross lands there for Maneno.
Maneno misses with an uppercut
and Imbula counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Maneno rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Imbula counters with a nice uppercut.
Imbula misses the jab.
Maneno looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Imbula lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Imbula lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Imbula thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Maneno if he has to take too many more of those.
A jab from Maneno misses.
Donk. Imbula catches Maneno right on the button with a cross.
Imbula uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maneno.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imbula dips to his left and cracks Maneno with an uppercut!
Maneno misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Imbula.
Maneno stuns Imbula with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Imbula takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Maneno staying out of range there.
A little jabbing left from Maneno on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Maneno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A big right from Imbula misses.
A jab from Imbula misses.
Maneno connects with a single shot there.
Imbula walks into a left hand.
Imbula misses with a lunging right hand
and Maneno counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Imbula tries a low kick but Maneno avoids it.
Maneno let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Imbula throws the left hand but Maneno avoids the punch easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imbula slips a straight right by Maneno.
Maneno cracks Imbula with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maneno takes a swing at Imbula's ribcage but misses.
Imbula moves out of range of the strikes.
Imbula swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Maneno swings for the body but Imbula moves out of range.
Maneno misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Imbula counters with a nice uppercut.
Maneno connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Maneno looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Imbula misses the target.
Maneno throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Maneno takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Imbula takes the fight into the clinch.
Maneno wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chiku Maneno will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Chiku Maneno'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 throws a predictable looking body shot
and Imbula counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Maneno thinking.
Maneno fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Imbula. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Imbula.
Maneno looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Imbula staying out of range there.
Imbula tests Maneno's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Imbula is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maneno.
A countering left hand to the body from Maneno misses.
Imbula lands with a right hand.

Maneno is rocked!
Imbula steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maneno.
Imbula throws a quick inside leg kick.
Maneno lands a really nice looking cross but Imbula seems unphased.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maneno ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice shot lands for Maneno.
Imbula looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maneno moves out of range of the strikes.
Maneno waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Imbula.
Maneno misses with a wild body shot.
Imbula throws a leg kick but Maneno sees it coming and moves out of range.
Imbula moves out of range of the strikes.
Imbula pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maneno sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A good leg kick by Imbula.
Imbula moves away from the strike by Maneno.
Imbula takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Maneno lands a right hook to the body.
Imbula throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Maneno does it's job there.
Maneno throws an off balance right hand
and Imbula counters with a left to the body.
Maneno moves out of range as Imbula throws a body kick.
Maneno throws a body punch but Imbula moves out of range.
Imbula was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maneno connects with a body shot that sends Imbula's belly button to the back.
Imbula moves forwards but Maneno connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Maneno throws a body punch but Imbula moves out of range.
Maneno lands a head shot.
Maneno lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Maneno moves out of range as Imbula strikes.
Imbula ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It looked like Imbula was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Maneno.
Jab, jab by Imbula - just one landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maneno misses with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maneno. Imbula does a little dance to reset his feet.
Imbula throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Imbula on the wrong end of a nice jab.
BOOM! Maneno lands a beautiful left hook that drops Imbula. Imbula tries to recover but Maneno is having none of it, landing more punishing shots from mount. One final crushing shot and Imbula lies motionless on the canvas. The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chiku Maneno!
Chiku Maneno is the new welterweight champion!
Chiku Maneno seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.