PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mat Diaz (ranked 778 p4p, 114 weight class) and Chiku Maneno (ranked 689 p4p, 102 weight class). Diaz comes into the arena with I Got Five On It blaring out of the sound system. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Diaz
vs
Maneno

180 cm
36
184 lbs
22 - 13 - 0

178 cm
41
177 lbs
46 - 30 - 3

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Conviction

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 22 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mat Diaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 46 - 30 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chiku Maneno!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jorge Garcia and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maneno lands a nice shot that snaps Diaz's head back.

It looks like Mat Diaz has been cut.
Maneno stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.
A lazy left from Diaz finds it's target.
Maneno throws a body punch but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz is looking to counter with head kicks.
Maneno ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Diaz moves away.
Maneno moves away from the strike by Diaz.
Diaz looks to score with a jab to the body but Maneno is just out of range.
The fighters circling - Maneno throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Diaz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maneno moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Diaz is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maneno.
Maneno misses with a hook
and Diaz counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Maneno thinking.

Diaz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maneno is trying to break free.
Maneno wants to break the clinch but can't.
Maneno wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Diaz tries to throw a body punch but Maneno avoids it by throwing Diaz back against the cage.
Diaz throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Manenos head.
Diaz has Maneno pressed against the cage, preventing Maneno from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've been hearing reports that Diaz has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maneno is trying to push Diaz away but Diaz has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Maneno wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz has Maneno pressed against the cage, preventing Maneno from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Maneno is trying to break free.
Diaz lands an uppercut.
Diaz misses with a punch to the body.

Maneno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Maneno punishes Diaz's body with a nice straight punch.
Diaz moves into range and connects with a jab.
Maneno takes a swing at Diaz's ribcage but misses.
Diaz swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A nice combination there by Diaz.

It looks like Chiku Maneno has been cut.
Maneno catches Diaz with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Diaz is rocked!
A slow jab from Maneno misses its intended target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maneno misses with a straight right.
Diaz changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maneno tries to avoid it but Diaz manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maneno to the ground. Maneno escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Maneno.
Diaz lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz misses with a straight right.
Mat Diaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Diaz takes one to the side of the head.
Maneno misses with a looping right.
Maneno bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Diaz throws a sloppy head kick
and Maneno makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Chiku Maneno is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Diaz throws a right and a left that Maneno avoids nicely.
Maneno let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Maneno scores with a jab to the jaw.
Diaz uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maneno.
Maneno scores with a jab to the body.
Maneno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maneno misses with a body shot.
Maneno misses with a wild body shot.
Maneno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Diaz manages to avoid it.
A jab lands there for Diaz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz punishes Maneno's body with a nice straight punch.
Maneno scores with a hook to the body. Diaz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Maneno misses with a right hand
and Diaz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Diaz lands with a hook. Maneno tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Maneno takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Maneno is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Diaz rather than just go for the knockout.
Maneno throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maneno swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Diaz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maneno moves away.
Maneno fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Diaz takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Maneno waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Diaz.
Maneno throws a hook but Diaz avoids it easily.
Maneno takes one to the chin there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A slow jab from Maneno misses its intended target.
Diaz thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maneno avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.

Maneno gets caught napping as Diaz dives in and scores a takedown. Maneno manages to retain guard.
Diaz wants to control from the top but Maneno keeps moving.
Diaz is really struggling to control Maneno but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Diaz prevents Maneno from getting back to his feet.
Diaz lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diaz trying to control but Maneno is working from the bottom.
Maneno wants to stand and escape but Diaz is having none of it.
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 Mat Diaz will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Diaz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Maneno throws out a counter right but Diaz avoids it with no problem.
Maneno darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Good shot there by Diaz.
Diaz slips a straight right by Maneno.
Diaz throwing a counter right hand but Maneno manages to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Diaz.
Maneno with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Diaz to score with a decent uppercut.
Maneno is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Diaz.
Maneno looks to land a left hand but Diaz moved out of range nicely.
Nice uppercut there from Diaz.
Maneno lands with an overhand left.
Diaz lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Maneno tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Diaz was well out of range. Poor timing from Maneno.
Diaz is looking for a counter combo.
Diaz shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maneno counters with a stiff right hand.
Oh Diaz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
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!
Diaz swings for the body but Maneno moves out of range.
Diaz seems to have got his legs back now.
Maneno throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maneno connects with a nice looking jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Maneno as he jumps to the side.
Diaz avoids the body shot from Maneno.
A jab lands there for Diaz.
Diaz takes a swing at Maneno's ribcage but misses.
Chiku Maneno seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Diaz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Diaz swings for the body but Maneno moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Maneno on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Diaz gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Diaz cracks Maneno with a good jab.
Maneno misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Maneno takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Maneno throws a body punch but Diaz moves out of range.
Maneno scores with a body shot.
Diaz throws out a loose jab but Maneno uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maneno fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Diaz looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Diaz lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maneno changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maneno swings for the body but Diaz moves out of range.
Maneno defending well as Diaz loads up on a big left hand.
Diaz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Diaz lands a nice shot to the body.
Maneno digs a good hook to Diaz's body.
Diaz shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Diaz shoots for a double leg takedown but Maneno sprawls well. He's pushed Diaz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mat Diaz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maneno thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maneno uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Diaz has time to react.
Maneno throws a lazy right hand but Diaz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maneno misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Diaz.
Jab by Diaz.
Diaz dips to his left and cracks Maneno with an uppercut!
Diaz staying out of range there.
A big right from Diaz misses.
It seemed like Maneno was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maneno wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Diaz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Maneno! But no joy.
Diaz throws a shot to the body.
Diaz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Diaz there as he acknowledges the shot.
Maneno changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Maneno throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Maneno drops Diaz with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Diaz! Maneno dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Chiku Maneno!
Chiku Maneno thanked the fans post fight for their support.