PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yamapi Chan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manu Speziale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chan comes to the cage accompanied by Ikenai Tayou. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Chan
vs
Speziale

171 cm
24
163 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

200 cm
24
181 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Dangerous knees
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yamapi Chan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Manu Speziale!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Winston Howard and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Chan clinches.
Chan jumps guard but Speziale stands there with Chan around his waist. Chan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Speziale manages to break the clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Speziale.
Speziale scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Chan tries to clinch but Speziale is having none of it.
Chan darts in trying to clinch
and Speziale counters with a good low kick that Chan was not able to check.
Chan tries to clinch up but Speziale circles away and keeps his distance.
Speziale scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Chan blocks a head kick by Speziale.
Chan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Chan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Speziale keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Speziale is looking for a sweep. Chan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Speziale won't allow Chan to pass to mount.
Speziale is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Speziale gets back to full guard.
Chan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Chan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Speziale pulls Chan in to control the position.

Chan thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Chan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Chan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Speziale is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Chan is controlling him.

Chan has gone for a leg lock! Speziale slips out almost immediately though and dives into Chan's guard.

Chan isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Speziale stacks Chan on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Speziale!
Chan tries to bench press Speziale off him but Speziale keeps the position.

Speziale is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Chan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Speziale stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Speziale. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Speziale.
Chan throws a sloppy head kick and Speziale moves out of range easily.
Chan tries to clinch up.
A head kick misses from Speziale.
Chan throws a lazy head kick
and Speziale counters with a series of strikes. Chan will be more careful next time no doubt.
Chan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Speziale manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Speziale lands a nice hook to Chan's body. Chan takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Chan throws a head kick that misses
and Speziale counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Speziale throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Speziale takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Manu Speziale has been cut.
Chan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Speziale misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Speziale delivers a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chan drops his hands momentarily and Speziale takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Speziale misses with a head kick.
Speziale is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Speziale misses with a wild combination.
Speziale throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Speziale throws a series of punches but Chan avoids them all with ease.
Chan takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Chan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Speziale pinned against the cage. Speziale gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yamapi Chan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good standup being displayed there by Speziale as he connects with a hook.

Chan drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Chan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Chan is breathing heavily.
Speziale preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Speziale is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Speziale is trying to control the position but Chan postures up.
Chan stopping the sweep attempt from Speziale.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Speziale keeping full guard, as Chan tries to pass.
Speziale looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chan is one step ahead there.
Speziale keeping moving, preventing Chan from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Speziale misses with a head kick.
Chan blocks a head kick by Speziale.
Speziale scores with the left hand. Chan knows he should have avoided that one.
Speziale is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick misses from Chan.
Speziale tries a head kick but it misses.
Speziale throws a quick inside leg kick.
Chan tries to clinch there but Speziale circles away.
Chan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Speziale sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Speziale dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Manu Speziale'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.

Chan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Chan has his takedown stuffed
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Good leg kick by Speziale there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Speziale scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Speziale scores with a hook.
Manu Speziale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Chan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Speziale is trying to control Chan's posture but Chan avoids it.
Chan throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Speziale is looking to regain half guard here but Chan keeps moving and retains side control.

Chan tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Chan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Speziale knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Chan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Speziale knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chan working away.

Chan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Speziale, who protects the arm well.
Speziale is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Chan's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Speziale is looking to control Chan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Speziale avoid being mounted?
Speziale pushes Chan off looking to stand but Chan dives back in and keeps control.
Chan is trying to control. Speziale wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Chan has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Speziale is looking to improve his position but Chan isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Chan trying to control but Speziale is having none of it.
Chan misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Chan thowing shots but they're missing.
Chan wants to take his opponent's back but Speziale doesn't allow it.
Chan lands a nice shot to the head.
Speziale is trying to escape the mount.
Speziale wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Chan.
Speziale blocking the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speziale tries to hold on but Chan pushes him away.
Speziale really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Chan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Chan has control of Speziale's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Speziale regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Speziale prevents Chan from taking his back.

Chan looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Chan throws some wild stikes that Speziale manages to avoid easily.

Speziale bucks up and throws Chan to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Chan moves in looking to clinch but Speziale pushes him off.
Chan takes a jab right on the kisser.
Speziale changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Chan shoots for a double leg takedown but Speziale sprawls well. He's pushed Chan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Chan wants to clinch but Speziale slips to the side
and Speziale counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Speziale scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Speziale motions for Chan to come forward. Speziale throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Speziale stalks Chan and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Chan's face. Chan staggers backwards, shaken.
Speziale scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A combination from Speziale does no damage.
Chan on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Chan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Speziale moves away.
Speziale bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Chan's head.
Chan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Chan walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Speziale has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Speziale misses with the combination.
Chan fails with an attempt to clinch.
A left lands for Chan.
Chan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Speziale counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yamapi Chan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chan blocks a head kick by Speziale.
Speziale feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Chans jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Speziale takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
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!
Speziale looks to land a combination but Chan avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Manu Speziale will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Manu Speziale's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Speziale displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Speziale lands a head kick!
Speziale looks to land a combination. Chan sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Chan shoots in looking for a takedown. Speziale tries to sprawl out of it but Chan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Speziale manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Manu Speziale seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Speziale scores with a nice strike.
Speziale throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Chan avoids the head kick by Speziale.
Chan throws a sloppy head kick and Speziale moves out of range easily.
Chan tries to clinch but Speziale moves out of range.
Chan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Speziale swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Chan misses with a hook
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Chan throws a sloppy head kick
and Speziale counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Chan on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Speziale rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Chan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Chan blocks a head kick by Speziale.
Chan is looking to clinch but Speziale is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chan walks into a straight right hand from Speziale.
Speziale lands a nice looking body shot.

Chan looking to score a takedown here. Speziale is defending well but Chan drives through and ends up in Speziale's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Speziale has his hands on Chan's head, controlling the position.
Speziale looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Yamapi Chan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Speziale keeping moving, preventing Chan from controlling successfully.
Speziale looking to control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Chan missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Chan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Speziale is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Speziale might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Chan kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Manu Speziale hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Chan throws a lazy uppercut
and Speziale connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Chan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chan ducks right into an uppercut from Speziale.
Chan moves in looking to clinch but Speziale pushes him off.
Speziale tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Speziale lands a nice looking kick to the body. Chan takes a step back to recover.
Speziale moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Speziale lands with a thumping leg kick.
Speziale scores with a leg kick.
Chan throws a head kick but Speziale moves out of range.
Chan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Speziale avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yamapi Chan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chan on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Speziale. Speziale obviously looking to wear him down.
Chan throws a leg kick but Speziale checks it.
Speziale ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Speziale lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chan takes one on the button.
Speziale stuffs the takedown attempt from Chan. Chan gets slowly back to his feet.
Speziale looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Chan wants to clinch but Speziale slips to the side
and Speziale counters with a straight right hand.
Speziale tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Chan takes a kick to the side of the head.
Chan pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Speziale connects with a high kick.
Speziale moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Speziale misses with an attempted mid kick.
Speziale lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Chan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Speziale with a nice cross.
Chan with a poor takedown
and Speziale counters with a straight right hand.
Chan misses with a double jab
and Speziale counters with a good, hard body kick but Chan shrugs it off.
Speziale stalks Chan and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Chan's face. Chan staggers backwards, shaken.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Speziale jabs Chan to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Chan avoids the head kick by Speziale.
Speziale lands a head kick. Chan smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Yamapi Chan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Speziale. Chan shrugs it off though.
Speziale scores with a nice head shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Speziale pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Chan back to the cage. Speziale follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Nice jab there from Speziale.
Speziale tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Speziale explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Speziale misses with a head kick.
Chan will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Chan moves in looking to clinch but Speziale pushes him off.
Speziale fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Chan.
Manu Speziale is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Speziale throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A head kick from Speziale lands but Chan takes it in his stride.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A clash of legs there as Speziale blocks the low kick.
A punch combination from Speziale misses.
Chan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Speziale counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Chan is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Manu Speziale is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Speziale sizes up Chan with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manu Speziale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Speziale winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manu Speziale!