PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pietari Manninen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dante Widowmaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Manninen
vs
Widowmaker

183 cm
22
168 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

181 cm
23
180 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Syndicate Drugs

Combat Pro Design

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pietari Manninen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dante Widowmaker!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manninen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fighters circle momentarily. Manninen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Manninen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Manninen is tying to control. Widowmaker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Manninen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Widowmaker works his way to full guard. Good work.

Widowmaker working for a triangle but Manninen defends it easily.
Widowmaker looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Widowmaker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Manninen.

Widowmaker had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Manninen is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Widowmaker Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Manninen's back instead.
Manninen tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manninen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Manninen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Widowmaker is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Manninen is trying to escape the mount.

Widowmaker looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Manninen can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Manninen is working hard here to advance position.
Manninen is in a horrible position here. Widowmaker smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Widowmaker scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Manninen is trying to escape the mount.
Manninen holds of for dear life.
Widowmaker prevents Manninen from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manninen regains half guard.

Manninen is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Widowmaker pulls his head out easily.
Manninen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Manninen is breathing heavily.
Widowmaker is looking to advance position but Manninen won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Widowmaker lands a nice short elbow.
Widowmaker passes into side control, despite Manninen's attempt to control the position.
Manninen is looking for a sweep.
Manninen wants to control but Widowmaker postures up.
Manninen is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Widowmaker working the ground and pound from side control.
Widowmaker has control of an arm but Manninen manages to advance to Widowmaker's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Widowmaker dominated that round.
That's time! Manninen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Manninen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Manninen won't allow Widowmaker to sweep him here.
Manninen wants to control from the top but Widowmaker keeps moving.
Widowmaker has a closed guard, preventing Manninen from standing up.
Widowmaker keeping moving, preventing Manninen from controlling successfully.
Manninen throws a strike but Widowmaker rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Widowmaker postures up in Manninen's guard and throws a big left but Manninen blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Widowmaker sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Manninen's guard.
Manninen wants to get back to full guard.
Widowmaker works his way into full mount!
Manninen has given up his back.
Widowmaker throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Manninen!
Manninen looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Manninen manages to reverse the position and now he's in Widowmaker's guard. Nice work there by Manninen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manninen is looking to stand up but Widowmaker won't let him.
Widowmaker looking for a sweep. Not yet Widowmaker, not yet.
Manninen wants to control from the top but Widowmaker keeps moving.

Widowmaker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Manninen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Manninen with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Manninen has gone for a leg lock! Widowmaker slips out almost immediately though and dives into Manninen's guard.

Manninen looking for subs off his back but Widowmaker has passed one foot through into half guard.
Manninen tries to get to full guard but Widowmaker has control of the leg.
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. Widowmaker connects with a nice short shot to Manninen's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Widowmaker is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Manninen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Widowmaker wants to pass the guard but Manninen is keeping the position.

Manninen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Widowmaker tries to free his leg and advance position but Manninen is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Widowmaker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Manninen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Manninen shoots in but Widowmaker avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Widowmaker tries to clinch but Manninen is having none of it.
Nice sprawl there from Manninen as Widowmaker shoots in.
Widowmaker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Widowmaker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pietari Manninen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dante Widowmaker.

Manninen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Manninen slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manninen is nestled in close to Widowmaker, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manninen throwing shots but Widowmaker is blocking nicely.
Manninen wants to free his trapped foot but Widowmaker is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manninen blocks the strikes from Widowmaker.
Manninen is keen to just control but Widowmaker is a slippery customer.
Manninen is just content to waste time from the top position. Widowmaker takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Widowmaker looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Manninen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Manninen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Manninen has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Widowmaker is working to get back to half guard.
Manninen thowing shots but they're missing.
Manninen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Widowmaker because Manninen loaded up on that one.

Manninen goes for an armbar but Widowmaker turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Widowmaker.
Dante Widowmaker has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Widowmaker drops back, looking for a kneebar! Manninen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Manninen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Manninen!

Manninen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Widowmaker gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Widowmaker works his way to full guard. Good work.
Manninen trying to control but Widowmaker is working from the bottom.
Pietari Manninen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Widowmaker keeping full guard, as Manninen tries to pass.
Widowmaker will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Widowmaker manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Manninen manages to get himself to full guard.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Pietari Manninen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Widowmaker 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Widowmaker!