PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manningham Snapple (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and El Spico (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Snapple's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Young Money-YM Salute. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Snapple
vs
Spico

182 cm
27
180 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

184 cm
25
179 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™
Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Manningham Snapple!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, El Spico!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Snapple blocks a head kick by Spico.
Spico moves to clinch but Snapple breaks away
and Snapple counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
El Spico seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Snapple fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Snapple steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Spico.
Snapple lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Spico misses with a two punch combination.
Spico tries to close the distance and clinch but Snapple swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Spico throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Snapple.
Snapple throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Snapple fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Spico closes the distance looking to clinch
and Snapple counters with an outside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Spico moves in looking to clinch but Snapple pushes him off.
Spico closes the distance looking to clinch
and Snapple counters with a right hand to the body.
Spico looks gassed!

Nice combo by Snapple! Oh, that's hurt him - Spico falls to the canvas and Snapple follows him into side control.

It looks like El Spico has been cut.
Snapple is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Spico will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snapple in side control, throwing shots but Spico defends.

Snapple tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Snapple is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Spico is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Snapple laying and praying for a moment but Spico takes advantage and regains half guard.
Spico pushes Snapple off but Snapple dives into side control.
Snapple prevents Spico from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snapple throws an elbow but Spico slips to the side and avoids it well.
Spico being controlled for a moment.
Snapple throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Snapple in side control, throwing shots but Spico defends.

Snapple working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The strikes coming from Snapple are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Spico throws Snapple to one side and escapes!
Snapple connects with a single shot there.
Snapple looks to land a left hand but Spico moved out of range nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Snapple moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Spico lands a nice shot that snaps Snapple's head back.
Spico tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Spico instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manningham Snapple dominated that round.
The cut man is working on El Spico's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Snapple misses the shot to the body.
Spico throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Snapple keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Spico.
Snapple fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Spico manages to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Spico.
Spico tries to clinch up but Snapple circles away and keeps his distance.
Spico ducks under a wild hook from Snapple.
No joy there for Spico, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Spico tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Spico throws a left and a right that both miss
and Snapple connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nice body punch from Snapple.
Spico throws a lazy head kick
and Snapple counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Spico fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Snapple connects with the punch.
Spico tries to clinch
and Snapple counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Snapple throws a head kick but Spico moves out of range.
Spico is breathing heavily.
Snapple tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Spico was well out of range. Poor timing from Snapple.
Snapple scores with a jab to the body.
Snapple has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Snapple fails to land with a series of punches.
Spico looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Spico throws the kick towards the body but Snapple avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spico misses with a double jab
and Snapple cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Snapple takes a swing at Spico's ribcage but misses.
Snapple fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Spico instigates a clinch.
Snapple tries for a takedown. No joy.
Spico creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Spico misses with an elbow strike.
Snapple blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Snapple managing to block the knees to the body from Spico.
Snapple jumps guard but Spico stands there with Snapple around his waist. Snapple gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Snapple is working for takedown but Spico is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manningham Snapple. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Snapple tries to pull guard but Spico won't allow it.

Snapple gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Spico is refusing to be controlled, as Snapple sits in half guard.
Snapple is really struggling to control Spico but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Snapple stops Spico from getting back to his feet.
Snapple trying to control from half guard but Spico is working away.
Snapple wants to pass to mount but Spico is defending the position.

Snapple is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Spico defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snapple is keen to just control but Spico is a slippery customer.

Spico has one foot on Snapple's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Spico checks a low kick from Snapple.
Snapple throws a shot from downtown. Spico moves away and avoids it.
Snapple checks a low kick from Spico.
Snapple fails to land with a series of punches.
Snapple keeps the fight on the outside.
Spico throws a head kick that Snapple semi-blocks.
Spico keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Spico lands a really nice looking cross but Snapple seems unphased.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spico throws a lazy right hand but Snapple sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Manningham Snapple is winning the standup battle so far.
Spico wants to clinch.
Spico throws a leg kick which misses Snapple's front leg but catches the back leg as Snapple tries to avoid it.
Snapple throws a sloppy head kick and Spico moves out of range easily.
Some wild striking there from Spico.
Snapple lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Spico circles away quickly and effectively.
Spico tries to clinch there but Snapple circles away.
Snapple closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Spico moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Spico avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Snapple looks to land a combination but Spico avoids it well.
Spico lands with a right hand.

It looks like Manningham Snapple has been cut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spico tries to close the distance and clinch up but Snapple swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Snapple just misses with a punch to the body.
Spico throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Spico throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but El Spico will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Spico paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Spico connects with a high kick.
Snapple staying out of range there.
Spico lands a head kick. Snapple smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Snapple throws a head kick but Spico moves out of range.
Spico looks to clinch
and Snapple counters with a nice uppercut.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Snapple.
Spico lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A swing and a miss from Snapple.
Spico throws a head kick but Snapple moves out of range.
Snapple displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Spico throws out the jab.
Spico takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Snapple blocks a head kick by Spico.

Spico drives through and clinches with Snapple against the cage.
Spico lands a shoulder strike.
Snapple tries for a takedown. No joy.
Spico tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Snapple fails to pull guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Spico throws an elbow but it misses.

Snapple ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Snapple no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Spico thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spico stands and throws Snapple's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Snapple is not content to let Spico control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Spico lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Spico is looking to take a break and control but Snapple is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Spico has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Snapple is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Snapple sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Snapple trying to hold on to Spico's head to control him but Spico postures up.
Spico is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Snapple reverses the position - he's now on top in Spico's guard.
Snapple missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Snapple stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Spico swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Snapple won't allow Spico to get back to his feet.

Snapple thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Snapple throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
El Spico comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Spico has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... El Spico!