PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jari Aarnio (ranked 1334 p4p, 182 weight class) and Evgenii Mamchenko (ranked 2752 p4p, 344 weight class). Aarnio's entrance music is Ice Cube - Why We Thugs. A fine choice. 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.

Aarnio
vs
Mamchenko

198 cm
34
190 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

175 cm
27
198 lbs
14 - 7 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jari Aarnio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Evgenii Mamchenko!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mamchenko looks to land a right hand but Aarnio moved out of range.
Aarnio really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Aarnio bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mamchenko sizes up Aarnio with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Jari Aarnio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mamchenko slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Aarnio throws a jab when Mamchenko was well out of range.
Aarnio looks to throw the jab but Mamchenko is out of range.
Mamchenko throws a big shot that misses.
Mamchenko dives in for a single leg takedown but Aarnio sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Aarnio takes one to the chin there.
Aarnio has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mamchenko finds it's way round the side to connect with Aarnio's head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mamchenko. Aarnio does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mamchenko scores with a nice strike.
Aarnio pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Aarnio needs to keep his hands up - Mamchenko had a free shot at his head there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aarnio throws a body shot but no joy.
Mamchenko throws a lazy right hand but Aarnio sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Aarnio throws out a loose jab but Mamchenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mamchenko throws the left hand but Aarnio avoids the punch easily.
Aarnio walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mamchenko looks for a takedown but Aarnio sprawls well.
Aarnio waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mamchenko.

Mamchenko scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mamchenko perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mamchenko thows a huge punch but Aarnio dodges it nicely.
Mamchenko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aarnio's head.
Aarnio is looking for a sweep. Mamchenko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Aarnio makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Aarnio.
Mamchenko controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mamchenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Aarnio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aarnio seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Mamchenko controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aarnio had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mamchenko defends it easily.

Aarnio working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mamchenko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mamchenko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mamchenko slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mamchenko trying to control but Aarnio is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aarnio being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mamchenko stuns Aarnio with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mamchenko walks into a left hand.
Aarnio looks to throw the jab but Mamchenko is out of range.
Mamchenko throws out a counter right but Aarnio avoids it with no problem.
Aarnio moves out of range as Mamchenko strikes.
Aarnio ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mamchenko moves away.
A punch lands to the side of Aarnio 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Aarnio throws a jab but it's blocked by Mamchenko.
Aarnio scores with a sloppy right hand. Mamchenko should have avoided that one.
Aarnio steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mamchenko.
Aarnio throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Mamchenko counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mamchenko swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Aarnio.
Aarnio throws a head kick that misses
and Mamchenko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Mamchenko might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
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!
Aarnio jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Aarnio throws a hook but Mamchenko blocks it.
Mamchenko takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Aarnio throws a body shot but no joy.
Aarnio cracks Mamchenko with a right hand to the side of the head.
Mamchenko misses with an uppercut
and Aarnio connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Aarnio looks for a takedown but Mamchenko sprawls well.
Aarnio uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mamchenko.
Aarnio misses the shot to the body.
Mamchenko shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Mamchenko is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Aarnio had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Mamchenko connects with a nice looking jab.
Aarnio misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mamchenko.
A big left from Mamchenko misses.
Aarnio fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgenii Mamchenko dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Aarnio dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mamchenko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mamchenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Aarnio circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice uppercut there from Aarnio.
Mamchenko throws a right hand that misses
and Aarnio counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Aarnio misses with a head kick.
Mamchenko let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Mamchenko misses with a straight left.
Aarnio just misses with a punch to the body.
Aarnio scores with a nice head shot.
Aarnio uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mamchenko.
Mamchenko throws a poor cross that misses
and Aarnio counters with a straight right hand.
Mamchenko sizes up Aarnio with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Aarnio avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sloppy strikes from Aarnio. Those never looked like landing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mamchenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nice jab there from Mamchenko.
Aarnio shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aarnio looks for a takedown but Mamchenko sprawls well.
Aarnio throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mamchenko looks to land a right hand but Aarnio moved out of range.
Aarnio throws a jab but it's blocked by Mamchenko.
Aarnio doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Aarnio as Mamchenko shoots in.
Aarnio walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Aarnio scores with a sloppy right hand. Mamchenko should have avoided that one.

Mamchenko throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Aarnio tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mamchenko is in Aarnio's guard.

Aarnio has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mamchenko is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Aarnio.
The referee asks Mamchenko politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Mamchenko prefers to stall for the moment though.
Mamchenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aarnio keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mamchenko looking to control but instead Aarnio has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mamchenko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Aarnio does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mamchenko prevents Aarnio from improving his position.
Mamchenko takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Aarnio gets full guard.
Mamchenko trying to control but Aarnio is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aarnio is trying to keep Mamchenko in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mamchenko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mamchenko wants to control from the top but Aarnio keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mamchenko misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Aarnio counters with a nice uppercut.
Mamchenko ducks under a wild hook from Aarnio.
Mamchenko scores with the left hand. Aarnio knows he should have avoided that one.
Aarnio throws a body shot but no joy.
Mamchenko lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Aarnio uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mamchenko.
Mamchenko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aarnio.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aarnio throws a jab but it's blocked by Mamchenko.
No joy there for Aarnio, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Good shot there by Aarnio.
Mamchenko on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Mamchenko ducks under a wild hook from Aarnio.
Aarnio just misses with a punch to the body.
Aarnio misses with a wild body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big left from Mamchenko misses.
Aarnio ducks under a wild hook from Mamchenko.
Aarnio was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Aarnio moves forwards but Mamchenko connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Danga de danga de dang - Aarnio scores with a four punch combination!
A looping hook to the body misses from Mamchenko. Aarnio does a little dance to reset his feet.
Aarnio steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mamchenko.
The fighters circling - Mamchenko throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Aarnio jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Aarnio loads up on a big right hand but Mamchenko slips the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jari Aarnio will probably get the nod.
That's time! Aarnio's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Mamchenko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mamchenko has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Mamchenko scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Mamchenko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Aarnio slips under a jab from Mamchenko.
Mamchenko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Mamchenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice uppercut there from Mamchenko.
Mamchenko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Aarnio.
It seemed like Mamchenko was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Aarnio shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Mamchenko fails with the takedown.
Aarnio jabbing away but nothing is landing.
It seemed like Mamchenko was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Aarnio is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mamchenko.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aarnio takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Aarnio lands the left hand.
Mamchenko scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aarnio steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mamchenko.
Aarnio moves out of range of the strikes.
Mamchenko uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Aarnio has time to react.
Mamchenko looks to land a right hand but Aarnio moved out of range.
Aarnio displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mamchenko throws out the jab.
Aarnio connects with a right hand. Mamchenko shakes it off.
Aarnio lunges at Mamchenko with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mamchenko's hand.
Aarnio misses with a series of wild punches.
Mamchenko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Aarnio.
Aarnio throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Aarnio feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Mamchenkos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Aarnio throws out a loose jab but Mamchenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mamchenko cracks Aarnio with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Mamchenko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Aarnio.
A jab from Mamchenko finds it's way through Aarnio's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mamchenko shoots for a takedown but Aarnio saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Aarnio fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mamchenko manages to avoid it.
Mamchenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mamchenko misses with a left hand
and Aarnio counters with a straight right hand.
Aarnio scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Mamchenko shoots and misses
and Aarnio counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jari Aarnio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgenii Mamchenko.
Aarnio throws a jab when Mamchenko was well out of range.
Nice defenses there by Aarnio.
Aarnio pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mamchenko has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Aarnio misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jari Aarnio is winning the standup battle so far.
Aarnio lands with a cross.
Aarnio drops his hands momentarily and Mamchenko takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Aarnio uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mamchenko.
Mamchenko jabs Aarnio to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A slow jab from Mamchenko misses its intended target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Aarnio scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Aarnio thows a huge punch but Mamchenko dodges it nicely.
Mamchenko is staying active underneath Aarnio, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Aarnio looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Aarnio is looking to take a break and control but Mamchenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Aarnio is pressing down on Mamchenko's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mamchenko is holding on for now.

Aarnio seems to be looking for submissions.
Mamchenko is pressing down on Aarnio's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aarnio tries to free his leg and advance position but Mamchenko is retaining full guard.
Mamchenko is trying to control the position but Aarnio postures up.
Aarnio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mamchenko is keeping the position for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Aarnio throwing strikes but missing.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Aarnio moves away from the strike by Mamchenko.
Aarnio avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mamchenko tests Aarnio's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Aarnio misses with an uppercut. Mamchenko saw that one coming.

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 Jari Aarnio.
I think Aarnio has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jari Aarnio!
In his post fight interview, Jari Aarnio started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.