PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gum Shoe (ranked 344 p4p, 54 weight class) and Manu Ahonen (ranked 1447 p4p, 213 weight class). Ahonen has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shoe
vs
Ahonen

178 cm
27
180 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

182 cm
26
178 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Fanatic Inc.
Aspire Clothing

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 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gum Shoe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manu Ahonen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahonen scores with a nice right hand.
Ahonen shoots in for a takedown but Shoe shows good takedown defense.
Shoe throwing a counter right hand but Ahonen manages to avoid it.
Ahonen blocks a jab.
Ahonen throws a right hand that misses
and Shoe counters with a series of strikes. Ahonen will be more careful next time no doubt.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Ahonen has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
A slow jab from Shoe misses its intended target.
Shoe has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ahonen.
Shoe finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Ahonen gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ahonen misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Ahonen throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Shoe is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ahonen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shoe is trying to get back to full guard.
Ahonen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shoe's head.
Ahonen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ahonen is looking to take a break and control but Shoe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahonen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Shoe is trying to stand.
Ahonen prevents Shoe from improving his position.
Shoe knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ahonen on the ground.
Shoe wants to control but Ahonen is keeping busy.
Shoe taking some punishment here, with Ahonen in his half guard.
Shoe wants to get back to his feet.
Shoe is trying to get back to full guard.
Ahonen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ahonen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ahonen winds up and cracks Shoe with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen uses his free foot to push down on Shoe's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Shoe.
Ahonen prevents Shoe from getting the reversal.
Shoe is bucking up trying to escape but Ahonen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Ahonen with the ground and pound from mount.
Ahonen landing shots from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ahonen thowing shots but they're missing.
Ahonen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Ahonen lands with some strikes.
Shoe tries to hold on but Ahonen pushes him away.
Ahonen scoring with strikes but Shoe is staying in there.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ahonen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Shoe is looking to escape.
Ahonen with shots to the head and body - Shoe looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shoe controls the position.
Ahonen landing strikes, looking to finish!
BOOM! Ahonen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Shoe is trying to stand.
Ahonen looking to control but Shoe is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Shoe is in a horrible position here. Ahonen smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Ahonen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Shoe?
Ahonen landing strikes from the mount and Shoe is in trouble!
Ahonen lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Shoe looks a forlorn figure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ahonen with the ground and pound from mount.
Ahonen looking to finish Shoe with some ground and pound. This is bad for Shoe!
Shoe squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Shoe is desperately trying to improve his position but Ahonen has a good base and remains in mount.
Ahonen landing punches.
Ahonen looking to control but Shoe is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Shoe slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ahonen stops Shoe from getting back to his feet.
Ahonen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ahonen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Ahonen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ahonen misses the shot to the body.
Shoe moves forwards but Ahonen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Shoe connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Shoe comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Shoe pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Shoe misses the shot to the body.
Ahonen tests Shoe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Shoe checks a leg kick.
Ahonen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shoe lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shoe. Ahonen does a little dance to reset his feet.
A clash of legs there as Ahonen blocks the low kick.
Shoe fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ahonen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ahonen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shoe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shoe takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Shoe bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ahonen lands with a right hand.
A jab from Shoe misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahonen ducks under a wild hook from Shoe.
Shoe cracks the inside of Ahonen's front leg.
Ahonen walks into a left hand.
Shoe throws a poor cross that misses
and Ahonen counters with a three punch combo that has Shoe backing up. Shoe nods at Ahonen to acknowledge the strikes.
Gum Shoe is winning the standup battle so far.
A left lands for Ahonen.
Ahonen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Shoe.
Ahonen blocks the body kick.
Shoe takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Shoe throws a chopping leg kick but Ahonen manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Shoe lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ahonen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Shoe counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shoe uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ahonen.
Shoe misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ahonen checks a leg kick nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shoe connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ahonen. Ahonen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Gum Shoe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ahonen lands with an overhand left.
Ahonen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shoe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Shoe as he checks the leg kick.
Ahonen lands a jab to the head.
Ahonen lands with an uppercut that bounces Shoe off the cage and back into range.
Shoe misses with a hook. Ahonen ducked under it nicely.
It seemed like Ahonen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ahonen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shoe. Shoe obviously looking to wear him down.
A jab from Ahonen misses.
Shoe is looking to counter punch.
Ahonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shoe was well out of range. Poor timing from Ahonen.
Ahonen misses with a wild body shot.
Ahonen scores with a jab.
Shoe throws a leg kick which misses Ahonen's front leg but catches the back leg as Ahonen tries to avoid it.
Ahonen is looking to clinch.
Good exchange - Ahonen coming out on top.
Ahonen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shoe.
Ahonen fails in his attempt to clinch.
That kick from Shoe tenderised Ahonen's leg. Ahonen is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ahonen missing with a left hand there. Shoe was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shoe scores with a decent looking hook.
Ahonen lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Shoe throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ahonen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ahonen slips under a jab from Shoe.
Shoe steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Ahonen. That one must have hurt.
Ahonen misses with a looping right.
Shoe takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Ahonen misses with a hook.
Ahonen throws a jab when Shoe was well out of range.
Manu Ahonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ahonen tries to clinch
and Shoe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shoe wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ahonen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Shoe on the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Ahonen misses its intended target.
Shoe scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ahonen connects with a leg kick. Shoe looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ahonen throws a jab but it's blocked by Shoe.
Shoe takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ahonen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Shoe throws a right and a left that Ahonen avoids nicely.
Ahonen misses the shot to the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Shoe.
Shoe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ahonen.
Shoe throws a body shot but no joy.
Ahonen walks into a straight right hand from Shoe.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ahonen misses with a takedown attempt
and Shoe connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Shoe works Ahonen's body with a nice hook.
A low kick from Shoe is predictable there
and Ahonen counters with a nice leg kick.
Ahonen throws a lazy uppercut
and Shoe counters with a straight right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Manu Ahonen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ahonen throws a body punch but Shoe moves out of range.
Shoe finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Ahonen with the counter takedown but Shoe avoids it easily.
Ahonen blocks a jab.
Ahonen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Shoe drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ahonen throws a jab but it's blocked by Shoe.
Shoe fakes the leg kick and cracks Ahonen in the body.
Ahonen scores with a nice right hand.
Ahonen throws a low kick but Shoe avoids it.
Shoe lands a head kick. Ahonen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Shoe misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ahonen.
Shoe needs to keep his hands up - Ahonen had a free shot at his head there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahonen slips under a jab from Shoe.
Ahonen scores with a hook to the body. Shoe takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nice jab there from Ahonen.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ahonen checks a low kick from Shoe.
Shoe staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahonen throws a jab but it's blocked by Shoe.
Shoe throws a front kick aimed at Ahonen's knee but Ahonen avoids it well.
Ahonen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Shoe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ahonen tries to clinch up but Shoe circles away and keeps his distance.
Shoe is looking to counter punch.
Ahonen throws a hook but Shoe avoids it easily.
Ahonen throws a push kick but Shoe slaps the foot to one side.
Ahonen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Shoe throws out a leg kick but Ahonen moves out of range and Shoe only half commits.
Shoe loads up on a big right hand but Ahonen slips the punch.
Ahonen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ahonen misses with a hook
and Shoe counters with a body kick that stops Ahonen in his tracks momentarily.
Ahonen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Good leg kick by Shoe there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ahonen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shoe tries to move into range but Ahonen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen misses with a hook. Shoe ducked under it nicely.
Ahonen lands a slapping body shot.
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!
Shoe takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Ahonen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ahonen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Shoe bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Shoe takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A low kick from Ahonen misses
and Shoe counters with a straight right hand.
Shoe throws a head kick but Ahonen moves out of range.
Shoe tests Ahonen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Ahonen throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Ahonen dips to his left and cracks Shoe with an uppercut!
Ahonen misses with a wild body shot.
Shoe keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ahonen.
Shoe was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gum Shoe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen is looking to score with low kicks.
Ahonen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ahonen scoring well with a low kick there.
Ahonen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Shoe's hands.
Shoe on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Shoe looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A big right from Shoe misses.
Shoe staying out of range there.
Shoe darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ahonen lands a head shot.
Shoe pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shoe chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ahonen can pounce on him.
Nice body kick from Shoe.
Ahonen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shoe swings for the body but Ahonen moves out of range.
A nice side step and Ahonen releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shoe throws a low kick but Ahonen moves out of range easily.
Shoe throws a looping overhand right but Ahonen ducks down to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen moves away from the strike by Shoe.
Ahonen lands a slapping body shot.
Ahonen throws a shot to the body.
Shoe getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Shoe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ahonen.
A slapping leg kick lands for Shoe.
Ahonen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ahonen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Shoe moves out of range of the leg kick from Ahonen.

Shoe tries to keep at a distance but Ahonen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ahonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ahonen prevents a body shot from Shoe.
Ahonen swings wildly with an uppercut but Shoe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shoe lands an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manu Ahonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ahonen 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manu Ahonen!
A less than humble Manu Ahonen misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.
Gum Shoe was interviewed post fight and said 'I will stick to you like glue until I find you and keel yew!'.