PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Maanpohja (ranked 3526 p4p, 337 weight class) and Rascal Donkashane (ranked 4067 p4p, 372 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Maanpohja
vs
Donkashane

171 cm
43
173 lbs
23 - 42 - 0

183 cm
32
180 lbs
14 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Experienced

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 23 - 42 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Maanpohja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rascal Donkashane!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Donkashane drives through and clinches with Maanpohja against the cage.
Maanpohja has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Donkashane is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Donkashane lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Maanpohja backwards.

Donkashane breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maanpohja shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Donkashane but Donkashane pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Donkashane doesn't manage to clinch there - Maanpohja circles away.
Maanpohja has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johannes Maanpohja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maanpohja tries to score a power double leg takedown but Donkashane sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Maanpohja somewhat.
Donkashane wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Donkashane as Maanpohja shoots in.

Donkashane shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Maanpohja's guard.
Donkashane scoring with some ground and pound.
Donkashane throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Donkashane got a little sloppy there for a moment and Maanpohja has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Donkashane has managed to get both his arms back between Maanpohja's legs - danger averted.
Maanpohja keeping moving, preventing Donkashane from controlling successfully.
Maanpohja might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maanpohja preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Donkashane looking to pass the guard.

Maanpohja looking for a guillotine here but Donkashane defends easily.
Maanpohja preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donkashane working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Donkashane stands and throws Maanpohja's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Donkashane is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maanpohja has escaped the position, nice work there.

Donkashane tries for a kimura but Maanpohja is defending well.
Donkashane scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Maanpohja to see if he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donkashane grinds an elbow into Maanpohja's temple.
Donkashane creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

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 fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Donkashane thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Donkashane trying to control the position but Maanpohja is working away.

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!

Donkashane tries for a kimura but Maanpohja is defending well.
Maanpohja is looking to reverse the position.

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

Donkashane stands up and beckons Maanpohja to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maanpohja misses with a takedown attempt - Donkashane sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Donkashane let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Donkashane wants to clinch up but Maanpohja keeps it at a distance.
Nice sprawl there from Donkashane as Maanpohja shoots in.
Donkashane appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Donkashane tries to close the distance and clinch but Maanpohja swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Donkashane leaves Maanpohja with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Maanpohja looks for a takedown but Donkashane sprawls well.

Donkashane closes the distance and pushes Maanpohja back into the cage.

Donkashane has Maanpohja pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Donkashane pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Maanpohja tumbling to the mat - Donkashane dives into Maanpohja's guard.

Maanpohja throws his legs up looking for a submission but Donkashane uses it to pass to side control.

Donkashane is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maanpohja has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donkashane slows the pace down.
Maanpohja is looking to regain half guard here but Donkashane keeps moving and retains side control.
Donkashane is looking to take a break and control but Maanpohja is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maanpohja is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Donkashane is trying to get an arm triangle but Maanpohja is defending well.
Maanpohja is looking for a sweep.

Donkashane is trying to get an arm triangle but Maanpohja is defending well.

Donkashane looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rascal Donkashane dominated that round.
That's time! Maanpohja's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Donkashane enables Maanpohja to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Donkashane manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Donkashane working a defensive guard here.
Maanpohja lands a couple of digs.

Maanpohja got a little sloppy there for a moment and Donkashane has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Maanpohja has managed to get both his arms back between Donkashane's legs - danger averted.

Donkashane looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Donkashane wants to sweep but no luck.
Donkashane has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Donkashane has his foot on Maanpohja's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Maanpohja works his way back into a safe position though.
Donkashane doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maanpohja scoring with some ground and pound.

Donkashane working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maanpohja doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maanpohja manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Maanpohja drops back, looking for a kneebar! Donkashane looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Donkashane looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Donkashane!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maanpohja is looking for a sweep.
Donkashane trying to control the action but Maanpohja is working from the bottom.
Donkashane might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Maanpohja haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Maanpohja tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Donkashane tries for a kimura but Maanpohja is defending well.
Maanpohja tries to bench press Donkashane off him but Donkashane keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Maanpohja takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Donkashane looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Maanpohja is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Maanpohja is not content to let Donkashane control the position.
Donkashane landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Donkashane controlling from side mount.
Donkashane trying to control the action but Maanpohja is working from the bottom.

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!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maanpohja tries to buck Donkashane off but Donkashane is having none of it.

Donkashane wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Maanpohja, who protects the arm well.

Donkashane looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Donkashane is looking to take a break and control but Maanpohja is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maanpohja tries to improve position but can't.
Donkashane lands an elbow.
Donkashane trying to control the action but Maanpohja is working from the bottom.
Rascal Donkashane has got the better of the ground game so far.
Donkashane is working Maanpohja over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maanpohja dodges the ground and pound from Donkashane.
Maanpohja is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Donkashane off and has taken his back!
I really don't envy Donkashane right now.

Donkashane preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Maanpohja.
Maanpohja lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Maanpohja doesn't have the hooks in and Donkashane manages to turn into his guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Maanpohja throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Donkashane trying to control but Maanpohja is working from the bottom.
Donkashane advances to half guard.
Maanpohja is looking for a sweep. Donkashane is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Maanpohja actively working from the bottom here.

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 showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Donkashane taking a breather.
Maanpohja is working for takedown but Donkashane is calmly controlling the position for now.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Donkashane.
Donkashane throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Maanpohja wants a takedown.
Maanpohja has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Donkashane after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johannes Maanpohja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Donkashane lands a hook to the side of the head.
Maanpohja is looking to take this one to the mat.
Donkashane has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Maanpohja is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Donkashane gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Donkashane stalling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Donkashane lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Donkashane lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Donkashane is pushing Maanpohja up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Maanpohja turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Maanpohja manages to end up in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donkashane is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Maanpohja off and has taken his back!

Maanpohja defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Donkashane's arms.
Donkashane is punishing Maanpohja with some ground and pound.

Maanpohja won't enjoy being in this position. Donkashane looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Maanpohja is tapping - it's over boys! Donkashane picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rascal Donkashane!