PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Itagaki Manabu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Wiher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Manabu
vs
Wiher

179 cm
19
179 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

184 cm
26
169 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Itagaki Manabu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roman Wiher!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wiher closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Manabu's guard.
Manabu can't keep his opponent in guard - Wiher advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wiher controlling the pace.
Wiher trying to mount his opponent but Manabu defends it.
Wiher content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wiher wants to get back to his feet.
Manabu regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manabu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wiher is one step ahead there.
Wiher wants to control from the top but Manabu keeps moving.

Wiher avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Manabu had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wiher defends it easily.
Wiher stopping the sweep attempt from Manabu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wiher wants to pass the guard but Manabu is keeping the position.

Manabu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wiher must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wiher trying to control but Manabu is working from the bottom.
Wiher sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wiher trying to control the position from guard on top but Manabu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Roman Wiher has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Manabu tries to sprawl but Wiher drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Wiher trying to control from Manabu's half guard. Manabu has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Manabu working for a triangle but Wiher defends it easily.

Wiher stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wiher drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wiher tries to advance to mount but Manabu denies him.
Manabu is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Wiher passes the guard and advances to mount!
Manabu is trying to escape the mount.
Manabu is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wiher takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Wiher dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Manabu closes the distance looking to clinch

and Wiher counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Manabu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wiher manages to get himself to full guard.
Manabu trying to control but Wiher is working from the bottom.

Manabu drops back looking for a leg! Wiher is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Wiher manages to kick Manabu off! Manabu jumps back into Wiher's guard.
Manabu trying to control the position from guard on top but Wiher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman Wiher has got the better of the ground game so far.
Wiher tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Manabu wants to control from the top but Wiher keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Itagaki Manabu wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Wiher darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Wiher decides to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wiher closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wiher is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manabu tries to roll over but Wiher keeps him under control.
Wiher tries to stand and escape but Manabu is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wiher is looking for a kimura but Manabu is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Wiher to get the leverage.
Wiher is thwarting Manabu's attempts to control the position.
Wiher not doing much here.
Manabu is looking to improve his position.
Manabu is staying active underneath Wiher, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Manabu wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Wiher seems content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Roman Wiher was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Wiher closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Manabu did well to prevent Wiher getting side control.
Manabu tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Wiher has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Wiher controlling from the full mount.

Wiher jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Manabu is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Manabu and Wiher has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Wiher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Wiher changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Manabu looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Manabu tries to buck Wiher off but Wiher is having none of it.
Wiher working away.
Wiher controlling the position from side mount.
Wiher working away.
Wiher wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manabu keeps working.
Wiher lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Manabu down.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wiher wants to control but Manabu is keeping him busy.
Manabu tries to improve position but can't.
Manabu is being controlled here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Roman Wiher wasn't active enough on the ground.

Wiher closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Manabu to the mat! Manabu manages to get full guard.

Manabu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Manabu keeping moving, preventing Wiher from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wiher wants to stand but Manabu is controlling his posture from full guard.
Manabu is looking to sweep but instead, Wiher has passed into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manabu is trying to maintain the position but Wiher is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wiher trying to control from half guard but Manabu is working away.
The fighters are battling for position here. Manabu manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Wiher stands up from Manabu's guard - Wiher perhaps looking for a knockout.

Manabu gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wiher slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Manabu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Roman Wiher has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Manabu has a takedown stuffed.
Roman Wiher is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Wiher closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Manabu's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roman Wiher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wiher has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight for Roman Wiher!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Roman Wiher!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Roman Wiher!

Roman Wiher wins by unanimous decision!