PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Konstantin Manison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaakko Savolainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Manison might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Wherever I May Roam. The key to victory for Konstantin Manison has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Manison
vs
Savolainen

185 cm
23
200 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

184 cm
24
187 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

VICIOUS FIGHT GEAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Konstantin Manison!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaakko Savolainen!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manison pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Savolainen back to the cage. Manison follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

It looks like Jaakko Savolainen has been cut.
Manison throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Savolainen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Savolainen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big left from Manison misses.
Manison scores with a jab to the jaw.
Good standup being displayed there by Manison as he connects with a hook.
Savolainen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Savolainen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Manison's sensitive parts.
Manison looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Manison misses with a few strikes there.
Manison swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Savolainen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Savolainen throws a big elbow that misses.
Savolainen lands a couple of digs.
Manison keeping moving, preventing Savolainen from controlling successfully.
Manison knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Savolainen on the ground.
Savolainen with a nice head shot there.
Manison preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Savolainen won't allow Manison to get back to his feet.
Savolainen chips away with some ground and pound.
Savolainen is in close to Manison's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Savolainen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savolainen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Manison is keeping the position for now.
Manison wants to sweep here but Savolainen controlling him for the moment.

Manison has his feet on Savolainen's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Savolainen throws a lazy right hand but Manison sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A swing and a miss from Manison.
Savolainen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nice uppercut lands for Savolainen. That snapped Manison's head back.
Savolainen misses with a body shot.
Manison stuffs the takedown.
No joy there for Manison, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Manison throws a hook to the side of Savolainen's head but Savolainen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big right from Manison misses.
Manison swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Savolainen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manison working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Savolainen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Savolainen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Savolainen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Manison's head.
Savolainen preventing the sweep.

Manison working for a triangle but Savolainen defends it easily.
Savolainen stands up over Manison, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Manison is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Manison has momentary wrist control but Savolainen slips an elbow through the middle.
Savolainen won't allow Manison to sweep him here.
Manison is trying to control the position but Savolainen postures up.
Savolainen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Savolainen preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manison is working hard here to advance position.
Savolainen connects with a couple of short punches.
Manison is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Savolainen is controlling him.
Savolainen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Savolainen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Savolainen trying to control but Manison is working from the bottom.
Savolainen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savolainen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Manison works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Savolainen trying to control but Manison is working from the bottom.
Savolainen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Savolainen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Manison is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Manison on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manison is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Savolainen working the head and body with strikes.
Manison is trying to get back to half guard.
Savolainen in side control lands a decent elbow.
Check out the look on Savolainen's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Manison tries to improve position but can't.
Manison struggling a bit here.
Savolainen landing a few strikes.
Savolainen tries to move into full mount but can't pass Manison's legs.
Savolainen lands a decent elbow from side control.
Manison takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Manison wants to control but Savolainen postures up.
Savolainen is looking to take a break and control but Manison is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Manison sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Savolainen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jaakko Savolainen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Savolainen moves out of range of the strikes.
Manison throws a right and a left that both miss.
Konstantin Manison is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Savolainen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Savolainen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Manison.
Jab by Savolainen.
Savolainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Savolainen lands a head shot.
Manison lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Manison.
Savolainen fails with the takedown.
Savolainen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Manison.
Savolainen staying out of range there.
Savolainen misses with a looping left.
Manison rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Savolainen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savolainen ducks under a wild hook from Manison.
Savolainen on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That has opened up Jaakko Savolainen's cut even more.
Savolainen chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savolainen cracks Manison with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Manison moves out of range of the body kick from Savolainen.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Savolainen.
Savolainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Manison moves away.
Konstantin Manison is winning the standup battle so far.

Savolainen gets a takedown into half guard.
Manison on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Savolainen tries to pass to full mount but Manison defends it.
Savolainen wants to control but Manison is keeping him busy.
Savolainen prevents Manison from standing back up.
Well, if Savolainen is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Savolainen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manison kicks off Savolainen and gets to his feet.

Savolainen drives through with a takedown into Manison's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Savolainen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Savolainen grinds an elbow into Manison's temple.
Manison on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Savolainen scores with a couple of short elbows.
My spies in Humboldt Park Elite Gym inform me that Savolainen has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Manison tries to improve position but can't.
Savolainen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Manison on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Savolainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manison keeps working.
Savolainen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Savolainen cracks Manison with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Manison takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Manison is rocked!
Manison is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manison on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Oh Manison is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Savolainen landing strikes.
Savolainen cracks Manison with a big elbow.
Savolainen creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Manison is trying to control Savolainen's posture but Savolainen avoids it.
Savolainen in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Manison looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Savolainen turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jaakko Savolainen!