PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Moshe Arnold (ranked 24738 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teppo Mansikka (ranked 6405 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Arnold
vs
Mansikka

167 cm
23
278 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

198 cm
18
261 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Moshe Arnold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Teppo Mansikka!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mansikka throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Moshe Arnold has been cut.
No joy there for Mansikka, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Arnold is looking to counter the offense by Mansikka and move into the clinch.
Mansikka jabs Arnold to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Danga de danga de dang - Mansikka scores with a four punch combination!
Arnold showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mansikka.
Mansikka will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Arnold tries to counter with a takedown but Mansikka is quick to defend against it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mansikka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Arnold really is a fat lump.
Mansikka throws a right and a left that Arnold avoids nicely.
As Mansikka tries to get set, Arnold tries to push him back and clinch up but Mansikka manages to avoid the attempt.
Mansikka throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Arnold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mansikka throws a sloppy head kick
and Arnold counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Mansikka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Teppo Mansikka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mansikka moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mansikka lands a head shot.
Arnold goes for a double leg but Mansikka avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Mansikka continues to drive forward.
Mansikka unleashes a big counter combination but Arnold bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Mansikka tries to bum rush Arnold with a series of wild strikes but Arnold uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mansikka throws a sloppy head kick
and Arnold counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mansikka tries to clinch up.
Arnold looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Teppo Mansikka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arnold keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Arnold wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Mansikka jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Arnold keeps the fight on the outside.
Sloppy strikes from Mansikka. Those never looked like landing.
As Mansikka looks to move away, Arnold throws a big counter combo but Mansikka just gets out of the way.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Arnold dodges the punch combination from Mansikka.
Arnold is looking to counter the offense by Mansikka and move into the clinch.
Mansikka scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Mansikka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mansikka looks winded!
Mansikka scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arnold gets the takedown into side control.

Mansikka throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Arnold.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Moshe Arnold. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mansikka falls off balance throwing a combination
and Arnold counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mansikka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mansikka misses with a combination

and Arnold counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Arnold breaks from the clinch.
Mansikka takes a swing at Arnold's ribcage but misses.
Arnold is looking to counter the offense by Mansikka and move into the clinch.

Mansikka gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Arnold to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Arnold throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mansikka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Arnold has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Arnold missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Arnold gets to his feet. Mansikka looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Arnold moves out of range of the body kick from Mansikka.
Mansikka throws a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teppo Mansikka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Moshe Arnold's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A punch combination from Mansikka misses.
Mansikka is looking to clinch but Arnold is avoiding it.
As Mansikka tries to get set, Arnold tries to push him back and clinch up but Mansikka manages to avoid the attempt.
Mansikka scores with a jab to the head.
Mansikka closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Mansikka lands with a hook. Arnold tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Mansikka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mansikka swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Arnold counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Teppo Mansikka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mansikka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Arnold dodges the punch combination from Mansikka.
Mansikka is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Mansikka moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Moshe Arnold is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mansikka will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Mansikka slaps away a takedown attempt from Arnold, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mansikka throws a right and a left that Arnold avoids nicely.
Arnold dodges the punch combination from Mansikka.
Arnold tries to counter by clinching up but Mansikka breaks away and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mansikka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Arnold is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mansikka's half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Arnold throwing shots but Mansikka is blocking nicely.
Arnold throwing shots but Mansikka is blocking nicely.
Arnold missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Arnold stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Arnold dives in and scores a takedown into Mansikka's guard.

Mansikka pushes Arnold off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mansikka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Arnold tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mansikka defends well and Arnold ends up having to push Mansikka into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mansikka misses with a double jab
and Arnold counters with a stiff right hand.

Arnold feints and as Mansikka raises his hands in defense, Arnold changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Arnold trying to control the position from guard on top but Mansikka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mansikka wants to get back to his feet but Arnold is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mansikka keeping moving, preventing Arnold from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Arnold drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Arnold jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Arnold is looking to work some ground and pound but Mansikka has wrist control.
Mansikka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Arnold stopping the sweep attempt from Mansikka.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Arnold pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mansikka avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mansikka thows a left - swing and a miss!
Arnold went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Mansikka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Arnold paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teppo Mansikka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Moshe Arnold's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Arnold feints and as Mansikka raises his hands in defense, Arnold changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Arnold postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Arnold throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Arnold postures up in Mansikka's guard and throws a big left but Mansikka blocks it.
Mansikka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Arnold throwing strikes but missing.

Arnold drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Arnold jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Arnold might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Mansikka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Arnold stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mansikka throws a combination that misses

and Arnold counters by clinching up.
Arnold fails to pull guard.

Arnold manages to break the clinch.
Mansikka misses with a body shot

and Arnold counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Arnold.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Mansikka.
Arnold is trying to pull guard but Mansikka has him pressed against the cage.

Arnold breaks from the clinch.
Arnold fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Moshe Arnold. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mansikka misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mansikka swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Arnold moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arnold fails to pull guard.

Arnold breaks the clinch.
A combination from Mansikka does no damage.
Arnold tries to counter by clinching up but Mansikka breaks away and moves out of range.
Arnold takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Arnold manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Mansikka on his heels. He'll look to pass Mansikka's guard now, I'm sure.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Arnold trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Moshe Arnold overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Arnold lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Mansikka wants to stand up but Arnold is controlling him.

Arnold gets to his feet. Mansikka looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mansikka misses with a right hand
and Arnold counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Arnold has a takedown stuffed.
Mansikka is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Mansikka misses with a straight left.
Arnold is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Mansikka.
Arnold slips under a jab from Mansikka.
Arnold is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Mansikka.
Mansikka gets off balance looking for a body kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Mansikka fails to land with a series of punches.
Arnold tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Mansikka manages to circle out of the way.
Arnold misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Teppo Mansikka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arnold is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mansikka sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Arnold tries for a takedown but Mansikka sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mansikka lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Mansikka darts in and clinches Arnold up against the cage.

Arnold pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mansikka throws a shot from downtown. Arnold moves away and avoids it.
Arnold is looking to counter the offense by Mansikka and move into the clinch.
Mansikka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Mansikka rushes Arnold and presses him up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Moshe Arnold.
I think Mansikka 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Teppo Mansikka!
Teppo Mansikka decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.