PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jonathan Riseman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Flannel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Flannel will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Riseman
vs
Flannel

181 cm
23
186 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

190 cm
20
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jonathan Riseman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mark Flannel!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Riseman scores a takedown into full mount!
Riseman looking to control but Flannel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Riseman controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Riseman looking to control but Flannel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Riseman throws some wild stikes that Flannel manages to avoid easily.

Flannel somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Riseman changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Flannel tries to avoid it but Riseman manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Flannel to the ground. Flannel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Riseman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riseman trying to control the action but Flannel is working from the bottom.
Flannel prevents Riseman from moving into mount.
Riseman working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Riseman prevents Flannel from escaping the position.
Riseman sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Flannel is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Flannel is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Riseman avoids the head kick by Flannel.
Riseman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Flannel's waist but Flannel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Riseman off to one side.
Riseman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Flannel sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Riseman somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonathan Riseman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riseman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Flannel pinned against the cage. Flannel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Flannel misses with a head kick.
Flannel changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Riseman moves out of range of the body kick.
Flannel slips a straight right by Riseman.
Flannel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Riseman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A left lands for Flannel.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flannel throws a right hand that Riseman ducks under and follows up with a left that Riseman also avoids with ease.
Flannel looks gassed!
Riseman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Riseman throws a left and a right that both miss
and Flannel counters with a thumping low kick.
Flannel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Riseman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Flannel but Flannel pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Flannel fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Riseman is out of range.

Riseman scores with a takedown into Flannel's guard.
Flannel wants to stand up but Riseman is controlling him.
Riseman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riseman trying to control the position from guard on top but Flannel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Riseman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Riseman tries to free his leg and advance position but Flannel is retaining full guard.
Flannel looking for a sweep. Not yet Flannel, not yet.

Flannel scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Riseman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Flannel as he avoids it easily.
Flannel works Riseman's body with a nice hook.
Flannel stalks Riseman and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Riseman's face. Riseman staggers backwards, shaken.
Riseman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Riseman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Flannel.
Flannel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Riseman.
Horrible takedown by Riseman or perhaps it was just good defense by Flannel which made him look bad.
Flannel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Flannel, as that shot connected.
Flannel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Flannel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Riseman throws a right and a left that Flannel avoids nicely.
Flannel is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Riseman.
Flannel is breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Flannel. No joy for Riseman on that attempt.
Flannel throws a right and a left that both miss.
Riseman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Flannel as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonathan Riseman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riseman darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Riseman throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Flannel is looking to escape.
Riseman wants to control but Flannel is keeping him busy.
Riseman throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Riseman is trying to work for a kimura but Flannel is defending well.
Riseman seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flannel taking some punishment here, with Riseman in his half guard.
Flannel has hold of Riseman's hands but Riseman slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Flannel is not content to let Riseman control the position.
Riseman is just content to waste time from the top position. Flannel takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Flannel has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Riseman off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Riseman takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Flannel misses with a two punch combination.
Riseman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Flannel sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Riseman somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flannel lands a head shot.
Flannel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Riseman moves out of range of the leg kick from Flannel.
A left and a right from Flannel both land. Nice combination.
Flannel throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jonathan Riseman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Flannel throws a right and a left that both miss.
Riseman scores with a punch to the head.

Riseman shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Flannel napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Flannel can't do much from the bottom here.
Riseman trying to control the action but Flannel is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riseman fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Riseman sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Flannel is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Riseman working the body and head with strikes.
Riseman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Flannel keeps working.

Flannel sneaks out the side door and pushes Riseman away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Mark Flannel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Flannel throws a nice looking combination but Riseman bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Riseman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Flannel loads up on a big right hand but Riseman slips the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mark Flannel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Riseman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Riseman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Riseman closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Flannel to the mat! Flannel manages to get full guard.
Riseman wants to control from the top but Flannel keeps moving.
Riseman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Riseman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Flannel works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Flannel keeping moving, preventing Riseman from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Flannel kicks Riseman off and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riseman throws a series of strikes that have Flannel backpedaling.
Riseman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Flannel throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Riseman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Riseman trying to control the position from guard on top but Flannel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Flannel is looking to stand up but Riseman isn't so interested in that idea.
Riseman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Riseman is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Riseman stands up over Flannel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riseman controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riseman wants to control from the top but Flannel keeps moving.
Riseman scoring with some ground and pound.

Flannel scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Flannel throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Riseman gets the takedown into side control.
Flannel wants to get back to his feet but Riseman drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riseman trying to control the action but Flannel is working from the bottom.
Flannel takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Mark Flannel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Riseman in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Riseman throwing strikes but Flannel manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Riseman tries to improve position but can't.

Flannel decides to stand back up. Flannel steps back and let's Riseman get back to his feet.
Jonathan Riseman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Riseman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Flannel circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Riseman is defended easily by Flannel.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonathan Riseman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Riseman takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Flannel tries to bum rush Riseman with a series of wild strikes but Riseman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Some wild striking there from Flannel.
Flannel scores with the left hand. Riseman knows he should have avoided that one.
Flannel lands the left hand.
Riseman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Flannel pinned against the cage. Flannel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Flannel lands with a straight right. Riseman didn't see that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jonathan Riseman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Flannel has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Flannel!