PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chiku Maneno (ranked 656 p4p, 87 weight class) and Ronnie Hepple (ranked 376 p4p, 52 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Maneno
vs
Hepple

178 cm
40
177 lbs
45 - 28 - 2

187 cm
28
187 lbs
18 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Groove Gear

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

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 45 - 28 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chiku Maneno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Ronnie Hepple!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Franklyn Lucas and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Hepple misses its intended target.
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.

Hepple clinches.
Maneno blocks an uppercut.
Maneno is looking to break free of the clinch but Hepple has double underhooks.
Hepple tries to throw a body punch but Maneno avoids it by throwing Hepple back against the cage.
A short left from Hepple.
Hepple misses with some punches.
Maneno wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hepple working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Maneno tries to circle away but Hepple has him pinned against the cage.
A short left from Hepple.
Maneno is trying to push Hepple away but Hepple has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Maneno wants to get back to striking at distance but Hepple won't allow it.
Hepple pushes Maneno back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hepple has Maneno pressed against the cage, preventing Maneno from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hepple lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Good body shot from Hepple.
Hepple misses with some punches.
Hepple lands a nice shot to the body.
Maneno is trying to break the clinch but Hepple is controlling him.
Hepple lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
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!

Hepple pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maneno rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hepple counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maneno dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Maneno 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.
Maneno lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hepple at a distance.
Hepple avoids the body shot from Maneno.
Maneno loads up on a big right hand but Hepple slips the punch.
Hepple throws a big counter head kick but Maneno avoids it with no problem.
Hepple on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hepple will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Maneno lands a jab to Hepple's midsection.
Maneno looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hepple avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hepple shapes to counter with a head kick.
A lazy left from Maneno finds it's target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice inside leg kick there by Hepple. That's going to slow Maneno down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hepple feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Maneno's calf.
Hepple throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Maneno on the side of the head.
Maneno cracks Hepple with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Maneno on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Hepple lands a nice hook to Maneno's body. Maneno takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nice uppercut there from Hepple.
Maneno takes a swing at Hepple's ribcage but misses.
Maneno misses the jab.
Hepple on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hepple defending well as Maneno loads up on a big left hand.
Maneno looks to land a right hand but Hepple moved out of range.
Maneno throws a hook to the side of Hepple's head but Hepple sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hepple keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maneno looks to score with a jab to the body but Hepple is just out of range.
Good exchange - Maneno coming out on top.
Maneno scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hepple doesn't seem bothered though.
Hepple lands a nice looking body shot.
Maneno looks to land a right hand but Hepple moved out of range.
Maneno throws a hook to the side of Hepple's head but Hepple sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Maneno loads up on a big right hand but Hepple slips the punch.
Hepple moves out of range of the strikes.
Maneno paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hepple keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maneno.
Hepple tries to clinch up.

Hepple clinches up with Maneno and pushes him back against the cage.
Hepple scores with a shoulder strike.
Hepple misses with a punch on the inside.

Hepple's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maneno throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Hepple counter with a right hand.
Maneno throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hepple stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Oooooh!!! Hepple has knocked Maneno down with a huge combo! Hepple steps away and waves a wobbly Maneno back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Maneno is rocked!

It looks like Chiku Maneno has been cut.
A head kick misses from Hepple.
A little feinted left hand from Maneno on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Oh Maneno is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Maneno with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Maneno seems to have got his legs back now.
Maneno throws a body punch but Hepple moves out of range.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.
Hepple feints a counter leg kick.
Chiku Maneno seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hepple connects with a nice looking jab.
Maneno misses with a hook
and Hepple counters with a good low kick that Maneno was not able to check.
Hepple throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hepple missing with a left hand there. Maneno was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maneno lands a jab to Hepple's midsection.
Hepple throws a leg kick but Maneno sees it coming and moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Hepple dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chiku Maneno's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Maneno throws a lazy uppercut
and Hepple counters with a low kick, right behind Maneno 's knee.
Hepple plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Hepple ducks under a wild hook from Maneno.
Maneno misses with a looping right.
Hepple gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Maneno.
Maneno moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hepple slips a jab from Maneno.
Hepple uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maneno.
Hepple keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hepple throws a big counter head kick but Maneno avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maneno throws a poor cross that misses
and Hepple counters with a stiff right hand.
Hepple staying out of range there.
Hepple scores with a nice head shot.
Maneno misses with a wild body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hepple throws a low kick but Maneno avoids it.
It looked like Maneno wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maneno swings for the body but Hepple moves out of range.

Hepple has Maneno up against the cage in a clinch.
Hepple misses with the head strike.
Maneno is looking to break free of the clinch but Hepple has double underhooks.
Maneno can't break the clinch.
Hepple has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hepple misses with a punch to the body.
A short left from Hepple.
Maneno wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hepple.
Hepple goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hepple lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hepple throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Manenos head.
Hepple goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Maneno wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hepple swings wildly with an uppercut but Maneno uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hepple lands a shoulder strike.
Maneno is trying to break free.
A shot in the inside from Hepple.
Ronnie Hepple seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hepple fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Maneno blocks an uppercut.
Hepple tries to work over Maneno's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maneno working hard to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Maneno's face as he tries to break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hepple.
Hepple lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Maneno backwards.
Hepple digs a right hand into Maneno's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Maneno's gas tank.
Hepple struggles to land a body shot inside as Maneno controls his hands.
Hepple keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maneno's efforts to push away.
A shot in the inside from Hepple.
Maneno wants to get back to striking at distance but Hepple won't allow it.
Hepple lands an uppercut.

Hepple manages to break the clinch.
Maneno misses with a hook to the body
and Hepple counters with a left to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
That kick from Hepple tenderised Maneno's leg. Maneno is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hepple staying out of range there.
Hepple lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Hepple misses the target.

Hepple moves into range and clinches up with Maneno.
Maneno blocking some punches.
Maneno is trying to break the clinch but Hepple is controlling him.
Maneno wants to get back to striking at distance but Hepple won't allow it.
Hepple fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hepple fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Maneno's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Hepple closes the distance and clinches.

Maneno breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maneno connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hepple has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hepple steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maneno.
Nice defenses there by Hepple.
Hepple flicks out a counter leg kick but Maneno steps away.
Maneno throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hepple counters with a slapping leg kick.
Maneno thows a left - swing and a miss!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maneno takes a shot to the head.
Hepple swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hepple working aggressively here.
A shot in the inside from Hepple.
Hepple working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Maneno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hepple misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maneno.
Hepple with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hepple throws a quick inside leg kick.
Maneno misses with a wild body shot.
Maneno misses with a hook
and Hepple counters with an outside leg kick.
Hepple misses with a kick to the body.
Maneno appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.
Maneno slips a straight right by Hepple.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Hepple showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Chiku Maneno's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hepple moves away from the strike by Maneno.
Hepple cracks the inside of Maneno's front leg.
Hepple with a jab.
Hepple closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maneno. Hepple does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hepple lands with a thumping leg kick.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.
Maneno misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hepple.
Hepple throws a sloppy body shot
and Maneno counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hepple slips under a jab.
Hepple lands a lovely overhand right.

Maneno tries to keep at a distance but Hepple has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hepple lands a hook that snaps the head of Maneno backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maneno looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hepple lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Maneno tries to break the clinch but Hepple is controlling the position.
Hepple lands an uppercut.
Hepple lands an uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hepple has Maneno pressed against the cage, preventing Maneno from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hepple struggles to land a body shot inside as Maneno controls his hands.
Nice body punch from Hepple.

Hepple breaks the clinch.
Hepple throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maneno.

Maneno gets tackled into the cage by Hepple. Hepple maintains the clinch.
Hepple is working Maneno over against the cage.
Nice body punch from Hepple.
Maneno takes a shot to the head.
Hepple softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hepple scores with a hook to the body.
Hepple lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice body punch from Hepple - that landed with a thud.
Hepple makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hepple keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Maneno's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hepple lands a big right hand that drops Maneno! The killer instinct kicks in and Hepple finishes his opponent with a series of strikes from mount. A dominating finish by Hepple!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ronnie Hepple!
Ronnie Hepple was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.