PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rogue Four (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johannes Maanpohja (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!

Four
vs
Maanpohja

175 cm
41
190 lbs
21 - 21 - 0

171 cm
33
173 lbs
16 - 23 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rogue Four!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Maanpohja!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maanpohja lands an overhand right.
Maanpohja shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Four as he jumps to the side.
Four keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Four misses with a two punch combination.
Maanpohja connects with a solid leg kick.
Maanpohja throws a left and a right that both miss

and Four counters with a shoot takedown. Maanpohja fights it but they end up in guard.

Maanpohja has his foot on Four's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Four works his way back into a safe position though.
Maanpohja keeping moving, preventing Four from controlling successfully.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Four keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Maanpohja's head.

Maanpohja had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Four defends it easily.
Four landing with the ground and pound.
Four works over Maanpohja with some ground and pound from guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Maanpohja looking for a guillotine here but Four defends easily.

Maanpohja throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Four works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Maanpohja keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Four seems to be working for a kimura but Maanpohja defends the submission attempt.

Four seems to be looking for submissions.

Four is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Four lands with a punch from half guard.
Four is nestled in close to Maanpohja, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Four moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Maanpohja.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maanpohja is looking for a sweep.
Four trying to control the action but Maanpohja is working from the bottom.
Maanpohja on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Maanpohja tries to improve position but can't.
Four lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Four scoring with punches and elbows.
Four tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Maanpohja taking a bit of punishment here - Four scoring with strikes.
Maanpohja manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Four wants to control but Maanpohja is keeping him busy.
Maanpohja is looking to improve his position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maanpohja is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Four scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja looking for submissions off his back.
Four seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Maanpohja looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Maanpohja looking for submissions off his back.

Maanpohja looking for submissions off his back.
Four lands strikes from half guard.

Maanpohja has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Four escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Four!
Maanpohja tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Four wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maanpohja manages to work his way to half guard, despite Four's best efforts.
Four prevents Maanpohja from improving his position.

Four is working for a kimura but Maanpohja is defending it quite comfortably.
Maanpohja tries to roll over but Four keeps him under control.

Four is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Maanpohja has managed to free his arm - good work.

Maanpohja looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Maanpohja is defending against the submission attempts here by Four.
Four takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogue Four 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.

A big right from Four misses.
Maanpohja shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Four defends it nicely.
Maanpohja misses with a low kick.
Four is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Maanpohja scores with a takedown into Four's guard.

Four throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Maanpohja postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maanpohja trying to control the position from guard on top but Four is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maanpohja must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Four controls Maanpohja momentarily but Maanpohja frees himself.
Maanpohja lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Four trying to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maanpohja's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rogue Four overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Maanpohja lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Maanpohja with a flurry of punches that miss.
Four is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Four keeping moving, preventing Maanpohja from controlling successfully.
Maanpohja throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Four works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maanpohja throws a big right hand that misses.

Four has his foot on Maanpohja's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Maanpohja works his way back into a safe position though.
Maanpohja trying to control the position from guard on top but Four is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maanpohja looking to sit in guard and control but Four gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Four throws a big right hand that misses.
Maanpohja preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Four defends it easily.
Four is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maanpohja can do to turn this around?
Four connects with a couple of short punches.

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

Maanpohja is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Four tries to free his leg and advance position but Maanpohja is retaining full guard.
Four works over Maanpohja with some ground and pound from guard.
Four landing some decent shots from guard.
Four scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Maanpohja throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Four lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Maanpohja is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Maanpohja is breathing heavily.
Four lands a couple of elbows.

Maanpohja looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Four controls from within his opponent's guard.

Maanpohja working for submissions but it's allowed Four to get to half guard.
Four lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Four is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Four winds up and cracks Maanpohja with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Maanpohja wants to get back to full guard.
Four content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Maanpohja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Four pulls his head out easily.
Four is nestled in close to Maanpohja, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Four drops an elbow to the side of Maanpohja's head.

Four seems to be looking for submissions.
Four landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Four lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Maanpohja is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogue Four dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Maanpohja uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Four.
Maanpohja throws a nice head kick!
Johannes Maanpohja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Maanpohja does no damage.
Maanpohja scores with the left hand. Four knows he should have avoided that one.
Maanpohja with a lazy takedown attempt

and Four counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Four wants to work for an arm triangle but Maanpohja is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Four lands with a punch from half guard.
Four winds up and cracks Maanpohja with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Maanpohja is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Four wants to take a breather but Maanpohja is having none of it.

Maanpohja looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Maanpohja takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Four lands with a punch from half guard.

Maanpohja is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Four works his way into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Four prevents Maanpohja from getting the reversal.
Four postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Maanpohja looks a forlorn figure.
Maanpohja is still in real trouble! Can Four finish him?
Four loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Maanpohja scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Four land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Four stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rogue Four!