PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Hightower (ranked 1005 p4p, 943 weight class) and Akuma Manivong (ranked 134 p4p, 125 weight class). Hightower's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Power. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hightower
vs
Manivong

207 cm
23
242
15 - 1 - 0

193 cm
24
266
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conquer

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jason Hightower!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Akuma Manivong!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jonathan Paton and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manivong lands a glancing blow to the side of Hightower's head.
Manivong tries to clinch but Hightower moves away
and Hightower makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Manivong misses with a body shot.
Manivong jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Manivong connects with a leg kick.
Akuma Manivong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manivong is looking to chop away at Hightower's legs.
Hightower is looking to counter with head kicks.
Hightower avoids the body shot from Manivong.
Hightower tests Manivong's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hightower walks into a jab.
Manivong swings for the body but Hightower moves out of range.
Hightower appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Manivong lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Manivong pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Manivong has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hightower misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hightower.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower lands with a right to the head.
Hightower landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Manivong takes a shot to the head.
Manivong is trying to drag Hightower to the mat but Hightower just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hightower lands a body punch in the clinch.
Manivong looks winded!
A head punch on the inside from Hightower fails to land.
Hightower throws a head punch that misses.
Hightower missing with knees to the body.
Hightower lands with a right to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Manivong.
Manivong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hightower's elbow.
Manivong blocking some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hightower.
Hightower lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hightower blocks a body shot from Manivong.
A short right from Hightower.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short body shot lands from Hightower as the two fighters clinch.
Hightower lands a body shot in the clinch.

Manivong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hightower instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower lands a right hand that snaps the head of Manivong backwards.
Manivong lands with a left to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Hightower fails to land.
Hightower lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hightower is working Manivong over against the cage.
Hightower lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Manivong backwards.
Hightower scores with a shot to the side of Manivong's head.
Manivong fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hightower lands a nice knee to the body.
Hightower lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hightower lands a nice uppercut.
Manivong takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hightower softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hightower working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Knees to the body from Hightower.
Hightower lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hightower lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hightower with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hightower lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A short right from Hightower on the inside.
Good body shot from Hightower.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hightower lands a shoulder strike.
Hightower throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Manivongs head.
Manivong being controlled against the cage.
Hightower lands a body shot.
Hightower lands a shoulder strike.
Hightower scores a nice knee to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Hightower.
Hightower is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hightower is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Manivong is defending well for now.
Hightower lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hightower lands with a light punch inside.
Hightower is pressed up against the cage. Manivong has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hightower down to the mat. Hightower avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hightower feints and then cracks Manivong's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Manivong down.
Manivong throws a body kick that misses
and Hightower counters with a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hightower thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hightower with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hightower connects with an inside leg kick.
Manivong rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Manivong swings widly with a right hand

and Hightower counters by clinching up.
Hightower works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hightower makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hightower lands a body shot.
Hightower lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hightower misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hightower lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hightower lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hightower misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hightower pushes Manivong back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hightower lands a right hand.
Manivong struggles to land a body shot inside as Hightower controls his hands.
Hightower struggles to land a body shot inside as Manivong controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hightower.
A right hand to the body from Hightower.
Hightower is working Manivong over against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Hightower dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hightower lands a leg kick that knocks Manivong off balance momentarily.
Manivong takes a swing at Hightower's ribcage but misses.
Hightower throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Manivong scores with a nice body kick.
Manivong jabs Hightower right on the nose. Hightower blinks but takes it well.

Manivong moves into the clinch successfully.
Manivong blocks an uppercut.
Manivong is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hightower gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A body shot lands from Manivong.
Hightower lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hightower is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Manivong can do to turn this around?
Hightower scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manivong lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hightower backwards.
Hightower lands with a light punch inside.
Manivong is breathing heavily.
Hightower putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Manivong in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A body shot lands from Hightower.
Hightower softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Manivong is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hightower to keep the fight standing.
A right handed body shot lands from Hightower.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower scores with a hook to the body.
Hightower lands with a left to the head.
Hightower throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hightower lands a hook that snaps the head of Manivong backwards.
Hightower lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hightower.
Hightower throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hightower lands a hook that snaps the head of Manivong backwards.
Hightower lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short right from Hightower on the inside.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Hightower here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Hightower presses Manivong against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hightower unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A shot in the inside from Hightower.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hightower lands a shot to the body.
Hightower lands a knee to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Hightower.
Hightower lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hightower scores with a shoulder strike.
Manivong prevents a body shot from Hightower.
A short right from Hightower on the inside.
Hightower lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Jason Hightower has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Hightower.

Manivong is rocked!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hightower.
Manivong is still on wobbly legs! Can Hightower finish him?
Hightower is working Manivong over against the cage.
Manivong seems to have recovered his senses.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hightower.
Hightower working the clinch nicely. Manivong is working for position but Hightower cracks him with a big knee to the head! Manivong crumples up against the cage and Hightower lands two more shots before the ref can save Manivong! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knee & Punches). Jason Hightower!
During a confident post fight interview, Jason Hightower thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.