PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Valdemar Friman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Connor McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Friman comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica - Damage Inc.. McManus has chosen Jeff Danna - 'The Blood of Cú Chulainn' as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Friman
vs
McManus

168 cm
42
160 lbs
25 - 25 - 0

177 cm
29
167 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valdemar Friman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Connor McManus!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Friman shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
McManus pulls Friman in close to prevent any damage.
Friman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Friman trying to control but McManus is working from the bottom.

Friman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Friman stopping the sweep attempt from McManus.
Friman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McManus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McManus working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Friman.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McManus looking to hit a scissor sweep but Friman is one step ahead there.

Friman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Friman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

McManus escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Friman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McManus keeping moving, preventing Friman from controlling successfully.
McManus wants to sweep but no luck.
McManus manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Friman manages to get himself to full guard.

Friman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
McManus scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Friman has his foot on McManus's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McManus works his way back into a safe position though.
McManus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Friman is keeping the position for now.
McManus wants to control from the top but Friman keeps moving.
Friman throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Friman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus throws a big right hand that misses.
Friman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Friman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Friman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McManus can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McManus trying to control the position from guard on top but Friman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McManus throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus trying to control the position from guard on top but Friman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McManus is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Friman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McManus's guard.
Friman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McManus wants to sweep but no luck.
Friman content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Friman wants to control from the top but McManus keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McManus is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Friman is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Connor McManus will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McManus misses with a head kick.
Friman doesn't manage to clinch there - McManus circles away.
Friman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McManus circles away quickly and effectively.
McManus gets cracked there but stands up to it.
McManus slips a jab from Friman.
McManus misses with a looping left.
Friman throws a big shot that misses.
McManus uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
McManus digs a good hook to Friman's body.
McManus is looking to clinch.
Friman throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Friman fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches McManus on the side of the head.
A cross from McManus lands.
McManus scores with a jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A head kick misses from McManus.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friman scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Valdemar Friman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McManus misses with a hook. Friman ducked under it nicely.
McManus misses with a straight right.
Friman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McManus.
Friman connects with an inside leg kick.
McManus tries to clinch but Friman moves out of range.
McManus keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

McManus shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. McManus showed some decent athleticism there.
McManus looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Friman trying to control but McManus postures up.
Connor McManus has got the better of the ground game so far.
Friman is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
McManus throwing shots but Friman is blocking nicely.
Friman is not content to let McManus control the position.
McManus winds up and cracks Friman with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Friman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friman is looking to control McManus's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Friman avoid being mounted?

Friman is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McManus pulls his head out easily.
McManus is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Friman keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
McManus with the ground and pound from mount.
McManus connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus controlling the position easily from mount.
Friman is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Friman bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Friman postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Connor McManus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Friman misses with a straight left.

Friman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in McManus's half guard.

McManus actively working from the bottom here.
Friman passes the guard and advances to mount!
McManus manages to regain half guard. Good work.
McManus has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Friman is pressing down on McManus's thigh, looking to free his foot. McManus is holding on for now.
Friman prevents McManus from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. McManus manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

McManus working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Friman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Friman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McManus wants to control the position but Friman says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
McManus tries to get to full guard but Friman has control of the leg.
McManus makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McManus.
McManus controlling the position.
McManus bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Friman's guard.
Friman seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
McManus preventing the sweep.
McManus lands a couple of decent looking shots.
McManus scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
McManus chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McManus.
Friman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Friman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McManus works a leg free and moves into half guard.
McManus thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Friman's head.
Friman tries to roll over but McManus keeps him under control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Friman is working hard here to advance position.
McManus is looking to advance position but Friman won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Friman wants to get back to full guard.
McManus tries to pass the half guard into mount. Friman knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Friman is not content to let McManus control the position.
Friman is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McManus's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McManus's back!
McManus breaks Friman's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Valdemar Friman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Friman working for a triangle but McManus defends it easily.
Friman is trying to keep McManus in close.
Connor McManus is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Friman can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McManus controls the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McManus is pushing down on Friman's leg trying to pass to half guard. Friman is fighting to maintain full guard but McManus has managed to sneak the leg through.

Friman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Connor McManus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McManus has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Connor McManus!
After winning the bout, Connor McManus thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.