PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sal Manella (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zak Zinfandel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manella's entrance music is Egg. A fine choice. Sal Manella had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Manella
vs
Zinfandel

173 cm
27
167 lbs
17 - 3 - 0

171 cm
34
168 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sal Manella!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zak Zinfandel!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manella wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Manella throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zinfandel.
Zinfandel on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Manella dodges the punch combination from Zinfandel.
Zinfandel takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Zinfandel dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Manella. That did some damage!
A telegraphed right hand from Manella misses the target.
Manella blocks a jab.
Manella looks to land a combination but Zinfandel avoids it well.
Zinfandel lands a head shot.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Manella.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zinfandel checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Manella misses with a low kick.
Manella doesn't manage to clinch there - Zinfandel circles away.
Manella pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zinfandel throws a sloppy head kick
and Manella counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
A head kick by Manella misses
and Zinfandel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Manella moves out of range as Zinfandel throws a body kick.
Manella feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Zinfandels jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Manella misses with a kick to the body.
Zinfandel misses with a hook to the body
and Manella counters with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zinfandel scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Zinfandel tries to land a front kick but Manella steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nice defenses there by Manella.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sloppy strikes from Zinfandel. Those never looked like landing.
Manella just misses with a punch to the body.
Zinfandel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Manella slips under a jab from Zinfandel.
Good shot there by Manella.
Zinfandel takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

It looks like Zak Zinfandel has been cut.
Zinfandel throws a leg kick
and Zinfandel takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manella moves into range and connects with a jab.
Zinfandel connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Manella lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zinfandel at a distance.
Manella throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zinfandel.
Sal Manella seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab, jab by Zinfandel - just one landing.
Manella tries to score with a low kick but Zinfandel moves his leg out of the way.
A combination from Manella does no damage.
Manella misses with an attempted mid kick.
Manella scores with a kick to the midsection.
A clash of legs there as Zinfandel blocks the low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manella scores with a shot to the body.
Zinfandel misses with an attempted mid kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manella throws an overhand right that lands on Zinfandel's shoulder, as Zinfandel tries to avoid the shot.
Manella throws a leg kick but Zinfandel sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Zinfandel tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Zinfandel thows a body shot but no joy.
Zinfandel throws a head kick that misses.
Manella digs a good hook to Zinfandel's body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zinfandel lands a right hook to the body.
Manella throws a sloppy head kick and Zinfandel moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sal Manella dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zak Zinfandel's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Manella ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zinfandel takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Zinfandel misses with a two punch combination.
Manella wants to clinch.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Zinfandel in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Manella misses with a straight right.
A left lands for Manella.
Sal Manella is winning the standup battle so far.
Manella pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Manella misses the jab.
Manella pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manella ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Zinfandel has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Manella finds it's way round the side to connect with Zinfandel's head.
Manella takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Manella throws the left hand but Zinfandel avoids the punch easily.
Zinfandel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A cross from Manella lands.
Zinfandel checks a leg kick.
Zinfandel checks a low kick from Manella.
Manella takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zinfandel misses with a wild body shot.
Zinfandel throws the left hand but Manella avoids the punch easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Zinfandel blocks the leg kick.
Zinfandel ducks under a wild hook from Manella.
Zak Zinfandel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manella throws a jab but it's blocked by Zinfandel.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zinfandel throws a leg kick but Manella moved away.
Zinfandel ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Manella lands a nice looking kick to the body. Zinfandel takes a step back to recover.
Zinfandel lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manella slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Zinfandel connects with a single shot there.
Zinfandel misses with a few strikes there.
Zinfandel circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zinfandel swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Manella with a hook.
Zinfandel fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Manella is out of range.
Crunch! Manella slams his shin into Zinfandel's torso.
Zinfandel is breathing heavily.
Manella lands with a nice body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manella takes a swing at Zinfandel's ribcage but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Manella. Zinfandel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Manella - that will leave a mark!
Manella lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Zinfandel might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Manella has got the better of the exchanges.
Manella cracks Zinfandel on the jaw with a powerful right hand and Zinfandel falls backwards against the cage. Manella follows up with more strikes that drop Zinfandel to his knees. Manella keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save Zinfandel! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sal Manella!
Sal Manella managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, CRAZY COW Co. 159, into his post fight interview.