PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Maanpohja (ranked 5348 p4p, 580 weight class) and Peaky Blinder (ranked 4490 p4p, 504 weight class). Blinder has chosen Dave not Dave - Cold blood as his entrance music. Johannes Maanpohja is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Maanpohja
vs
Blinder

171 cm
40
173 lbs
19 - 32 - 0

180 cm
28
183 lbs
11 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 19 - 32 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Maanpohja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Peaky Blinder!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, William Peck and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Blinder. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Blinder.
No luck for Maanpohja with that takedown attempt.

Maanpohja tries to sprawl but Blinder drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Blinder prevents Maanpohja from improving his position.

Blinder stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Maanpohja to get to his feet.
Maanpohja fails with the takedown
and Blinder counters with a two punch combo.
Blinder scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Maanpohja doesn't seem bothered though.

Maanpohja looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Blinder manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
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!
Maanpohja avoiding damage as Blinder throws knees to the body.
Blinder misses with a knee to the head.
Maanpohja takes a knee right on the jaw!
Blinder tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Maanpohja avoids it.
Blinder landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Blinder gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Maanpohja.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johannes Maanpohja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maanpohja has Blinder pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blinder manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maanpohja is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Blinder pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Maanpohja tries to score a body lock takedown but Blinder shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Blinder breaks from the clinch.
Blinder connects with a looping right hand.
Maanpohja shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Blinder as he jumps to the side.

Blinder closes the distance and clinches.
Blinder with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Blinder trying to land knees to the body.

Blinder breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Blinder works the jab nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Blinder tries to land knees in the clinch but Maanpohja avoids the damage to the body.
Maanpohja has Blinder pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blinder manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Blinder landing knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blinder stops a takedown attempt from Maanpohja.
Maanpohja drops down looking for an ankle pick but Blinder pulls his leg out and moves away.
Maanpohja is breathing heavily.
Maanpohja shoots in for a takedown but Blinder shows good takedown defense.
No luck for Maanpohja with that takedown attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Blinder throws a right hand that Maanpohja ducks under and follows up with a left that Maanpohja also avoids with ease.
Maanpohja shoots in but Blinder avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Blinder gets the takedown into side control.
Blinder working the ground and pound from side control.

Blinder decides to stand back up.

Maanpohja gets the takedown into side control.
Blinder tries to bench press Maanpohja off him but Maanpohja keeps the position.
Blinder is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Maanpohja's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maanpohja wants to free his trapped foot but Blinder is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are battling for position here. Blinder manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maanpohja won't allow Blinder to sweep him here.

Blinder is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Maanpohja presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Blinder lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Blinder prevents a takedown attempt there.
A nice right hand lands inside from Blinder.

Blinder has Maanpohja pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Blinder pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Maanpohja tumbling to the mat - Blinder dives into Maanpohja's guard.
Maanpohja seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Maanpohja keeping moving, preventing Blinder from controlling successfully.

Blinder gets to his feet - Maanpohja follows without any prompting.
Maanpohja fails with a takedown attempt.
Blinder is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maanpohja tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Blinder defends well and Maanpohja ends up having to push Blinder into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Blinder stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blinder wants it to stay on the feet.
Maanpohja shoots in but Blinder avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Maanpohja fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Blinder scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Blinder has Maanpohja up against the cage in a clinch.
A knee to the head by Blinder.
Maanpohja has Blinder pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blinder manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Maanpohja has Blinder pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blinder manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Maanpohja tries for a takedown but Blinder manages to get underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Blinder lands a nice knee to the body.
Blinder landing knees to the head.
Blinder lands a left hand that snaps the head of Maanpohja backwards.
Blinder using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Blinder lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peaky Blinder dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Blinder gets a double leg takedown into Maanpohja's guard.

Maanpohja had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Blinder defends it easily.
Blinder advances to half guard.
Blinder is trying to control the action in half guard but Maanpohja is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Blinder with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Maanpohja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Blinder pulls his head out easily.
Blinder is trying to control. Maanpohja 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.

Maanpohja actively working from the bottom here.
Blinder wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maanpohja keeps working.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Blinder connects with a nice short shot to Maanpohja's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blinder content to control rather than advance.
Blinder seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Maanpohja does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Maanpohja looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Maanpohja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Blinder pulls his head out easily.

Maanpohja looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Peaky Blinder has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Blinder gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Blinder gets a double leg takedown into Maanpohja's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja looking for subs off his back but Blinder has passed one foot through into half guard.
Maanpohja gets back to full guard.
Blinder controls from within his opponent's guard.
Blinder wants to control from the top but Maanpohja keeps moving.
Blinder would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Maanpohja is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Blinder wants to stand but Maanpohja has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blinder stands up from Maanpohja's guard - Blinder perhaps looking for a knockout.

Maanpohja bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Blinder tries to buck Maanpohja off but Maanpohja is having none of it.

Maanpohja is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Blinder knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Blinder tries to bench press Maanpohja off him but Maanpohja keeps the position.
Blinder sneaks back into half guard.
Maanpohja missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blinder is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Blinder is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Blinder has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Maanpohja seems to be looking for submissions.

Maanpohja is looking for a kimura but Blinder is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Maanpohja to get the leverage.
Blinder is looking to improve his position.
Blinder is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maanpohja's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maanpohja's back!
Our spies down at at LOD: Legion's PIT Fight Club inform us that Blinder has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blinder has good solid back control here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maanpohja tries to roll but Blinder sticks to his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peaky Blinder showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Maanpohja fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Blinder avoids it really well and circles away.
Blinder clobbers Maanpohja with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Blinder clinches up with Maanpohja and pushes him back against the cage.
Maanpohja can't get the takedown.
Maanpohja is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Blinder is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johannes Maanpohja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blinder prevents a takedown attempt there.
Blinder utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knees in the clinch landing for Blinder.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blinder scores with a shoulder strike.
Maanpohja takes a knee to the side of the body.
Blinder crunches a lovely knee into Maanpohja's ribcage.
Blinder unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Blinder breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blinder darts in and clinches Maanpohja up against the cage.
Blinder tries to land a knee to the head but Maanpohja blocks with his arms.
Maanpohja wants to take the fight to the mat but Blinder manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Maanpohja changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Blinder fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Johannes Maanpohja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Blinder clinches up against the cage.
Blinder landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Blinder scores with a hook to the body.
Blinder lands with a right to the head.
Maanpohja takes a knee to the side of the body.
Peaky Blinder seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Blinder landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Blinder pushes Maanpohja back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Blinder gets through Maanpohja's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Blinder breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Blinder thuds a left hand into Maanpohja's body.
Maanpohja walks forward, straight into a front kick from Blinder.
Blinder fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Peaky Blinder is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blinder throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Maanpohja's head.
Maanpohja looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Blinder.
Maanpohja shoots in for a takedown but Blinder shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Blinder gets a takedown into half guard.
Blinder is controlling the pace.

Maanpohja looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Blinder postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Maanpohja to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blinder lands a lovely overhand right.
Maanpohja fails with the takedown
and Blinder counters with a two punch combo.

Blinder pushes Maanpohja up against the cage in a clinch.
Blinder lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Blinder lands a takedown into guard.
Maanpohja keeping full guard, as Blinder tries to pass.

Blinder got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maanpohja has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Blinder has managed to get both his arms back between Maanpohja's legs - danger averted.
Maanpohja keeping moving, preventing Blinder from controlling successfully.
Blinder would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja working for submissions but it's allowed Blinder to get to half guard.
Blinder prevents Maanpohja from improving his position.
Blinder wants to get back to his feet.
Maanpohja is not content to let Blinder control the position.

Maanpohja looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Blinder wants to stand up but Maanpohja is controlling the position.
Johannes Maanpohja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Maanpohja actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peaky Blinder comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Blinder 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 26:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 25:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peaky Blinder!
Peaky Blinder seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.