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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iivana Jalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toni Manel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jalo comes into the arena with Aino Venna - Waltz to Paris blaring out of the sound system. Manel is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by A Portuguesa. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 203 cm
28
266 lbs
21 - 14 - 0 |
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190 cm
28
250 lbs
22 - 8 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
21 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iivana Jalo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
22 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Toni Manel!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Kavanagh and Russell Pearce.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jalo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Manel drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Jalo defends it well.
Manel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Manel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Jalo stops Manel from passing to mount.
Jalo is trying to improve his position.
Manel works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jalo wants to control but Manel postures up.
Manel in side control, throwing shots but Jalo defends.
Manel is trying to ground and pound but Jalo uses the momentary lack of control by Manel to regain half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Manel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jalo defending well though.
Manel throws a strike but Jalo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Manel postures up.
Manel throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manel wants to pass the guard but Jalo is keeping the position.
Manel stands up over Jalo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
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.
Manel tries to free his leg and advance position but Jalo is retaining full guard.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Jalo loads up on a big right hand but Manel slips the punch.
Manel throws a low kick but Jalo avoids it.
Manel shoots in for a takedown but Jalo shows good takedown defense.
Manel scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Nice strikes from Manel there.
Manel stops Jalo from getting back to his feet.
Jalo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Manel trying to control from Jalo's half guard. Jalo has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Manel working his ground and pound in the gym.
Manel pushes down on Jalo's leg and manages to get into half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jalo trying to control from the bottom.
Jalo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Manel.
Manel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Manel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Manel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jalo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jalo is trying to control but can't.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jalo leaves Manel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's four 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.
Manel avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jalo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Manel.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Jalo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Manel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jalo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Jalo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Manel in his tracks.
Jalo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Manel.
Jalo lands with a hook. Manel tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Manel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Manel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jalo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manel shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jalo sprawls well. Jalo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Manel gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Toni Manel will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Manel throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jalo's waist but Jalo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manel off to one side.
Manel shoots in for a takedown but Jalo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jalo throws a big shot that misses.
Manel closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Jalo's guard.
Manel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Toni Manel has got the better of the ground game so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Manel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Manel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jalo is adopting a defensive guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Jalo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Manel works over Jalo with some ground and pound from guard.
Manel throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jalo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jalo misses with a looping right.
Jalo is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Jalo looks to land a right hand but Manel moved out of range.
Manel changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Manel closes the distance and clinches up with Jalo, looking for a takedown. Manel pushes Jalo against the cage but Jalo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Iivana Jalo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toni Manel.
Jalo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Nice body punch from Jalo.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jalo throws an overhand right that lands on Manel's shoulder, as Manel tries to avoid the shot.
And Manel tries to counter it with a takedown but Jalo pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Manel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jalo throws out the jab.
Manel is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Jalo looks to score with a jab to the body but Manel is just out of range.
Jalo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jalo throws a body shot but no joy.
Manel tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Jalo checks a low kick from Manel.
Jalo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Manel manages to avoid it.
Jalo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Jalo as he connects with a hook.
Manel throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Jalo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Manel is in Jalo's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Manel with a flurry of punches that miss.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manel preventing the sweep.
Manel is looking to work some ground and pound but Jalo has wrist control.
Manel postures up in Jalo's guard and throws a big left but Jalo blocks it.
Manel throws a big elbow that misses.
Manel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jalo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Manel.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jalo misses with a wild body shot.
Manel with the counter takedown but Jalo avoids it easily.
Jalo stuffs the takedown attempt from Manel. Manel gets slowly back to his feet.
Manel slips under a jab from Jalo.
That's four 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.
Manel shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Manel avoids the body shot from Jalo.
Jalo cracks Manel with a right hand to the side of the head.
Manel shoots for a takedown but Jalo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jalo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Jalo throws a jab but it's blocked by Manel.
Jalo misses the shot to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Jalo as Manel shoots in.
Manel slips under a jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manel moves out of range of the strikes.
Jalo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Manel moves away.
Jalo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Manel.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Iivana Jalo dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
A looping hook to the body misses from Jalo. Manel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jalo is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
The crowd cheers as Jalo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Manel doesn't seem phased though.
Jalo leaves Manel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jalo is pressed up against the cage. Manel has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Jalo down to the mat. Jalo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nice shot lands for Jalo.
Manel gets a takedown into half guard.
Manel throws a strike but Jalo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manel keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jalo's head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Manel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jalo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Manel tries to free his leg and advance position but Jalo is retaining full guard.
Manel is pushing down on Jalo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Jalo is fighting to maintain full guard but Manel has managed to sneak the leg through.
Manel throwing shots but Jalo is blocking nicely.
Manel looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Manel wants to control but Jalo is keeping him busy.
Manel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Manel missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Manel shoots in but no luck this time.
Iivana Jalo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Toni Manel.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jalo misses with a body shot.
Manel shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Manel shoots in looking for a takedown. Jalo tries to sprawl out of it but Manel keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jalo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jalo misses with a hook. Manel ducked under it nicely.
Jalo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jalo misses with a right hand
and Manel counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Jalo!
Manel lands an elbow.
Jalo is looking to regain half guard here but Manel keeps moving and retains side control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manel wants to control for a moment but Jalo uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Manel not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Manel missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nice strikes from Manel there.
Manel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Manel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Manel throwing shots but Jalo is blocking nicely.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
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.
Manel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Manel fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Jalo throws a jab but it's blocked by Manel.
Jalo tries to bum rush Manel with a series of wild strikes but Manel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Manel with the counter takedown but Jalo avoids it easily.
Manel shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Jalo is trying to defend but Manel finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Jalo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Manel.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jalo's head.
And that's the end of the fight!
Toni Manel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Manel 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toni Manel!
A victorious Toni Manel thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
36% |
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