PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wolfe Larson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Mankiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Larson
vs
Mankiev

182 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wolfe Larson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexander Mankiev!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larson connects with an inside leg kick.
Larson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Mankiev counters with a nice double leg into side control. Larson won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Mankiev is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Larson won't allow Mankiev to pass to mount.
Mankiev prevents Larson from improving his position.

Mankiev is looking for a kimura but Larson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mankiev to get the leverage.
Mankiev is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Larson is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mankiev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Larson tries to roll over but Mankiev keeps him under control.
Mankiev is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexander Mankiev was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Larson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Larson wants to free his trapped foot but Mankiev is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mankiev is positioning himself well to prevent Larson advancing to mount.
Larson wants to stand up but Mankiev is controlling the position.
Mankiev preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Larson trying to control from half guard but Mankiev is working away.
Mankiev moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mankiev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mankiev keeping moving, preventing Larson from controlling successfully.
Larson being controlled here momentarily.

We're going to have a standup here because Wolfe Larson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Larson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mankiev moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mankiev manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mankiev looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Mankiev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Larson is looking to get to half guard.
Mankiev raining down hammerfists from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Mankiev dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mankiev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Alexander Mankiev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mankiev is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Mankiev is pressing down on Larson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Larson is holding on for now.
Mankiev sitting and controlling from the half guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alexander Mankiev hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Larson throws a push kick but Mankiev slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Larson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mankiev is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Larson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mankiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mankiev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Larson trying to control the position from guard on top but Mankiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because Wolfe Larson wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Larson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mankiev to the mat! Mankiev manages to get full guard.
Mankiev wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Larson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mankiev wants to improve his position but instead Larson has moved into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Larson is looking to pass Mankiev's guard but actually Mankiev recovers to full guard.
Mankiev pulls Larson in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mankiev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Larson wants to pass the guard but Mankiev is keeping the position.

Larson stands up from Mankiev's guard - Larson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Larson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mankiev throws a lazy uppercut
and Larson counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mankiev decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Mankiev seems content to control.
Larson gets back to full guard.
Mankiev preventing the sweep.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mankiev is looking to work some ground and pound but Larson has wrist control.
Mankiev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mankiev chips away with some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Larson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexander Mankiev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Larson drives through with a takedown into Mankiev's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Larson tries to stand but Mankiev is controlling from the bottom.
Mankiev lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Larson!
Mankiev postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Larson looks a forlorn figure.
Mankiev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Larson is trying desperately to improve position.
Mankiev pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larson is desperately trying to improve his position but Mankiev has a good base and remains in mount.
Larson tries to hold on but Mankiev pushes him away.
Mankiev unloading with bombs!
Mankiev looking to control and managing it successfully.
Mankiev landing strikes from the mount.
Mankiev with shots to the head and body - Larson looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mankiev working Larson over with strikes here.
Mankiev lands with some strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mankiev with good strikes from the mount here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mankiev controlling from mount.
Alexander Mankiev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mankiev avoids the attempt from Larson to control.
Mankiev landing shots from mount.
Mankiev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mankiev pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mankiev content just to control the position here.
Mankiev connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mankiev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Larson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mankiev controlling his opponent.
Mankiev lands with some strikes.
Larson wants to control but Mankiev is having none of it.
Mankiev controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larson tries to hold on but Mankiev postures up.
Mankiev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Larson is bucking up trying to escape but Mankiev cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Mankiev controlling his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Larson can't escape the position.
Wolfe Larson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Larson taking shots to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Mankiev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mankiev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Mankiev!