PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chiku Maneno (ranked 329 p4p, 49 weight class) and Karl Denke (ranked 749 p4p, 91 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maneno
vs
Denke

178 cm
38
177 lbs
42 - 24 - 2

175 cm
31
180 lbs
28 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Groove 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 42 - 24 - 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 28 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Karl Denke!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Yves DeLean and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maneno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Despite the aggression on Denke's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Maneno moves away from the strike by Denke.
Maneno misses with a right hand
enabling Denke to counter with a crisp jab.
Maneno moves away from the strike by Denke.
Denke has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Maneno finds it's way round the side to connect with Denke's head.

It looks like Karl Denke has been cut.
Chiku Maneno seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maneno misses with a wild body shot.
Maneno pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maneno misses with a right hand
and Denke finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maneno throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Denke to counter with a crisp jab.
Maneno ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Maneno swings for the body but Denke moves out of range.
Maneno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.
Denke is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Maneno with a body shot.
Denke lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maneno circles away quickly and effectively.
An attempted straight right counter from Maneno misses the target.
Denke gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Maneno.
We've been informed that Denke has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Maneno scores with a shot to the body.
Denke tries to bum rush Maneno with a series of wild strikes but Maneno uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maneno was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A lazy left from Maneno finds it's target.
Maneno digs a good hook to Denke's body.
We've been told by Maneno's head coaches at Xtreme Foraging Sidelines that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maneno. Denke does a little dance to reset his feet.
As Maneno backs off Denke throws a huge counter combo but Maneno manages to avoid it all.
Maneno throws an off balance right hand
and Denke cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maneno is looking to wear down Denke with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Maneno misses with a looping right.
Denke is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Maneno takes a swing at Denke's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maneno lands with a cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maneno throws a body punch but Denke moves out of range.
Maneno looks to score with a jab to the body but Denke is just out of range.
Maneno misses the shot to the body.
Denke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maneno.
As Maneno backs off Denke throws a huge counter combo but Maneno manages to avoid it all.
Denke throws a nice looking combination but Maneno bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Denke moves into the clinch successfully.

Maneno breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maneno throws a hook but Denke blocks it.
Maneno misses with a body shot
and Denke cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maneno misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Denke counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maneno takes a swing at Denke's ribcage but misses.
Maneno backing away here, and Denke unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Denke slips a jab from Maneno.
Denke steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Maneno cracks Denke with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Maneno swings away with a body shot that misses
and Denke counters with an outside leg kick.
Denke avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
It seemed like Denke was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Maneno lands with a nice body punch.
Denke moves away from the strike by Maneno.
Denke throws a fast counter high kick but Maneno manages to duck under it in time.
Denke walks into a left hand.
Maneno misses with a body shot.
Denke slips a jab from Maneno.
Maneno looks to score with a jab to the body but Denke is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denke moves out of range of the strikes.
Maneno misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Denke.
Denke wants to counter with a clinch but Maneno pushes him away.
Maneno looks to throw the jab but Denke is out of range.
Maneno throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Denke on the side of the head.
Maneno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Denke unleashes a big counter combination but Maneno bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Maneno misses with a hook
and Denke counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maneno just misses with a punch to the body.
Maneno swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Maneno rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Denke counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maneno looks to throw the jab but Denke is out of range.
Denke now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maneno. Denke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Denke appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chiku Maneno dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Karl Denke's cut.
That's time! Maneno's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Maneno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Denke looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Maneno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maneno takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Chiku Maneno has been cut.
Denke fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Maneno looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Denke scores with a kick to the midsection.
Maneno swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A cross from Maneno lands.

Denke instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A short right from Denke on the inside.

Maneno's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Maneno getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maneno scores with a nice right hand.
Maneno throws an off balance right hand
and Denke makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A good leg kick by Denke.
Denke avoids the body shot from Maneno.
Maneno showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Denke.
Maneno lands the left hand.
Maneno walks into a left hand.
Chiku Maneno is winning the standup battle so far.

Denke has managed to clinch.
Denke lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Maneno backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denke misses with some punches.
Maneno has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Denke lands with a light punch inside.
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!
Denke has Maneno pressed against the cage, preventing Maneno from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Maneno is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Maneno tries to circle away but Denke has him pinned against the cage.

Maneno manages to break the clinch.
Maneno lands with an uppercut that bounces Denke off the cage and back into range.
Maneno blocks a head kick by Denke.
Maneno with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Maneno throws a body punch but Denke moves out of range.
Denke appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Maneno is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Denke.
Some bone on bone action there as Maneno checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Maneno connects with a body shot that sends Denke's belly button to the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Denke moves into the clinch.
Denke misses with a punch to the body.
Maneno is trying to break the clinch but Denke is controlling him.

Maneno pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Denke takes one to the side of the head.
Denke drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Denke moves out of range of the strikes.
Maneno looks to score with a jab to the body but Denke is just out of range.
Denke raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Maneno misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Denke.
Maneno takes a swing at Denke's ribcage but misses.
Denke throws a sloppy head kick and Maneno moves out of range easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Maneno misses its target.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Denke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maneno swings away with a body shot that misses
and Denke counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Maneno misses with a looping right.
Maneno connects with a right hand. Denke shakes it off.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maneno changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Denke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maneno.
Denke tries a quick counter leg kick but Maneno is wise to it.
Denke misses the jab.
Maneno throws a big shot that misses.
Maneno scores with a shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Maneno.
Maneno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Denke now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chiku Maneno will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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!

Maneno catches Denke with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Karl Denke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maneno tests Denke's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Maneno sizes up Denke with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Denke is rocked!
Maneno digs a good hook to Denke's body.
Denke is still on wobbly legs! Can Maneno finish him?
Maneno misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Denke.
Denke seems to have recovered his senses.
Maneno moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Maneno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Denke misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Denke darts in and clinches Maneno up against the cage.
Maneno is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maneno prevents a body shot from Denke.
Denke wants to stall.
Maneno can't break the clinch.
Denke struggles to land a body shot inside as Maneno controls his hands.
Maneno is looking to break free of the clinch but Denke has double underhooks.
Denke has a couple of punches blocked by Maneno.
Denke tries to work over Maneno's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Maneno escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maneno throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Maneno throws a body punch but Denke moves out of range.
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Denke manages to avoid it.
Denke is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Maneno scores with a sloppy right hand. Denke should have avoided that one.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Denke in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Maneno avoids the head kick by Denke.
Maneno connects with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maneno swings for the body but Denke moves out of range.
Maneno swings widly with a right hand
and Denke counters with a nice uppercut.
Maneno lands a nice hook to Denke's body. Denke takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Maneno throws a body punch but Denke moves out of range.
Denke has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Denke takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Denke keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maneno misses with a right hand
and Denke cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Denke manages to avoid it.
Maneno misses with a hook
and Denke counters with a left to the body.
Maneno takes a swing at Denke's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denke misses with a kick to the body.
Maneno misses with a body shot.
Denke looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Maneno is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Denke can do to turn this around?
Denke thumps Maneno with a low kick.
Maneno thows a left - swing and a miss!
Denke looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Maneno throws a body shot but no joy.
Maneno misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Denke counters with a head kick. That will keep Maneno thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A looping hook to the body misses from Maneno. Denke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Denke gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Maneno throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maneno connects with a jab.
Maneno tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Denke was well out of range. Poor timing from Maneno.
Maneno throws a hook but Denke avoids it easily.
Denke is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Maneno connects with a right hand. Denke shakes it off.
Maneno fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Denke manages to avoid it.
Denke appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maneno throws a predictable looking body shot

and Denke counters with a head kick that drops Maneno to the mat! Maneno scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Maneno is rocked!
Maneno throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Denke scores with a counter punch that sends Maneno to the canvas! Denke smells blood - he's punishing Maneno with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Maneno has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Karl Denke!
Karl Denke 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.