PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paul Warror (ranked 304 p4p, 45 weight class) and Manu Ahonen (ranked 444 p4p, 66 weight class). Ahonen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. For Heavy Metal we will die! kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Manu Ahonen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Warror
vs
Ahonen

185 cm
31
180 lbs
21 - 9 - 1

182 cm
30
170 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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 21 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Warror!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manu Ahonen!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ahonen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Ahonen wants to work for an arm triangle but Warror is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Warror won't allow Ahonen to pass to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ahonen throws a strike but Warror avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Ahonen drops back looking for a leg! Warror is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Warror manages to kick Ahonen off! Ahonen jumps back into Warror's guard.
Warror working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ahonen.
Ahonen throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Warror preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ahonen is fighting to break Warror's control of his arms but Warror is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Ahonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Warror swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahonen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ahonen lands a couple of digs.
Warror keeping moving, preventing Ahonen from controlling successfully.
Ahonen throwing strikes from guard but Warror blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ahonen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ahonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Warror swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ahonen is still trying to improve position.
Warror is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Warror working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ahonen.
Ahonen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Warror utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ahonen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ahonen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Warror working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ahonen.
Ahonen throws a big elbow that misses.
Warror working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ahonen.
Ahonen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ahonen is looking to work some ground and pound but Warror has wrist control.
Ahonen throws a big right hand that misses.
Ahonen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen throws a big right hand that misses.
Ahonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ahonen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ahonen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Warror working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ahonen.
Warror wants to stand but Ahonen is controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
We've been told by Warror's head coaches at Ryōzanpaku Dojo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
A telegraphed right hand from Warror misses the target.
Ahonen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Warror. Warror obviously looking to wear him down.
That kick from Ahonen tenderised Warror's leg. Warror is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ahonen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ahonen fails with a takedown attempt.
Ahonen throws a big shot that misses.
Warror feints a jab promting Ahonen to slip. Warror then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Ahonen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Ahonen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Warror half committed to a counter leg kick.
Manu Ahonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen checks a leg kick nicely.
Ahonen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Warror works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ahonen thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ahonen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ahonen throws out a loose jab but Warror uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ahonen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ahonen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ahonen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ahonen throws a push kick but Warror slaps the foot to one side.
Warror swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Ahonen.
A good leg kick by Warror.
Ahonen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Warror.
Warror avoids a kick to the body.
Ahonen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Warror swivels and escapes.
Ahonen connects with a high kick.
Ahonen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Ahonen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ahonen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Warror tries to clinch but Ahonen is having none of it.
Ahonen throws a leg kick but Warror sees it coming and moves out of range.
Warror goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ahonen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ahonen connects with a solid leg kick.
Warror fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ahonen.
Ahonen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Warror slips a straight right by Ahonen.
Ahonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Warror feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ahonen's calf.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ahonen.
Ahonen pushes Warror away with a front kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice defenses there by Ahonen.
Ahonen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Warror.
Warror fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ahonen lands with a kick to the temple. Warror shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
This has been an exciting period of action!
Warror turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ahonen throws a body kick that misses.
Warror appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warror stuffs the takedown attempt from Ahonen. Ahonen gets slowly back to his feet.
Ahonen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Warror. Warror obviously looking to wear him down.
Warror looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Paul Warror is winning the standup battle so far.
Warror checks a leg kick.
Warror misses with a head kick.
Ahonen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Warror.
Ahonen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Warror sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Warror tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ahonen was well out of range. Poor timing from Warror.
Warror dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ahonen. That did some damage!
Ahonen throws a head kick but Warror moves out of range.

Ahonen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Warror is trying to defend but Ahonen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Warror moves into full guard.
Manu Ahonen has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen wants to control from the top but Warror keeps moving.
Ahonen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Warror wriggles free and stands up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ahonen misses with a hook.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ahonen.
Warror blocks the body kick.
Warror swings for the body but Ahonen moves out of range.
Ahonen lands a leg kick that knocks Warror off balance momentarily.
Warror thuds a left hand into Ahonen's body.
Warror throws a body kick that misses.
Ahonen looks to land a right hand but Warror moved out of range.
Ahonen tries to score with a low kick but Warror moves his leg out of the way.
Ahonen throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Warror.
Warror lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Warror tries to land a front kick but Ahonen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ahonen misses with a body kick.
Warror jabs at Ahonen's body.
Warror does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Warror moves out of range as Ahonen throws a body kick.
Ahonen scores with a jab. Warror acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Warror works the jab nicely.
Warror stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Paul Warror is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big left from Warror misses.
Ahonen misses with a head kick.
Ahonen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Warror.
Ahonen misses with a straight right.
Ahonen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ahonen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Warror throws a leg kick but Ahonen moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Warror.
Ahonen sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ahonen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ahonen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ahonen throws the left hand but Warror avoids the punch easily.
Ahonen throws a body kick that misses.
Ahonen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ahonen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ahonen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Warror appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Ahonen sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ahonen misses with the combination.
Ahonen moves out of range of the body kick from Warror.
Ahonen feints the counter takedown.
A solid leg kick lands there for Warror.
Warror fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Paul Warror 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. This is the final round!

Ahonen dives in and grabs Warror's left leg, looking for a takedown. Warror pushes down on Ahonen's head and hops out.
A swing and a miss from Ahonen.
Nice cross by Warror.
Ahonen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ahonen walks into a jab.
Ahonen explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Ahonen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ahonen defending well as Warror loads up on a big left hand.
Warror lands a jab to the nose.
Ahonen misses with an uppercut. Warror saw that one coming.
Ahonen throws a looping overhand right but Warror ducks down to avoid it.
Ahonen throws a head kick but Warror moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahonen throws a body kick that misses.
Warror fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ahonen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Warror throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ahonen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Warror throws a series of punches but Ahonen moves out of range.
Ahonen looks to land a body kick but Warror moved away.
Ahonen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Warror circles away.
A punch lands to the side of Ahonen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ahonen throws a head kick but Warror moves out of range.
Warror misses with a body kick.
Warror looks to land a left hand but Ahonen moved out of range nicely.
Ahonen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ahonen throws a looping overhand right but Warror ducks down to avoid it.
Ahonen misses with a body punch
and Warror counters with a nice body shot.
Warror drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Warror throws a push kick but Ahonen slaps the foot to one side.
Warror throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ahonen blocks a head kick by Warror.
Ahonen moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
That kick from Warror tenderised Ahonen's leg. Ahonen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ahonen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ahonen scores with a push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Warror moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Warror slips a jab from Ahonen.
Warror scores with the left hand. Ahonen knows he should have avoided that one.
Ahonen throws out a loose jab but Warror uses good head movement to avoid it.
Warror is looking to counter punch.
Ahonen staying out of range there.
Ahonen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Warror sprawls well. Warror wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ahonen gets slowly back to his feet.
Paul Warror has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manu Ahonen.
Ahonen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Warror avoids the head kick by Ahonen.
Warror tries a low kick but Ahonen avoids it.
Ahonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A jab from Ahonen misses.
Warror lands a front kick.
Ahonen moves out of range as Warror throws a body kick.
Ahonen scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Warror scores with a hook to the body. Ahonen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ahonen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Warror doesn't manage to clinch there - Ahonen circles away.
Ahonen drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Warror defends it well.
Warror throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ahonen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Warror throws a low kick but Ahonen avoids it.
Ahonen misses with a two punch combination.
Warror lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Warror throws a front kick that sends Ahonen stumbling back into the cage.
Ahonen looks for the body kick but Warror saw that one coming.
Warror is looking to counter with head kicks.
Ahonen moves out of range of the body kick.
Warror cracks the inside of Ahonen's front leg.
Ahonen looks to land a left hand but Warror moved out of range nicely.
Ahonen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Warror moves out of range as Ahonen throws a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Warror.
Warror checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ahonen tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice cross by Warror.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Warror gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Warror fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ahonen.
Ahonen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Warror avoids a kick to the body.
Ahonen throws a wild body kick that Warror sees coming a mile off.
An inside leg kick from Ahonen misses.
Warror dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ahonen. That did some damage!
Ahonen throws out a leg kick but Warror moves out of range and Ahonen only half commits.
Ahonen misses with a looping left.
Ahonen throws a sloppy head kick and Warror moves out of range easily.
Warror moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Warror!

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Warror showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Warror has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Paul Warror!
Our winner, Paul Warror, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.