PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gabe Manuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Choo Xiao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manuel comes to the cage accompanied by Violent Femmes- Blister In the Sun. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Manuel
vs
Xiao

168 cm
25
145 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

173 cm
20
140 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gabe Manuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Choo Xiao!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xiao avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Xiao misses the target.
Manuel takes a swing at Xiao's ribcage but misses.
Manuel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Manuel misses with a wild body shot.
Manuel misses with an uppercut.
Manuel misses the shot to the body.
Manuel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manuel does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A left and a right from Xiao both land. Nice combination.
Manuel fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

It looks like Choo Xiao has been cut.
Manuel throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Xiao counter with a right hand.
Xiao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Manuel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Manuel thows a body shot but no joy.
Manuel just misses with a punch to the body.
Xiao moves in looking to clinch but Manuel pushes him off.
A slow jab from Manuel misses its intended target.
Manuel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Xiao. That did some damage!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Manuel throws a head kick but Xiao moves out of range.
Manuel closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Manuel slips a jab from Xiao.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Manuel, as that shot connected.
Manuel misses with a double jab
and Xiao counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Xiao tries to bum rush Manuel with a series of wild strikes but Manuel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Xiao avoids the head kick by Manuel.
Manuel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Manuel throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Manuel waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Xiao.
Manuel misses with a wild body shot.
Xiao thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice defenses there by Xiao.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Xiao's calf.
Manuel takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Manuel is looking to wear down Xiao with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Xiao slips under a jab from Manuel.
Xiao circles away from the clinch attempt
and Xiao counters with a straight right hand.
Manuel lands with a nice body punch.
Xiao tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Manuel counter with a right hand.
Manuel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Xiao throws out the jab.
A combination from Xiao does no damage.
Manuel throws a low kick, looking for Xiao's leg but Xiao calmly moves out of range.
Xiao tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Manuel paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Xiao tries to clinch there but Manuel circles away.
Manuel throws a low kick but Xiao avoids it.
Xiao checks the leg kick.
Manuel misses with the combination.
Xiao blocks a head kick by Manuel.
Manuel slips a straight right by Xiao.
Manuel avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Xiao checks the leg kick.
Manuel misses with a series of wild punches.
Xiao throws a body kick the misses

and Manuel counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Manuel has a couple of punches blocked by Xiao.
Manuel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Xiao.
Xiao throws an elbow that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Xiao.
Xiao misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel tries to pull guard but Xiao holds him up against the cage and eventually Manuel drops back down to his feet.
Manuel manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A short body shot lands from Manuel as the two fighters clinch.
Manuel takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Gabe Manuel has been cut.
Manuel is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Xiao is keeping busy.
With the fighters up against the cage, Xiao throws an elbow but misses.
Xiao lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Manuel blocks an elbow strike from Xiao.
Manuel throws a punch but it's blocked by Xiao.
Manuel lands a body punch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Xiao.
Manuel lands a nice shot to the body.
Manuel's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Manuel landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Manuel throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Xiao tries to land a knee to the head but Manuel blocks with his arms.
Manuel lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Xiao or not.
Stalling in the clinch from Manuel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe Manuel dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Manuel throws a left and a right that both miss
and Xiao cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Manuel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Xiao throws out the jab.
Manuel moves out of range of the strikes.
Manuel explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Xiao tries to clinch but Manuel moves out of range.

Xiao instigates a clinch.
Xiao prevents a takedown attempt there.
Xiao blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Xiao misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manuel.
Manuel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Xiao blocks it with crossed arms.
Xiao tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Manuel connects with a knee to the head.
Xiao trying to land knees to the body.
Manuel pushes Xiao back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Manuel.
Manuel tries to break the clinch but Xiao is controlling the position.
Xiao misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manuel.
Xiao throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from Manuel.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiao lands an elbow inside.
Xiao is breathing heavily.
Manuel lands a knee to the head.
Xiao throws an elbow but it misses.
Nice body punch from Manuel.
Xiao's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Xiao comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Xiao misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manuel.
Xiao putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Manuel in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Manuel turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Manuel manages to end up in side control.
Manuel working away.
Manuel wants to control but Xiao is keeping him busy.
Manuel just content to control the position.
Manuel misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manuel tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Manuel trying to control the position but Xiao is working away.
Xiao is trying to get back to his feet.
Manuel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Xiao keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Xiao misses with a two punch combination.
Xiao defending well as Manuel loads up on a big left hand.
Manuel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Xiao as he avoids it easily.
Xiao is looking to clinch but Manuel is avoiding it.
Manuel takes a swing at Xiao's ribcage but misses.
Manuel throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Manuel throws a hook but Xiao blocks it.
Xiao throws a left and a right that both miss
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Manuel tries to clinch up.
Manuel throws a leg kick but Xiao sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Xiao misses with a series of wild punches.
Xiao looks to land a left hand but Manuel moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Manuel lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Manuel.
Xiao looks to land a left hand but Manuel moved out of range nicely.
Xiao misses with a double jab
and Manuel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gabe Manuel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xiao lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Xiao.
Manuel wants to clinch.
Manuel moves out of range of the body kick.
Manuel motions for Xiao to come forward. Manuel throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Manuel works the jab nicely.
Manuel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Xiao lands a nice shot that snaps Manuel's head back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabe Manuel dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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. This is the final round!

Xiao leaves Manuel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Manuel lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Xiao has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Xiao and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Xiao is looking to chop away at Manuel's legs.
Manuel thumps Xiao with a low kick.
Manuel misses with a kick to the body.
Xiao bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Xiao connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Xiao throws a right and a left that Manuel avoids nicely.
Xiao moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Manuel throws and low kick but Xiao moves out of range easily.
Xiao moves into range and connects with a jab.

Manuel gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiao with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Manuel blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Manuel.
Manuel managing to block the knees to the body from Xiao.
Xiao tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Manuel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Xiao is looking to clinch.
Manuel looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Xiao tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Manuel scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Xiao closes the distance but Manuel moves to the side
and Manuel counters with a nice uppercut.
Xiao wants to clinch up but Manuel keeps it at a distance.
Manuel lands with a straight right. Xiao didn't see that one coming.
A big left from Xiao misses.
Choo Xiao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Manuel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Xiao moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Choo Xiao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel lands with an uppercut that bounces Xiao off the cage and back into rage.
Manuel falls off balance throwing a combination
and Manuel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Xiao closes the distance but Manuel moves to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Xiao tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Manuel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Xiao looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Manuel misses with a body shot.
Manuel scores with a hook to the body. Xiao takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Xiao takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Xiao checks a leg kick.
Xiao misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Gabe Manuel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice defenses there by Manuel.
Xiao wants to land a leg kick but Manuel is out of range.
Manuel misses with a jab to the body
and Xiao counters with a three punch combo that has Manuel backing up. Manuel nods at Xiao to acknowledge the strikes.
Manuel lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Xiao darts in and clinches Manuel up against the cage.

Manuel breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Manuel wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Crunch! Manuel slams his shin into Xiao's torso.
Manuel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Xiao manages to avoid it.
Manuel connects with a solid leg kick.
Manuel throws a low kick but Xiao avoids it.
Xiao's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Xiao duly obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xiao takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Xiao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Manuel shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Xiao is trying to defend but Manuel finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Manuel wants to pass to mount but Xiao is defending the position.
Manuel content to control rather than advance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabe Manuel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Manuel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabe Manuel!