PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Neville Champman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reima Maansiirto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reima Maansiirto has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Champman
vs
Maansiirto

178 cm
22
161 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

168 cm
25
162 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Neville Champman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Reima Maansiirto!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maansiirto wants to clinch.
Maansiirto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Champman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck for Maansiirto with that takedown attempt.

Maansiirto closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Maansiirto swings around for an armbar but Champman sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Maansiirto's guard.

Maansiirto has his foot on Champman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Champman works his way back into a safe position though.
Champman stays in close to Maansiirto's body and controls the position.

Maansiirto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Maansiirto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Champman scoring with punches to the head and body.

Maansiirto looking for a guillotine here but Champman defends easily.
Champman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Maansiirto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Champman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Champman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Maansiirto working for a triangle but Champman defends it easily.

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.
Champman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maansiirto is keeping the position for now.

Maansiirto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Maansiirto looks gassed!

Maansiirto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Champman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Champman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maansiirto keeping full guard, as Champman tries to pass.
Champman pushes down on Maansiirto's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Champman controlling the pace.
Maansiirto tries to roll over but Champman keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Champman is controlling the pace.
The fighters are battling for position here. Maansiirto manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Champman wants to pass the guard but Maansiirto is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Champman is working hard here to advance position.
Champman stands and throws Maansiirto's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maansiirto is letting Champman control him for a moment.
Champman trying to control the action but Maansiirto is working from the bottom.
Maansiirto trying to remain calm as Champman controls from the top position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Neville Champman just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Maansiirto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Neville Champman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reima Maansiirto.
Champman tries to close the distance and clinch but Maansiirto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Champman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Horrible takedown by Champman or perhaps it was just good defense by Maansiirto which made him look bad.
Maansiirto defending well as Champman loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Neville Champman will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maansiirto shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Champman manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Champman pulls Maansiirto in to control the position.
Maansiirto wants to control from the top but Champman keeps moving.
Maansiirto might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Champman kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Maansiirto drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Champman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Maansiirto has Champman in his guard.

Maansiirto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Champman is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Champman wants to control from the top but Maansiirto keeps moving.
Champman is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Maansiirto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Champman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Champman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Maansiirto keeping moving, preventing Champman from controlling successfully.
Champman lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Maansiirto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Champman slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in 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.
Champman passes Maansiirto's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Maansiirto tries to roll over but Champman keeps him under control.
Still in half guard, Champman seems content to control.
Maansiirto is pressing down on Champman's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Maansiirto is trying to control the position but Champman postures up.
Champman wants to control from the top but Maansiirto keeps moving.
Maansiirto can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Champman controls the pace.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Neville Champman just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Champman has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maansiirto shoots and misses

and Champman counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Champman breaks the clinch.

Maansiirto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Champman has Maansiirto pushed against the cage.
Champman tries to stall but Maansiirto uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Champman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Maansiirto.
Maansiirto tries to pull guard but Champman holds him up against the cage and eventually Maansiirto drops back down to his feet.
Champman drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Maansiirto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Maansiirto blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Champman misses with a hook from the clinch.
Maansiirto tries to pull guard but Champman won't allow it.
Neville Champman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reima Maansiirto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maansiirto successfully pulls guard.

Maansiirto isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Champman stacks Maansiirto on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Champman!
Maansiirto gets back to half guard.
Maansiirto is looking to improve his position.
Maansiirto is trying to stand.
Maansiirto is breathing heavily.
Champman wants to take a breather but Maansiirto is having none of it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Maansiirto wants to control but Champman is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Champman is controlling the pace.
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 Neville Champman will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Maansiirto throws a combination that misses
and Champman counters with a nice body kick.
Maansiirto clinches but Champman breaks the clinch

so Champman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Champman sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Champman pushing down on Maansiirto's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Maansiirto wants to get back to full guard.

Maansiirto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Champman pulls his head out easily.
Champman content to control rather than advance.
Maansiirto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Champman seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Maansiirto for as long as he can get away with.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Neville Champman just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Champman throws a hook but Maansiirto avoids it easily.
Maansiirto ducks under a wild hook from Champman.
Maansiirto wants to clinch up but Champman keeps it at a distance.
Champman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maansiirto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Maansiirto darts in trying to clinch

and Champman counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Champman content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Champman is looking to take a break and control but Maansiirto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maansiirto is looking to improve his position.
Champman working the head and body with strikes.
Champman is taking a breather. Maansiirto says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Maansiirto wants to control but Champman is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Champman is controlling the pace.
Maansiirto is refusing to be controlled, as Champman sits in half guard.

Maansiirto actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Maansiirto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Champman counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Champman unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Champman wants a takedown but no success here.

Champman gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Maansiirto looking for subs off his back but Champman has passed one foot through into half guard.
Champman is controlling the pace.
Reima Maansiirto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maansiirto wants to get back to his feet.
Maansiirto trying to hold on to Champman's head to control him but Champman postures up.
Maansiirto wants to get back to full guard.
Champman keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maansiirto tries to roll over but Champman keeps him under control.
Champman is taking a breather. Maansiirto says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Neville Champman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neville Champman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Champman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:26
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neville Champman!