PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manu Ahonen (ranked 2948 p4p, 3873 weight class) and Power Shark (ranked 419 p4p, 509 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Ahonen
vs
Shark

182 cm
38
170
17 - 14 - 0

184 cm
30
169
20 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manu Ahonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Power Shark!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shark connects with an inside leg kick.
Shark throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shark defending well as Ahonen loads up on a big left hand.
Shark lands with a nice body punch.
Shark tries to land a front kick but Ahonen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ahonen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ahonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shark moves away.
Ahonen misses with a looping left.
Some wild striking there from Ahonen.
Ahonen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Shark in his tracks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shark fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ahonen.
Ahonen moves out of range of the body kick from Shark.
Ahonen blocks a head kick by Shark.
Shark throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shark tries a head kick but it misses.
Shark lunges at Ahonen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ahonen's hand.
Ahonen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ahonen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Ahonen throws a predictable looking body shot
and Shark counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Shark lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ahonen circles away quickly and effectively.
Shark pushes Ahonen away with a front kick.
Ahonen misses with a leg kick

and Shark counters by clinching up.

Ahonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shark looks for the body kick but Ahonen saw that one coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shark takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Shark closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ahonen throws a lazy right hand but Shark sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shark with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shark lands a nice looking body kick.
Ahonen blocks a head kick by Shark.
Shark throws the kick towards the body but Ahonen avoids it.
Ahonen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shark throws a sloppy head kick and Ahonen moves out of range easily.
Ahonen misses with a straight left.

Ahonen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ahonen lands a nice short elbow.
Ahonen is looking to take a break and control but Shark is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ahonen controlling the action here.
Shark is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Shark really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ahonen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ahonen is looking to take a break and control but Shark is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ahonen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ahonen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shark keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ahonen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

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.
Ahonen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shark's head.
Ahonen trying to control the action but Shark is working from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Ahonen.
Ahonen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shark defending well though.
Shark looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Shark ducks under a wild hook from Ahonen.
Ahonen misses with a lunging right hand

and Shark counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Shark.
Ahonen blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Power Shark will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shark throws a leg kick
and Ahonen counters with a nice low kick that buckles Shark's knee momentarily.
Shark slips a jab from Ahonen.
Power Shark is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ahonen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shark sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ahonen moves out of range of the body kick from Shark.
Ahonen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ahonen digs a good body shot into Shark's ribs.
A head kick misses from Shark.
Ahonen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ahonen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Shark is trying to counter with his kicks.
Power Shark seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shark pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ahonen is looking to counter punch.

Ahonen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ahonen prevents Shark from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahonen lands with a punch from half guard.
Ahonen misses with a head shot. Shark uses the momentum to regain guard.
Ahonen is looking to work some ground and pound but Shark has wrist control.
Ahonen throws a big elbow that misses.
Ahonen wants to pass the guard but Shark is keeping the position.
Ahonen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ahonen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ahonen distracts Shark with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ahonen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Shark keeping moving, preventing Ahonen from controlling successfully.
Ahonen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ahonen avoids the head kick by Shark.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shark keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters circling a little - Shark finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Ahonen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shark throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Ahonen to counter with a crisp jab.
Ahonen scores with a nice strike.
Shark closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ahonen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shark scores with a push kick.
Ahonen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Shark scores with a push kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shark throws a sloppy head kick
and Shark takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shark lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ahonen avoids the head kick by Shark.
Ahonen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Ahonen.
Shark tries to land a front kick but Ahonen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Shark stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shark wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manu Ahonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shark scores with a shot to the body.
Ahonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Shark lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Ahonen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Shark feints and then cracks Ahonen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ahonen down.
Shark lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ahonen shoots in for a double leg but Shark sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
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 Manu Ahonen will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ahonen staying out of range there.
Shark uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ahonen.
A nice leg kick from Shark, right into the meat of the thigh.

Ahonen closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Shark's guard.

Ahonen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Shark dives on top into guard.

Ahonen has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Shark has passed into side control.
Ahonen struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahonen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Ahonen is trying to get back to full guard.
Manu Ahonen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ahonen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Shark is working away from the top position though.
Shark tries to stand and escape but Ahonen is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ahonen trying to control from the bottom.
Ahonen wants to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shark lands a nice looking kick to the body. Ahonen takes a step back to recover.
Shark throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ahonen missing with a left hand there. Shark was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ahonen misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen lands a lovely overhand right.
Ahonen will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Ahonen throws a head kick but Shark moves out of range.
Shark throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Shark is looking to slow Ahonen down with leg kicks.
Ahonen missing with a left hand there. Shark was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shark throws a counter combo.
Power Shark is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shark throws a right and a left that Ahonen avoids nicely.
Shark throws a lazy body kick
enabling Ahonen to counter with a crisp jab.
Shark stuffs the takedown.
Nice uppercut there from Shark.
Ahonen scores with a shot to the body.
Shark tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like Ahonen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shark misses with a head kick.
Shark misses with a body kick.
Ahonen shoots in looking for a takedown but Shark manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ahonen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shark raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ahonen takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ahonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Shark.
Shark takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ahonen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shark circles away quickly and effectively.
Ahonen blocks the body kick.
Ahonen tried to score with a low kick but Shark checks it.
Ahonen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shark swivels and escapes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Power Shark comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shark 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Power Shark!
A relieved looking Power Shark thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.