PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Connor McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arvo Penaali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McManus comes to the cage accompanied by Jeff Danna - 'The Blood of Cú Chulainn'. Penaali has chosen Immortal Technique - Obnoxius as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Arvo Penaali enters the cage!

McManus
vs
Penaali

177 cm
32
167 lbs
15 - 15 - 0

180 cm
34
163 lbs
20 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Connor McManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Arvo Penaali!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Penaali looks to score with a jab to the body but McManus is just out of range.
Penaali throws a shot to the body.
A big left from McManus misses.
McManus bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big left from Penaali misses.
Penaali slips under a jab from McManus.
Despite the aggression on Penaali's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Penaali misses with a double jab.
Penaali ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A looping hook to the body misses from Penaali. McManus does a little dance to reset his feet.
A slow jab from McManus misses its intended target.
McManus misses with a right hand
and Penaali counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penaali just misses with a punch to the body.
Penaali throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Penaali moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
McManus doesn't manage to clinch there - Penaali circles away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McManus thuds a left hand into Penaali's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penaali with a jab.
A big left from McManus misses.
Penaali throws out a counter right but McManus avoids it with no problem.
McManus has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Million Dollar Performance Center in the buildup to the fight.
McManus slips a jab and a cross from Penaali.
McManus appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
McManus keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Penaali.
Penaali uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McManus.
Penaali shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McManus defends it nicely.
McManus cracks Penaali with a right hand to the side of the head.

Penaali shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
McManus avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Penaali.
Penaali is trying to control. McManus wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Penaali not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Penaali scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Penaali connects with a nice short shot to McManus's temple.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McManus keeps control of the position for the meantime.
McManus is trying to maintain the position but Penaali is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McManus is staying active underneath Penaali, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ground and pound from Penaali.
McManus blocking the ground and pound attempt from Penaali.
Ground and pound from Penaali.
Penaali is just content to waste time from the top position. McManus takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

McManus looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Penaali has picked McManus up and slammed him! McManus can't keep hold of the triangle and Penaali manages to pass to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Penaali looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Penaali drops an elbow to the side of McManus's head.
McManus tries to get to full guard but Penaali has control of the leg.

McManus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Penaali lands a nice short elbow.
McManus is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Penaali scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penaali working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Penaali is working for a submission of some sort.

McManus looking for submissions off his back.
Penaali is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Penaali prevents McManus from improving his position.
McManus blocking the ground and pound attempt from Penaali.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arvo Penaali dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from McManus is defended easily by Penaali.
Arvo Penaali seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McManus uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Penaali.
McManus tries to land a leg kick but Penaali saw it coming and moves away.
Penaali jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Penaali staying out of range there.
Penaali slips under a jab.
Penaali is looking for the big counter here.
McManus misses with a straight right.
McManus walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Penaali slaps away a takedown attempt from McManus, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Penaali! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Penaali tries to keep at a distance but McManus has taken the fight into the clinch.

Penaali pulls guard effortlessly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penaali keeping moving, preventing McManus from controlling successfully.
Penaali controls McManus momentarily but McManus frees himself.
Our spies down at at Bad Pluto! (18 Elite Coach) inform us that Penaali has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Penaali is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Penaali has his foot on McManus's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McManus works his way back into a safe position though.
Penaali utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Penaali is trying to keep McManus in close.
Arvo Penaali has got the better of the ground game so far.

Penaali pushes a forearm under McManus's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, McManus is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Arvo Penaali!
Post fight, Arvo Penaali took to the microphone: 'I wanna thank everybody but i decided to leave the organisation. Gonna talk to the boss about it altough i tried it before but this organisation is like jehovas witness, youre stuck! but this is it, i wanna explore the rest of the worlds fighters!'.