PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pertti Apila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janne Maunonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Maunonen's choice of entrance music: Dragonforce - Operation ground and pound. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Apila
vs
Maunonen

210 cm
26
281 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

199 cm
22
269 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

MADE IN GERMANY

Katukauppa.com

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pertti Apila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Janne Maunonen!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maunonen slips under a jab.
Nice takedown defense from Apila. No joy for Maunonen on that attempt.

Maunonen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Apila sneaks back into half guard.
Maunonen wants to control but Apila is keeping him busy.
Maunonen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Apila is trying to get back to full guard.
Maunonen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Maunonen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Apila defends it well.
Maunonen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Apila does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maunonen misses with a head shot. Apila uses the momentum to regain guard.
Maunonen postures up in Apila's guard and throws a big left but Apila blocks it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Decent striking displayed by Apila there.
A jab lands there for Apila.
Pertti Apila seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck for Maunonen with that takedown attempt.
Apila lands a slapping body shot.
Maunonen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Apila.
Apila throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maunonen staying out of range there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apila rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maunonen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Apila tests Maunonen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pertti Apila is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maunonen lunges at Apila with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Apila's hand.
Apila tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maunonen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Apila takes one on the button.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Apila.
Apila rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maunonen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Apila fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maunonen manages to avoid it.
Maunonen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Apila throws a chopping leg kick but Maunonen manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Maunonen staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apila dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Apila throws a right and a left that both miss.
Apila wants to clinch.
Maunonen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Donk. Apila catches Maunonen right on the button with a cross.
Maunonen throws out a loose jab but Apila uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maunonen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maunonen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Apila lands a jab.
Maunonen throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apila closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Apila misses with a looping left.
Apila misses the shot to the body.
Maunonen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Apila counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Maunonen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A good leg kick by Maunonen.
Maunonen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Apila.
Maunonen throws a body kick that misses.
A big left from Apila misses.
Apila lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Apila moves out of range of the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Maunonen misses the target.
A big right from Apila misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pertti Apila dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Apila is looking to clinch.
Apila ducks under a wild hook from Maunonen.
Maunonen needs to keep his hands up - Apila had a free shot at his head there.
Apila throws a one two combo.
Maunonen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Apila scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Apila throws a series of punches but Maunonen moves out of range.
Maunonen tests Apila's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Apila is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maunonen. Apila does a little dance to reset his feet.
Apila steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maunonen.
Maunonen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maunonen slips under a jab from Apila.
Maunonen thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Maunonen misses.
Apila jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A right-left combo lands from Apila.
Apila throws out a loose jab but Maunonen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Apila misses with a straight left.
Nice defenses there by Maunonen.
Apila jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Maunonen throws a head kick that misses.
Apila thows a left - swing and a miss!
Apila misses with a leg kick
and Apila takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A slow jab from Apila misses its intended target.
Maunonen dodges the punch combination from Apila.
Maunonen throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Maunonen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Maunonen misses with a hook.
Apila looks to land a combination but Maunonen avoids it well.
Apila misses with a looping right.
Maunonen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Apila lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Maunonen backs up against the cage.
Maunonen fails with a takedown attempt.
Maunonen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Apila tries to clinch up
and Maunonen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maunonen moves away from the strike by Apila.
Apila fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Apila misses with a looping right.
Apila lands a lovely overhand right.
Some wild striking there from Apila.
Maunonen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Apila on the side of the head.
Apila throws a hook but Maunonen blocks it.
Maunonen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Apila.
Maunonen needs to keep his hands up - Apila had a free shot at his head there.
Maunonen misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maunonen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Apila throws a leg kick but Maunonen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Maunonen shoots in for a takedown but Apila shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pertti Apila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janne Maunonen.
Jab, jab by Maunonen - just one landing.
Apila throws a sloppy body shot
and Maunonen counters with a right hand to the body.

Maunonen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Apila manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Maunonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Apila is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maunonen throws and elbow that misses. Apila uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Maunonen's guard. Nice move by Apila!
Apila will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Maunonen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
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 Pertti Apila will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Apila takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Maunonen slips under a jab.
Apila moves out of range as Maunonen strikes.
Maunonen throws a lazy right hand but Apila sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Apila misses with a straight right.
Apila misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Apila lands a jab to Maunonen's midsection.

Apila gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Maunonen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Apila wants to sweep here but Maunonen controlling him for the moment.
Maunonen throwing strikes from guard but Apila blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apila looking to control.
Maunonen trying to control but Apila is working from the bottom.
Maunonen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Apila keeping moving, preventing Maunonen from controlling successfully.
Maunonen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maunonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Apila swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Apila defending well as Maunonen loads up on a big left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maunonen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Apila throws a big shot that misses.
Maunonen throws a solid leg kick but Apila takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Maunonen.
Maunonen tries to bum rush Apila with a series of wild strikes but Apila uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maunonen throws a hook but Apila blocks it.
Apila misses with a body shot.
Apila bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Apila pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maunonen keeps the fight on the outside.
A left lands for Apila.
A slow jab from Maunonen misses its intended target.
Apila stuffs the takedown attempt from Maunonen. Maunonen gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maunonen throws a big shot that misses.
Apila waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Maunonen.
Maunonen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Apila misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maunonen.
Maunonen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Apila fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Maunonen on the side of the head.
Apila misses with a double jab
and Maunonen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Maunonen moves forwards but Apila connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Apila throws a jab but it's blocked by Maunonen.
Maunonen misses with a combination
and Apila counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maunonen throws a looping overhand right but Apila ducks down to avoid it.
Maunonen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Apila fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maunonen manages to avoid it.
Janne Maunonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maunonen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Apila sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Maunonen somewhat.
Apila scores with a decent looking hook.
Pertti Apila is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Apila swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Maunonen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Apila is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maunonen.
Pertti Apila is winning the standup battle so far.
Apila rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maunonen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Apila tries to bum rush Maunonen with a series of wild strikes but Maunonen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maunonen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pertti Apila showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Apila, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pertti Apila!