PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Maanpohja (ranked 3572 p4p, 368 weight class) and Rascal Donkashane (ranked 4639 p4p, 439 weight class). Rascal Donkashane will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Maanpohja
vs
Donkashane

171 cm
42
173 lbs
22 - 38 - 0

183 cm
31
180 lbs
12 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 22 - 38 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Maanpohja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rascal Donkashane!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Donkashane forces Maanpohja back against the cage and clinches.
I was talking to Maanpohja's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Maanpohja drops down looking for an ankle pick but Donkashane pulls his leg out and moves away.
Maanpohja fails with a takedown attempt.
Donkashane tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Maanpohja manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Donkashane tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maanpohja shoots for a takedown but Donkashane saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johannes Maanpohja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Donkashane!
Horrible takedown attempt by Maanpohja or perhaps it was just good defense by Donkashane, which made it look bad.

Donkashane scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Maanpohja tries to buck Donkashane off but Donkashane is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Donkashane wants to control but Maanpohja is keeping him busy.

Donkashane tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Donkashane has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
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 tries to buck Donkashane off but Donkashane is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donkashane landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Donkashane looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maanpohja is looking to regain half guard here but Donkashane keeps moving and retains side control.
Donkashane has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Donkashane looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Maanpohja is being controlled here.

Donkashane working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Donkashane wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maanpohja keeps working.
Maanpohja is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Donkashane off and has taken his back!

Maanpohja is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Donkashane has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Maanpohja avoiding Donkashane 's attempts to control his hands.
Donkashane is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Donkashane defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Donkashane wants to get back to his feet.
Donkashane can't escape the position.
Donkashane has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Donkashane manages to reverse the position and now he's in Maanpohja's guard. Nice work there by Donkashane.
Donkashane throwing strikes but missing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Maanpohja escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Donkashane gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Donkashane stands up over Maanpohja, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Maanpohja is looking to sweep but instead, Donkashane has passed into half guard.
Donkashane 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donkashane is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Maanpohja!
Donkashane prevents Maanpohja from getting the reversal.

Donkashane working for a submission but Maanpohja is keeping him at bay.

Donkashane wants to finish this one by submission but Maanpohja is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Donkashane.
Maanpohja is trying to escape the mount.

Donkashane looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Maanpohja bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Maanpohja is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Maanpohja trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Donkashane manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Maanpohja can't keep his opponent in guard - Donkashane advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Donkashane is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Maanpohja doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Donkashane.

Donkashane seems to be working for a kimura but Maanpohja defends the submission attempt.

Maanpohja looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Donkashane is keen to just control but Maanpohja is a slippery customer.

Donkashane is trying to work for a kimura but Maanpohja is defending well.
Maanpohja is pressing down on Donkashane's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Donkashane passes Maanpohja's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Maanpohja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Donkashane pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rascal Donkashane dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maanpohja gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Donkashane's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Donkashane taking a bit of punishment here - Maanpohja scoring with strikes.

Maanpohja swings around for an armbar but Donkashane sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Maanpohja's guard.

Maanpohja looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Donkashane trying to control the position from guard on top but Maanpohja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Donkashane thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donkashane makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Maanpohja has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Donkashane can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Maanpohja had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Donkashane defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donkashane postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Donkashane keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Maanpohja's head.
Donkashane with a nice head shot there.
Donkashane is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Donkashane thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Donkashane pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Maanpohja is keeping the position for now.

Maanpohja throws his legs up looking for a submission but Donkashane uses it to pass to side control.
Maanpohja is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rascal Donkashane has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Donkashane tries for a kimura but Maanpohja is defending well.

Donkashane has hold of Maanpohja's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Maanpohja tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Donkashane cranks the arm and Maanpohja screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Maanpohja, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Rascal Donkashane!