PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Taneli Maija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Manninen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Maija
vs
Manninen

183 cm
29
177 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

175 cm
27
154 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taneli Maija!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Manninen!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Franklyn Lucas and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maija shoots in and gets a takedown into Manninen's guard.
Maija passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Maija is staying tight to Manninen's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maija working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Maija cracks Manninen with a big right hand but Manninen just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.

Maija has hold of Manninen's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Manninen tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Maija cranks the arm and Manninen screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Manninen, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Taneli Maija!
Taneli Maija decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.