PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Amiri Ta Manu Hiri (ranked 3646 p4p, 3633 weight class) and Klaus Manfred (ranked 482 p4p, 480 weight class). Amiri Ta Manu Hiri has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ta Manu Hiri
vs
Manfred

191 cm
17
206
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
217
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Amiri Ta Manu Hiri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Klaus Manfred!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ta Manu Hiri scores with a jab to the head.
Manfred misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ta Manu Hiri.
Ta Manu Hiri is looking to counter punch.
A jab lands there for Ta Manu Hiri.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ta Manu Hiri, as that shot connected.
Ta Manu Hiri slips a straight right by Manfred.
Manfred closes the distance and clinches up with Ta Manu Hiri, looking for a takedown. Manfred pushes Ta Manu Hiri against the cage but Ta Manu Hiri circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Ta Manu Hiri on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ta Manu Hiri swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Manfred changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Manfred throws a body punch but Ta Manu Hiri moves out of range.
Ta Manu Hiri keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Ta Manu Hiri on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ta Manu Hiri rushes Manfred and presses him up against the cage.
Ta Manu Hiri lands a shot to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Manfred has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ta Manu Hiri is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Manfred has a couple of punches blocked by Ta Manu Hiri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manfred misses with a punch on the inside.
Manfred blocks a body shot from Ta Manu Hiri.
Ta Manu Hiri lands a body punch.
Ta Manu Hiri wants to stall.
Ta Manu Hiri tries to throw a body punch but Manfred avoids it by throwing Ta Manu Hiri back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Ta Manu Hiri.
Ta Manu Hiri goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ta Manu Hiri tries to work over Manfred's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ta Manu Hiri throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Manfred is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Ta Manu Hiri can't fight it off and eventually Manfred manages to take the fight to the floor. Ta Manu Hiri looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Manfred trying to control the position from guard on top but Ta Manu Hiri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manfred with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manfred working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manfred trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Manfred is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Manfred with a flurry of punches that miss.
Manfred postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Manfred loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Manfred chips away with some ground and pound.
Ta Manu Hiri preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Manfred is looking to work some ground and pound but Ta Manu Hiri has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manfred lands a couple of digs.
Manfred throws an elbow that misses. Ta Manu Hiri uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Manfred's guard. Nice move by Ta Manu Hiri!

Ta Manu Hiri avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Manfred had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ta Manu Hiri defends it easily.
Manfred looking for a sweep. Not yet Manfred, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Manfred has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ta Manu Hiri can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Manfred looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Manfred managing to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ta Manu Hiri looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Manfred looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Amiri Ta Manu Hiri will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Manfred.
Ta Manu Hiri ducks under a wild hook from Manfred.

Manfred shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Manfred thows a huge punch but Ta Manu Hiri dodges it nicely.
Manfred stalling away here and it's allowed Ta Manu Hiri to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manfred stays in close to Ta Manu Hiri's body and controls the position.
Manfred lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manfred throwing strikes but missing.
Manfred trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Manfred engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Manfred throwing strikes but missing.
Ta Manu Hiri being controlled here, momentarily.
Manfred works over Ta Manu Hiri with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Manfred postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Manfred pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ta Manu Hiri is keeping the position for now.
Manfred looking to sit in guard and control but Ta Manu Hiri gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Manfred is controlling Ta Manu Hiri's posture.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Manfred can do anything to dispel that myth.
Manfred trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ta Manu Hiri trying to control the position from guard on top but Manfred is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Manfred working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ta Manu Hiri doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ta Manu Hiri manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Manfred swings for the body but Ta Manu Hiri moves out of range.
Manfred throws a hook but Ta Manu Hiri blocks it.
Ta Manu Hiri misses with a right hand

and Manfred counters with a single leg into guard. Ta Manu Hiri didn't expect that.
Manfred looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manfred is stalling in the full guard.
Manfred pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ta Manu Hiri is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Manfred accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ta Manu Hiri keeping moving, preventing Manfred from controlling successfully.
Manfred scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Klaus Manfred showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Manfred throws a looping overhand right but Ta Manu Hiri ducks down to avoid it.
Ta Manu Hiri with a nice calf kick.

Manfred drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Manfred throws a strike but Ta Manu Hiri rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Manfred looking for a sweep. Not yet Manfred, not yet.
Manfred looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Ta Manu Hiri trying to control but Manfred is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manfred has Ta Manu Hiri pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manfred is continuing to stall.
Manfred controls Ta Manu Hiri momentarily but Ta Manu Hiri frees himself.
Manfred looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ta Manu Hiri trying to control but Manfred is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Manfred has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Manfred takes one on the button.
A bone on bone clash there as Ta Manu Hiri blocks the leg kick.
Manfred misses with a looping right.
An attempted straight right counter from Ta Manu Hiri misses the target.
Manfred has his takedown stuffed
and Ta Manu Hiri counters with a right hand to the body.
Manfred ducks under a wild hook from Ta Manu Hiri.
Manfred just misses with a punch to the body.
Ta Manu Hiri looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manfred throws a body shot but no joy.
Klaus Manfred seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ta Manu Hiri lands the left hand.
Ta Manu Hiri lands a jab to the head.
Manfred slips a jab from Ta Manu Hiri.
A jab from Ta Manu Hiri does it's job there.
Manfred throws a lazy uppercut
and Ta Manu Hiri counters with a right hand to the body.
Ta Manu Hiri is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Manfred tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ta Manu Hiri was well out of range. Poor timing from Manfred.
Manfred misses with a looping right.
Manfred fails with the takedown
and Ta Manu Hiri counters with a straight right hand.
Manfred is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manfred keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ta Manu Hiri.
Ta Manu Hiri scores with a punch to the head.
Ta Manu Hiri keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Ta Manu Hiri tries to clinch but Manfred is having none of it.
Manfred with the counter takedown but Ta Manu Hiri avoids it easily.
Ta Manu Hiri is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Manfred thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ta Manu Hiri throwing a counter right hand but Manfred manages to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manfred misses with a wild combination.
Ta Manu Hiri stuffs the takedown.
Amiri Ta Manu Hiri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Klaus Manfred.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manfred misses with a leg kick
and Ta Manu Hiri counters with a stiff right hand.
Ta Manu Hiri throws a lazy uppercut

and Manfred counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ta Manu Hiri!
Manfred landing a few strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Amiri Ta Manu Hiri showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ta Manu Hiri has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Amiri Ta Manu Hiri!
After winning the bout, Amiri Ta Manu Hiri thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.