PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Loel (ranked 1473 p4p, 202 weight class) and Johannes Maanpohja (ranked 6312 p4p, 588 weight class). Loel kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bush - Glycerine. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Loel
vs
Maanpohja

180 cm
26
186 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

171 cm
40
173 lbs
19 - 33 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

THE END 32

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yuri Loel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 33 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Maanpohja!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maanpohja shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Loel counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Maanpohja fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Loel sprawls well initially but Maanpohja persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Loel is looking for a sweep. Maanpohja is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Maanpohja lands a nice short elbow.
Loel is looking for a sweep. Maanpohja is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Maanpohja wants to work for an arm triangle but Loel is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

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

Maanpohja seems to be working for a kimura but Loel defends the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Loel is looking for a sweep. Maanpohja is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Maanpohja is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loel wants to get back to full guard.
Maanpohja is pressing down on Loel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Loel is holding on for now.

Maanpohja wants to work for an arm triangle but Loel is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Loel wants to get back to his feet.
Loel blocking the ground and pound attempt from Maanpohja.
Loel is trying to get back to full guard.
Loel is working hard here to advance position.

Maanpohja is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Loel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Maanpohja is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loel tries to roll over but Maanpohja keeps him under control.

Maanpohja is trying to work for a kimura but Loel is defending well.
Loel trying to control from the bottom.
Maanpohja throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Maanpohja is thwarting Loel's attempts to control the position.
Loel gets full guard.

Maanpohja drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Maanpohja jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Maanpohja tries to free his leg and advance position but Loel is retaining full guard.

Loel manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Maanpohja or perhaps it was just good defense by Loel, which made it look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maanpohja dives in and grabs Loel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Loel pushes down on Maanpohja's head and hops out.
Yuri Loel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johannes Maanpohja.
Maanpohja shoots and misses
and Loel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Loel swings for the body but Maanpohja moves out of range.
Maanpohja drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Loel throws a lazy right hand but Maanpohja sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Danga de danga de dang - Loel scores with a four punch combination!
Johannes Maanpohja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Loel scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Maanpohja with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Loel to counter with a crisp jab.

Maanpohja is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Loel cracks Maanpohja with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Maanpohja tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Loel pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Maanpohja is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yuri Loel!
After winning the bout, Yuri Loel thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.