PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hiro Manowaru (ranked 186 p4p, 658 weight class) and Franck Kodjia (ranked 6 p4p, 17 weight class). Manowaru comes to the cage accompanied by Lay Down. 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.

Manowaru
vs
Kodjia

193 cm
36
272
34 - 13 - 0

195 cm
35
275
28 - 20 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hiro Manowaru!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Franck Kodjia!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Andrew Berry and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kodjia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kodjia moves out of range of the leg kick from Manowaru.
Kodjia defending well as Manowaru loads up on a big left hand.
Kodjia scores with a jab to the head.
Manowaru fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kodjia manages to avoid it.
Manowaru slips a jab from Kodjia.
Kodjia changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Manowaru uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kodjia.
Manowaru takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

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

It looks like Franck Kodjia has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kodjia misses with a right hand
and Manowaru counters with a right hand to the body.
Manowaru ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Franck Kodjia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manowaru throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Manowaru has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Lakeside Jiu-Jitsu in the buildup to the fight.
Manowaru blocks a head kick by Kodjia.
A little feinted left hand from Manowaru on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kodjia tries a low kick but Manowaru avoids it.
Manowaru throws a sloppy head kick and Kodjia moves out of range easily.
Manowaru cracks Kodjia with an open hand slap.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Kodjia.
Manowaru moves out of range of the strikes.
Manowaru lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kodjia keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Manowaru.
It seemed like Kodjia was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Nice defenses there by Kodjia.
Kodjia lands a jab to Manowaru's midsection.
Kodjia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kodjia misses with a wild body shot.
Kodjia dips to his left and cracks Manowaru with an uppercut!

Manowaru lands a big right hand that sends Kodjia crashing to the mat! Manowaru stays standing though and waves Kodjia back to his feet!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kodjia keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Manowaru is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Manowaru connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kodjia looks to score with a jab to the body but Manowaru is just out of range.
Manowaru is looking to counter punch.
Kodjia swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kodjia fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Manowaru looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kodjia throws a lazy right hand but Manowaru sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Manowaru was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kodjia throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Manowaru cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Manowaru throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Manowaru uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kodjia misses with a looping left.
Kodjia throws a sloppy head kick and Manowaru moves out of range easily.
Manowaru is looking to counter punch.
Kodjia slips a jab from Manowaru.
Manowaru walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kodjia throws a poor cross that misses
and Manowaru counters with a low kick, right behind Kodjia 's knee.
Manowaru misses with a body kick.
Kodjia throws a lazy right hand but Manowaru sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kodjia throws a body punch but Manowaru moves out of range.
Manowaru fires out a quick counter leg kick but Kodjia just manages to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kodjia. Manowaru does a little dance to reset his feet.
Manowaru fires out a quick counter leg kick but Kodjia just manages to avoid it.
Kodjia is looking to chop away at Manowaru's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manowaru on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Kodjia misses the target.

Manowaru lands a big uppercut and Kodjia crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Kodjia looks OK. Manowaru waves Kodjia back to his feet!

That has opened up Franck Kodjia's cut even more.
Kodjia keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Manowaru.
Manowaru ducks under a wild hook from Kodjia.
Manowaru appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Kodjia lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Manowaru closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kodjia tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Manowaru misses the target.
Kodjia just misses with a punch to the body.
Kodjia thumps Manowaru with a low kick.
Kodjia misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Manowaru lands a big head kick that sends Kodjia to the canvas! Manowaru follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Hiro Manowaru!
A relieved looking Hiro Manowaru thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.