PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lasse Mankeli (ranked 4927 p4p, 501 weight class) and Krzysztof Diaz (ranked 2764 p4p, 348 weight class). Lasse Mankeli had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.8lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Mankeli
vs
Diaz

182 cm
21
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
169 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Powerful

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lasse Mankeli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Krzysztof Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mankeli swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mankeli attempts a counter takedown but Diaz avoids it well and moves away.
Mankeli dodges the punch combination from Diaz.
Diaz throws a lazy head kick
enabling Mankeli to counter with a crisp jab.
Mankeli throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Diaz lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Mankeli avoids the head kick by Diaz.
Mankeli tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz walks forward, straight into a front kick from Mankeli.

Diaz closes the distance and clinches.
Diaz prevents a takedown attempt there.
Mankeli managing to block the knees to the body from Diaz.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diaz looking to throw knees to the head but Mankeli is blocking nicely.
Mankeli tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Diaz's elbow.
A right hook to the body lands for Diaz.
Mankeli pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mankeli is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz landing knees to the head.
Mankeli tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mankeli tries to break free but Diaz pushes him back against the cage.
Mankeli takes an elbow to the forehead.
Diaz landing knees to the head.
Diaz lands an elbow inside that Mankeli shrugs off.
Mankeli drops down looking for an ankle pick but Diaz pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lasse Mankeli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Diaz misses with the combination.
Diaz throws a low kick but Mankeli moves out of range easily.
Diaz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diaz swinging wildly here.
Diaz is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Diaz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Mankeli stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Diaz tries to close the distance and clinch but Mankeli swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Diaz darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
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!
Diaz lands a big head kick that sends Mankeli to the canvas! Diaz follows up with strikes from the mount that forces the ref to step in and stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Krzysztof Diaz!
A determined Krzysztof Diaz didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!