PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Toshihiro Kai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Manuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manuel has chosen Lay Low as his entrance music. Toshihiro Kai has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kai
vs
Manuel

215 cm
23
157 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

172 cm
29
155 lbs
16 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Toshihiro Kai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Manuel!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kai scores with a jab to the head.
Kai misses with a straight left.
Manuel moves forwards but Kai connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Manuel closes the distance and pushes Kai back into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Kai fails to land.
Manuel lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kai lands a nice shot to the body.
Manuel presses Kai against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Manuel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kai.
Kai prevents a body shot from Manuel.
Manuel throws a punch but it's blocked by Kai.
Kai swings wildly with an uppercut but Manuel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Manuel prevents a body shot from Kai.
Manuel works on Kai's body with a couple of short punches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kai lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kai prevents a body shot from Manuel.
Manuel blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kai.
Manuel unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Manuel tries to stall but Kai uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kai swings wildly with an uppercut but Manuel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Manuel jumps guard but Kai stands there with Manuel around his waist. Manuel gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Manuel can't find room to land a body shot as Kai controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kai lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kai lands a right hand.
Manuel presses Kai against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kai creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Manuel misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Manuel putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kai in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kai really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kai is breathing heavily.
Manuel takes a shot to the head.
Manuel is trying to maintain a safe position but Kai gets an underhook and turns Manuel into the cage.
Manuel works on Kai's body with a couple of short punches.
A short uppercut from Manuel.
Kai scores with a hook to the body.
Manuel avoiding damage.
Kai digs a right hand underneath Manuel's ribcage. Manuel let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Manuel missing with knees to the body.
Manuel struggles to land a body shot inside as Kai controls his hands.
Manuel lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A body shot lands from Manuel.
Manuel is stalling here.
Kai misses with some punches.
Manuel takes a shot to the head.
Manuel misses with a body punch.
Manuel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Manuel is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Manuel tries to throw a body punch but Kai avoids it by throwing Manuel back against the cage.

Manuel works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kai uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Manuel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Manuel lands a body shot.

Manuel instigates a clinch.
Manuel trying to control the position but instead, Kai has worked for underhooks and has pushed Manuel into the cage.
Manuel struggles to land a body shot inside as Kai controls his hands.
Manuel is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kai scores with a hook to the body.
Manuel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kai.
Manuel lands a body shot in the clinch.
Manuel is working Kai over against the cage.
Kai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kai misses with some punches.
Kai lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Manuel or not.
Kai digs a right hand into Manuel's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Manuel's gas tank.
A head punch on the inside from Kai fails to land.
Kai gets through Manuel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Manuel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kai has a couple of punches blocked by Manuel.
Kai lands a nice shot to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Kai.
Manuel prevents a body shot from Kai.
Kai blocks an uppercut.
Kai lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Manuel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kai misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Manuel.
Kai lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Manuel digs a right hand into Kai's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kai's gas tank.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kai has a couple of punches blocked by Manuel.
Kai lands with a light punch inside.
Kai misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kai lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Manuel manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kai tries to stand but Manuel is controlling from the bottom.
Kai will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Kai stands up from Manuel's guard - Kai perhaps looking for a knockout.
Manuel slips under a jab.
A jab lands there for Kai.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kai misses with an uppercut
and Manuel counters with a slapping leg kick.

Kai moves into the clinch successfully.
A hook to the body from Manuel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matt Manuel will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Manuel on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kai slips a jab from Manuel.
Kai misses with a hook to the body
and Manuel counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kai thinking.

Manuel closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kai quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kai on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Manuel moves nicely into side control.
Kai is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Manuel asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Manuel tries to advance to mount but Kai instead regains half guard.
Kai taking some punishment here, with Manuel in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Manuel is nestled in close to Kai, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Manuel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kai avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Manuel.
Manuel is pressing down on Kai's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kai is holding on for now.
Manuel missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Manuel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Manuel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kai is not content to let Manuel control the position.
Kai is trying to stand back up but Manuel is controlling him
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kai on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kai on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kai is refusing to be controlled, as Manuel sits in half guard.
Kai on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Manuel working Kai over with strikes.
Manuel passes the guard and advances to mount!
Manuel tries to control but Kai wriggling away.
Manuel connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Manuel looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Manuel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manuel lands a big elbow.
Manuel breaks from Kai's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Manuel looking to finish Kai with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kai!
Manuel in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Manuel fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Manuel is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Manuel has control of Kai's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Kai regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Manuel dominating with strikes here.

Manuel looking to secure an arm triangle but Kai defends it well.
Kai squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel tries to control but Kai wriggling away.
Manuel lands a heavy elbow.
Manuel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kai is looking to escape.
Manuel landing strikes from the mount and Kai is in trouble!
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kai in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Manuel punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Manuel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Manuel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kai.
Kai lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kai.

Manuel gets tackled into the cage by Kai. Kai maintains the clinch.
Manuel tries to land knees in the clinch but Kai avoids the damage to the body.
Kai being controlled against the cage.
Kai gets through Manuel's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kai misses with the head strike.
Kai misses with a punch on the inside.
Kai lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Manuel presses Kai against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Good body shot from Manuel.
Kai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kai lands with a right to the head.
Manuel tries to stall but Kai uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manuel is working Kai over against the cage.
Kai swings wildly with an uppercut but Manuel uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kai misses with a body punch.
Manuel cracks Kai with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kai.
Manuel lands a body shot.
Manuel pushes Kai back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Manuel controlling the action here for a moment.
Manuel lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kai or not.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Manuel blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Manuel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Manuel lands a nice shot to the body.
Manuel cracks Kai with a nice body shot.
Matt Manuel seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Manuel pushes Kai back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Manuel scores with a hook to the body.
Manuel controlling the action here for a moment.
Manuel presses Kai against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Manuel.
Nice body punch from Manuel - that landed with a thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Come on Manuel - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Manuel lands a shot to the body.

Manuel has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kai is trying to keep an underhook but Manuel manages to get the takedown into half guard.
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!
Manuel wants to take a breather but Kai is having none of it.
Kai is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Manuel scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manuel moves into full mount! Kai won't be happy about that!
Manuel landing strikes from the mount.
Toshihiro Kai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kai is bucking up trying to escape but Manuel cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Matt Manuel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Manuel tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Manuel lands with some strikes.
Kai is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Manuel controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kai wants to try and get back to his feet.
Manuel takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kai wants to try and get back to his feet.
Manuel unloading with bombs!
Kai is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Manuel is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manuel controlling his opponent.
Manuel's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Manuel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Manuel 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 26:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30

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