PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eu Sou Foda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pietari Manninen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eu Sou Foda has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sou Foda
vs
Manninen

192 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
183 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eu Sou Foda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pietari Manninen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Foda throws a chopping leg kick but Manninen manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Foda misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Foda shoots for a double leg takedown but Manninen sprawls well. He's pushed Foda's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Manninen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Manninen showed some decent athleticism there.
Manninen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Foda tries to roll over but Manninen keeps him under control.

Manninen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Manninen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Manninen wants to take a breather but Foda is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manninen is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Foda!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Foda sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Manninen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Foda keeps working.

Manninen decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Foda is breathing heavily.
Foda will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Foda moves into the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Manninen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Manninen has Foda pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Manninen pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Foda tumbling to the mat - Manninen dives into Foda's guard.
Manninen trying to control the position from guard on top but Foda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manninen wants to pass the guard but Foda is keeping the position.
Manninen advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foda stops Manninen from passing to mount.

Manninen stands up.
Foda fails to land the takedown.
Eu Sou Foda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Foda lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Foda.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Manninen misses with a head kick.
Manninen blocks a head kick by Foda.
Foda is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Foda tries to clinch but Manninen is having none of it.
Manninen closes the distance and clinches up with Foda, looking for a takedown. Manninen pushes Foda against the cage but Foda circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Manninen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Manninen dodges the punch combination from Foda.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Foda drives through with a takedown into guard.
Foda thows a big elbow that misses.

Manninen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Foda wants to get up but he can't break Manninen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Manninen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Foda doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Foda manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manninen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Manninen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Foda!
Manninen tries to control but Foda wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manninen is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Foda is in real trouble.

Manninen has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Foda has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Manninen scores with punches and elbows.
Manninen throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Foda!
Foda breaks Manninen's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Foda decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Manninen rushes Foda and presses him up against the cage.
Manninen is looking to control Foda's arms but Foda gets an underhook and turns him. Now Manninen has his back to the cage.
Manninen gets underhooks to prevent Foda's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eu Sou Foda. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Foda breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pietari Manninen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Eu Sou Foda's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Foda tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Manninen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Foda's guard now.
Manninen trying to control the position from guard on top but Foda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Foda is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Foda looking for a sweep. Not yet Foda, not yet.
Manninen lands a couple of digs.
Manninen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Manninen wants to control from the top but Foda keeps moving.
Manninen advances position into side control!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Manninen is looking to take a break and control but Foda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Manninen scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Foda to see if he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manninen trying to control the action but Foda is working from the bottom.
Foda is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Manninen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Foda, who protects the arm well.
Manninen working away.
Pietari Manninen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Manninen decides to stand up, so the ref orders Foda to his feet.
Foda blocks a head kick by Manninen.
Manninen wants to clinch.
Foda moves in looking to clinch but Manninen pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Manninen does no damage.
Foda tries to clinch there but Manninen circles away.
Foda lands a head kick. Manninen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Foda fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Foda forces Manninen back against the cage and clinches.

Manninen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Manninen moves out of range of the body kick from Foda.
Foda throws a sloppy head kick and Manninen moves out of range easily.
Foda tries to close the distance and clinch but Manninen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Foda takes a kick to the side of the head.
Eu Sou Foda is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Foda gets caught flat footed, as Manninen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manninen passes Foda's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Manninen working Foda over with strikes.
Foda works his way to full guard. Good work.
Foda looking to hit a scissor sweep but Manninen is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foda is trying to control the position but Manninen postures up.

Foda pushes Manninen off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Manninen misses the shot to the body.
Foda doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Manninen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Manninen passes into half guard.
Foda gets back to full guard.
Manninen throws a strike but Foda rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Foda stopping the sweep attempt from Manninen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Manninen had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Foda is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Manninen Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Foda's back instead.

Foda is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Manninen gets his way!
Manninen is landing with strikes from the back.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Foda fending off the submission attempt from Manninen.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manninen doesn't have the hooks in and Foda manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pietari Manninen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Eu Sou Foda's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Foda drives through with a takedown into guard.
Manninen is trying to keep Foda in close.

Manninen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Foda stands and throws Manninen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Manninen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Manninen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Manninen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Manninen is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Manninen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Foda gets to his feet. Manninen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
A head kick misses from Foda.

Foda has managed to clinch.

Foda gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Foda wants to stand but Manninen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Foda trying to control the position from guard on top but Manninen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Manninen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Foda has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Manninen is proving hard to escape from.
Foda wants to control from the top but Manninen keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Foda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Manninen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Manninen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Foda's guard.
Manninen wants to control from the top but Foda keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Foda is on top in guard.

Manninen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Manninen controls Foda momentarily but Foda frees himself.
Manninen wants to sweep here but Foda controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manninen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Foda gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Manninen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Manninen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Manninen wants to improve his position but instead Foda has moved into half guard.
Manninen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Foda's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Foda's back!
Foda looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Manninen is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Foda taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Manninen.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Pietari Manninen!