PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Neuer (ranked 2366 p4p, 266 weight class) and Jaakko Ilmarinen (ranked 1323 p4p, 174 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Neuer
vs
Ilmarinen

199 cm
24
195 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

186 cm
24
197 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Dark Knight Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Manuel Neuer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaakko Ilmarinen!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Steven Brown and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ilmarinen misses with a straight right.
A left lands for Ilmarinen.
Neuer fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Neuer misses with a wild combination.
Ilmarinen cracks Neuer with an open hand slap.
Neuer fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neuer looks to land a left hand but Ilmarinen moved out of range nicely.
Neuer looks for a takedown but Ilmarinen sprawls well.
Ilmarinen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manuel Neuer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ilmarinen. That's going to slow Neuer down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilmarinen feints a jab promting Neuer to slip. Ilmarinen then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Neuer slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Manuel Neuer has been cut.
Nice defenses there by Neuer.
As Ilmarinen tries to get set, Neuer tries to push him back and clinch up but Ilmarinen manages to avoid the attempt.
Neuer fails with the takedown.
Ilmarinen throws an overhand right that lands on Neuer's shoulder, as Neuer tries to avoid the shot.

Neuer has managed to clinch.
Ilmarinen stalling the fight.
Ilmarinen prevents the takedown attempt.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Neuer tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Ilmarinen breaks from the clinch.
Neuer throws a lazy body kick
and Ilmarinen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Neuer moves out of range of the body kick.
Neuer takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neuer with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ilmarinen throws a looping overhand right but Neuer ducks down to avoid it.
Ilmarinen's coach down at K.O Heaven was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ilmarinen's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Neuer fails to land the takedown.
Neuer fails with a takedown attempt.
Neuer fails in his attempt to clinch.
Neuer looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
A big right from Ilmarinen misses.
Ilmarinen looks to land a right hand but Neuer moved out of range.
A swing and a miss from Ilmarinen.
Neuer really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Neuer misses the shot to the body.
Neuer fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ilmarinen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Neuer changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Neuer gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Neuer goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ilmarinen prevents it.

Ilmarinen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Neuer slips a jab and a cross from Ilmarinen.
Neuer appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Ilmarinen misses with a kick to the body.
Neuer throws a head kick that misses.

Neuer closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ilmarinen quickly recovers to half guard.
Neuer will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Neuer is looking for a kimura but Ilmarinen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Neuer to get the leverage.
Ilmarinen keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Ilmarinen is looking for a sweep. Neuer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ilmarinen pushes Neuer off looking to stand but Neuer dives back in and keeps control.
Ilmarinen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Neuer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ilmarinen is trying to stand.

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

Neuer is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ilmarinen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Neuer.

Neuer is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Ilmarinen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Manuel Neuer's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ilmarinen misses with a body kick.
Ilmarinen cracks Neuer with a right hand to the side of the head.
Neuer is looking to clinch.
Neuer throws a body kick that misses.
Ilmarinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Neuer is just out of range.
Neuer fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ilmarinen avoids it really well and circles away.
Ilmarinen throws a series of punches but Neuer avoids them all with ease.
Neuer attempts a counter takedown but Ilmarinen avoids it well and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Neuer gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ilmarinen managing to block the knees to the body from Neuer.

Ilmarinen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Neuer shoots in looking for a takedown. Ilmarinen tries to sprawl out of it but Neuer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ilmarinen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neuer looking to score a takedown here. Ilmarinen is defending well but Neuer drives through and ends up in Ilmarinen's guard.
Ilmarinen wants to stand and escape but Neuer is having none of it.
Ilmarinen is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Neuer dives into side control.

Neuer tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Neuer has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ilmarinen is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Neuer advances nicely into full mount.
Ilmarinen is trying to stand up.

Neuer is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Ilmarinen can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neuer avoids the attempt from Ilmarinen to control.

Neuer working for a guillotine from mount but Ilmarinen is in no mood to give up.
Manuel Neuer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ilmarinen is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Neuer raining down shots from the mount!
Ilmarinen wants to control but Neuer is having none of it.

Neuer working for a guillotine from mount but Ilmarinen is in no mood to give up.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Neuer is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Ilmarinen to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Ilmarinen shrugs it off.
Ilmarinen tries to hold on but Neuer pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Ilmarinen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ilmarinen sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Neuer is working for a kimura but Ilmarinen is defending it quite comfortably.
Ilmarinen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Neuer.
Ilmarinen pushes Neuer off looking to stand but Neuer dives back in and keeps control.

Ilmarinen is defending against the submission attempts here by Neuer.

Neuer is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ilmarinen has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neuer is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Neuer prevents Ilmarinen from standing back up.
Ilmarinen is looking to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ilmarinen is defending against the submission attempts here by Neuer.

Neuer is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Neuer dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Manuel Neuer's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ilmarinen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Neuer.
Neuer throws a shot from downtown. Ilmarinen moves away and avoids it.
Neuer closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ilmarinen circles away.

Neuer fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ilmarinen sprawls well initially but Neuer persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ilmarinen is trying to get back to full guard.
Ilmarinen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Neuer pushing down on Ilmarinen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Neuer is trying for a kimura here. Ilmarinen looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Neuer wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Manuel Neuer!
Jaakko Ilmarinen spoke after the fight, saying 'Lucky rat I had flu'.