PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eliézer Machado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ludwig Manres (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Machado might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes. Manres has chosen Aqualung - Jethro Tull as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Machado
vs
Manres

184 cm
34
177 lbs
21 - 18 - 0

182 cm
37
187 lbs
25 - 29 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 21 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eliézer Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ludwig Manres!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Manres drives through with a takedown into Machado's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Manres trying to control the position from guard on top but Machado is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Manres slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Manres postures up in Machado's guard and throws a big left but Machado blocks it.
Manres slips nicely into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manres has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Manres punching from mount but Machado doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manres looking to ground and pound but Machado is blocking nicely.
My spies in Helsinki Public Gym inform me that Manres has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Manres has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Machado tries to hold on but Manres postures up.
Manres looking to finish with strikes here!
Manres sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Manres thowing shots but they're missing.
Manres looking to land elbow strikes but Machado uses the position to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manres not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Manres is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Machado reverses the position - he's now on top in Manres's guard.

Machado got a little sloppy there for a moment and Manres has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Machado has managed to get both his arms back between Manres's legs - danger averted.
Machado would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manres controls Machado momentarily but Machado frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manres has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Machado has passed into side control.
Manres manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machado avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Manres.
Still in half guard, Manres seems content to control.

Manres is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Machado defends it well.
Manres trying to mount his opponent but Machado defends it.
Manres throwing shots but Machado is blocking nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Manres throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludwig Manres dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Manres shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Machado looking for a sweep. Not yet Machado, not yet.
Manres looking to pass the guard.
Manres postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Machado keeping moving, preventing Manres from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manres looking to pass the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Manres fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Machado is out of range.
Manres shoots in but no luck this time.
It looked like Machado was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Manres closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Machado quickly recovers to half guard.
Ludwig Manres has got the better of the ground game so far.
Manres stalling away here and it's allowed Machado to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Manres postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manres scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Manres stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Machado swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Manres wants to control from the top but Machado keeps moving.
Manres passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Manres is looking to take a break and control but Machado is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The strikes coming from Manres are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Machado's face as Manres controls the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Manres.
Manres wants to control but Machado is keeping him busy.
Machado taking punishment in the form of punches.
An elbow from Manres crashes against the mat.
Machado tries to bench press Manres off him but Manres keeps the position.
Manres is looking to take a break and control but Machado is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Manres tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Manres looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Manres is trying to ground and pound but Machado uses the momentary lack of control by Manres to regain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Manres thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludwig Manres showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Manres keeps the fight on the outside.
Manres throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Machado wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Manres fails to land the takedown.
Machado is looking to counter the offense by Manres and move into the clinch.
Manres has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Manres rushes Machado and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Manres has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Manres blocks an elbow strike.
Manres blocks an elbow strike.
Machado throws a head punch that misses.
Manres wants a takedown but no success here.
Our sources have told us that Machado has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Eliézer Machado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ludwig Manres.

Manres jumps into guard, dragging Machado to the mat.
Machado is looking to stand up but Manres won't let him.

Machado decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Eliézer Machado is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Manres gets tackled into the cage by Machado. Machado maintains the clinch.
Machado swings wildly with an uppercut but Manres uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machado prevents a takedown attempt there.
Machado blocks the elbow strike.
Manres jumps guard but Machado turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Manres blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Manres is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Machado to keep the fight standing.
Manres tries to pull guard but Machado won't allow it.

Manres has hold of one of Machado's legs. Machado is fighting the takedown attempt but Manres gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Manres trying to control but Machado is working from the bottom.
Manres trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manres slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Manres loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Machado looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Machado keeping full guard, as Manres tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Manres has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Manres tries for a takedown but Machado sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Machado throwing a counter right hand but Manres manages to avoid it.
Machado stuffs the takedown.
Eliézer Machado is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Manres gets tackled into the cage by Machado. Machado maintains the clinch.
Eliézer Machado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machado lands a body punch in the clinch.
Manres is looking to take this one to the mat.
Machado looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Manres's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Machado has closed the distance and engaged Manres in a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Machado scores with a nice short uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eliézer Machado showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Manres has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ludwig Manres!