PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anssi Manninen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Morgan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Manninen
vs
Morgan

186 cm
18
192 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anssi Manninen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andrew Morgan!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Ben Hemmingworth and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Morgan closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Morgan decides to stand back up.
Manninen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Morgan moves into the clinch successfully.
Manninen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Morgan just stands there and leans against the cage.
Manninen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Morgan to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anssi Manninen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Morgan has picked Manninen up - he's going for a ride! Morgan dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Morgan wants to work for an arm triangle but Manninen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Manninen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Morgan wants to stand up but Manninen is controlling the position.

Morgan decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manninen with a poor takedown
enabling Morgan to counter with a crisp jab.
A combination from Morgan does no damage.

Morgan forces Manninen back against the cage and clinches.
Manninen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Morgan to keep the fight standing.
Morgan wants to break free but Manninen has control.
Manninen is trying to pull guard but Morgan has him pressed against the cage.
Manninen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Morgan walks away with a smile on his face. Manninen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Manninen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Morgan defends well and Manninen ends up having to push Morgan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Morgan has picked Manninen up - he's going for a ride! Morgan dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Morgan stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Manninen tries for a takedown but Morgan circles away easily
and Morgan counters with a straight right hand.
Manninen is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morgan slaps away a takedown attempt from Manninen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Morgan scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Manninen gets tackled into the cage by Morgan. Morgan maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morgan taking a breather.
Manninen is trying to pull guard but Morgan has him pressed against the cage.
Manninen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Manninen is trying to pull guard but Morgan has him pressed against the cage.
Manninen prevents Morgan from breaking the clinch.
Manninen jumps guard but Morgan stands there with Manninen around his waist. Manninen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Manninen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Morgan to keep the fight standing.
Morgan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Manninen.
Manninen avoids a wild elbow strike from Morgan.
Manninen landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manninen tries to pull guard but Morgan holds him up against the cage and eventually Manninen drops back down to his feet.
Manninen jumps guard but Morgan turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Morgan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Manninen tries to pull guard but Morgan forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Manninen successfully pulls guard.

Morgan stands and steps away. Manninen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Manninen avoids a punch combination nicely.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Morgan.
Morgan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Manninen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Manninen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Morgan.
Morgan with the ground and pound but Manninen regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morgan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Morgan wants to free his trapped foot but Manninen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Manninen works his way to full guard. Good work.

Manninen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Morgan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Morgan decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Manninen, up you get!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Morgan tries to bum rush Manninen with a series of wild strikes but Manninen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Anssi Manninen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Morgan lands the left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrew Morgan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Manninen shoots in for a takedown but Morgan shows good takedown defense.
Manninen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Manninen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anssi Manninen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Manninen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Morgan to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Morgan is looking to work some ground and pound but Manninen has wrist control.

Morgan stands up from Manninen's guard - Morgan perhaps looking for a knockout.
Morgan throws a head kick that misses.

Morgan drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Morgan stands up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morgan misses with a few strikes there.
Manninen fails with an attempt to clinch.

Morgan shoots in and gets a takedown into Manninen's guard.
Morgan wanted to stand there but Manninen had control of the position.

Manninen has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Morgan should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Manninen has tightened it up now! Morgan should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Anssi Manninen!
A very excited looking Anssi Manninen made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.