PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hank Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johannes Maanpohja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hughes
vs
Maanpohja

170 cm
23
170 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

171 cm
30
173 lbs
13 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hank Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Maanpohja!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maanpohja closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hughes quickly recovers to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Maanpohja is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Maanpohja is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hughes has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hughes controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Hughes tries to get to full guard but Maanpohja has control of the leg.
Hughes is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at The Warehouse, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Maanpohja is trying to control. Hughes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Maanpohja prevents Hughes from improving his position.
Maanpohja missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hughes manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Maanpohja trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hughes is trying to keep Maanpohja in close.
Maanpohja missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hughes working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hughes swats away the attempt to clinch by Maanpohja.
Maanpohja fails with a takedown attempt.
Hughes half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hughes throws a hook but Maanpohja blocks it.
Maanpohja misses with a takedown attempt - Hughes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Maanpohja goes for a double leg but Hughes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hughes continues to drive forward.
Hughes half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hank Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johannes Maanpohja.
Maanpohja blocks a head kick by Hughes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Hughes as Maanpohja shoots in.
Maanpohja closes the distance and clinches up with Hughes, looking for a takedown. Maanpohja pushes Hughes against the cage but Hughes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Maanpohja has his takedown stuffed

so Hughes counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Maanpohja throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hughes scoring with some ground and pound.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Maanpohja keeps moving.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maanpohja throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hughes lands a couple of digs.
Hughes lands a couple of digs.
Hughes lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hughes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hughes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hughes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hughes lands a couple of digs.
Hughes is working Maanpohja over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Maanpohja working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hughes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hughes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hughes passes Maanpohja's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hughes working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hughes trying to control from half guard but Maanpohja is working away.

Maanpohja actively working from the bottom here.
Hughes moves into full mount! Maanpohja won't be happy about that!
Hughes raining down shots from the mount!
Maanpohja is desperately trying to improve his position but Hughes has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Maanpohja looks a forlorn figure.
The referee warns Maanpohja that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Hughes breaks from Maanpohja's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Maanpohja is rocked!
Hughes sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Maanpohja is still in real trouble! Can Hughes finish him?
Hughes trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Maanpohja is bucking up trying to escape but Hughes cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Maanpohja keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Maanpohja seems to have recovered his senses.
A nice elbow there by Hughes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hughes postures up and throws a massive shot that knocks Maanpohja out cold! Two more strikes to his unconscious opponent for good luck and this one is all over! Hughes goes absolutely crazy with his corner! Wow, you can see how much that win means to him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Hank Hughes!