PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pietari Manninen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Labatt BlueRox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Manninen
vs
BlueRox

183 cm
22
168 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

184 cm
23
181 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

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 - 2 - 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, Labatt BlueRox!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
BlueRox throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Manninen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says BlueRox as he avoids it easily.
BlueRox looks to throw the jab but Manninen is out of range.
BlueRox throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
BlueRox tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Manninen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming BlueRox to the mat! BlueRox manages to get full guard.

Manninen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
BlueRox is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Manninen is controlling him.

Manninen drops back looking for a leg! BlueRox is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and BlueRox manages to kick Manninen off! Manninen jumps back into BlueRox's guard.
Manninen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BlueRox is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Manninen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Manninen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Manninen wants to control from the top but BlueRox keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Manninen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Manninen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Manninen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Manninen is breathing heavily.

Manninen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but BlueRox sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Manninen is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, BlueRox has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Manninen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so BlueRox is just riding it out for now. Manninen eventually gives up the hold.
Manninen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BlueRox looks like he's trying to stand up.

BlueRox makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Nice uppercut there from BlueRox.
Labatt BlueRox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manninen moves out of range of the strikes.
BlueRox lands a lovely overhand right.
Manninen shoots in for a takedown but BlueRox shows good takedown defense.
Manninen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
BlueRox works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
BlueRox lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Manninen at a distance.
BlueRox throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
BlueRox lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Manninen circles away quickly and effectively.
BlueRox takes a swing at Manninen's ribcage but misses.
BlueRox takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Manninen closes this distance looking for a takedown but BlueRox circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pietari Manninen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BlueRox lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
BlueRox throws a hook but Manninen blocks it.
Manninen scores with a hook.
BlueRox ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Manninen moves away.
Manninen lands a right hook to the body.
BlueRox ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Manninen is looking to clinch.
Manninen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts BlueRox as he jumps to the side.
A big left from Manninen misses.
BlueRox throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Manninen counters with a straight right hand.
BlueRox sizes up Manninen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Manninen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Manninen misses with the combination.
BlueRox throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Manninen shoots in for a takedown but BlueRox shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pietari Manninen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

BlueRox lands a head kick!
BlueRox connects with a looping right hand.
Manninen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Manninen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Manninen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by BlueRox.
BlueRox lands with a kick to the temple. Manninen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Manninen thows a body shot but no joy.
Manninen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Manninen there as he acknowledges the shot.
BlueRox misses with a series of wild punches.
BlueRox throws a nice looking combination but Manninen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Manninen shoots in but no luck this time.
Manninen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
BlueRox scores with a jab. Manninen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
BlueRox throws a hook to the side of Manninen's head but Manninen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
BlueRox avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BlueRox drops his hands momentarily and Manninen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Manninen lands a nice looking body shot.
Manninen scores with a one two! BlueRox had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Manninen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Manninen throws a right hand that BlueRox ducks under and follows up with a left that BlueRox also avoids with ease.
BlueRox lands a jab-cross combination.
Manninen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Manninen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Danga de danga de dang - BlueRox scores with a four punch combination!
BlueRox throws a series of punches but Manninen avoids them all with ease.
Manninen is looking to clinch but BlueRox is avoiding it.
Labatt BlueRox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
BlueRox swinging wilding here.
Left hook, right uppercut from Manninen.
BlueRox fails to land with a series of punches.
Manninen fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pietari Manninen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
BlueRox scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manninen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with BlueRox but BlueRox pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nice shot lands for Manninen.
BlueRox scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
BlueRox slips a jab and a cross from Manninen.
BlueRox lands a with a good body shot.
Manninen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. BlueRox tries to avoid it but Manninen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag BlueRox to the ground. BlueRox escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A combination from Manninen does no damage.
BlueRox feints and then cracks Manninen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Manninen down.
BlueRox throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Manninen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The crowd cheers as BlueRox lands an impressive looking overhand right. Manninen doesn't seem phased though.
The fighters circle momentarily. Manninen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Manninen is looking to clinch but BlueRox is avoiding it.
BlueRox throws a half hearted mid kick.
Manninen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manninen shoots in looking for a takedown. BlueRox tries to sprawl out of it but Manninen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. BlueRox manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Manninen misses with the combination.
Nice jab there from BlueRox.
Manninen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Manninen lands a really nice looking cross but BlueRox seems unphased.
BlueRox swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
BlueRox throws a head kick but Manninen moves out of range.
Manninen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice cross by BlueRox.
Manninen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around BlueRox's waist but BlueRox gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manninen off to one side.
BlueRox throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Manninen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Manninen is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
BlueRox throws a leg kick but Manninen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Manninen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
BlueRox uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Manninen.
BlueRox throws a right and a left that both miss.

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.
Manninen misses with a combination
and BlueRox counters with a series of strikes. Manninen will be more careful next time no doubt.
BlueRox jabs at Manninen's body.
A swing and a miss from Manninen.
BlueRox misses with a low kick.
Good work by Manninen as he checks the leg kick.
BlueRox misses with a looping left.
Manninen throws a solid leg kick but BlueRox takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Manninen.
Manninen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A head kick misses from BlueRox.
BlueRox stuffs the takedown.
Manninen shoots in looking for a takedown. BlueRox tries to sprawl out of it but Manninen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. BlueRox manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
BlueRox misses with a double jab
letting Manninen counter with a right hand.
Manninen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Manninen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from BlueRox.
Manninen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
BlueRox takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Labatt BlueRox showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

BlueRox pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pietari Manninen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
BlueRox takes a shot right to the bread basket.
BlueRox fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
BlueRox checks a leg kick nicely.
Manninen closes the distance and clinches up with BlueRox, looking for a takedown. Manninen pushes BlueRox against the ropes but BlueRox circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
BlueRox lands a high kick!
BlueRox tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Manninen throws a left and a right that both miss
and BlueRox counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Labatt BlueRox seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A jab from BlueRox misses.
Manninen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by BlueRox.
A big right from BlueRox misses.
Manninen throws a nice looking combination but BlueRox bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A swing and a miss from Manninen.
Manninen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from BlueRox.
BlueRox's corner calls for a 1-2. BlueRox obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
BlueRox lands with a hook. Manninen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Manninen lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BlueRox misses with a double jab
and Manninen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manninen shoots in but no luck this time.
Manninen shoots in and drives through. BlueRox sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pietari Manninen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
BlueRox falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Manninen counter with a right hand.
Manninen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A punch combination from Manninen misses.
BlueRox will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
BlueRox scores with a nice body kick.
Manninen avoids a punch combination nicely.
BlueRox misses with a few strikes there.
BlueRox looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Manninen misses with a series of wild punches.
BlueRox tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Manninen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Manninen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Manninen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Manninen cracks BlueRox with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
BlueRox's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and BlueRox duly obliges.
BlueRox misses with a double jab
and Manninen counters with a stiff right hand.
BlueRox misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice sprawl there from BlueRox as Manninen shoots in.
BlueRox fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Manninen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but BlueRox moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Manninen throws a big shot that misses.
BlueRox tries to bum rush Manninen with a series of wild strikes but Manninen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
BlueRox defending well as Manninen loads up on a big left hand.
BlueRox goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Manninen shoots in but no luck this time.
BlueRox connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
BlueRox throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
BlueRox throws a sloppy head kick and Manninen moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manninen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
BlueRox misses with a two punch combination.
Manninen lands with a nice combination. BlueRox backs away looking to recover.
BlueRox throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Manninen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but BlueRox is out of range.
BlueRox rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Manninen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Manninen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? BlueRox is fending him off so far but Manninen persists. Nope, BlueRox circles away and we're back to standing.
BlueRox misses with a wild combination.
Manninen has a takedown stuffed.
BlueRox throws a right and a left that both miss.
BlueRox tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Manninen was well out of range. Poor timing from BlueRox.
BlueRox looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Manninen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by BlueRox.
A head kick misses from BlueRox.
BlueRox misses with a combination
and Manninen counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
BlueRox throws a sloppy head kick and Manninen moves out of range easily.
Manninen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
BlueRox misses with a few strikes there.
Manninen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from BlueRox.
BlueRox throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Manninen shoots in looking for a takedown. BlueRox tries to sprawl out of it but Manninen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. BlueRox manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice body punch from BlueRox.
Manninen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
BlueRox lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Manninen lands a slapping body shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manninen jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
BlueRox paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Manninen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says BlueRox as he avoids it easily.
BlueRox misses with a double jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Labatt BlueRox comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think BlueRox 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 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Labatt BlueRox!