PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kulku Koira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Manton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Koira
vs
Manton

182 cm
26
198 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kulku Koira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Manton!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manton misses with a double jab
and Koira connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Manton's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Manton duly obliges.
Manton throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Koira moves into the clinch.

Koira manages to pull guard.
Manton content to stall in guard here.
Koira has Manton pulled in close to control his posture.
Manton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Koira keeping moving, preventing Manton from controlling successfully.
Manton loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Koira working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Manton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Manton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koira throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Manton really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Koira. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Manton controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Koira holds on and takes a little breather.
Koira has a closed guard, preventing Manton from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

James Manton has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Manton throws a right hand that misses

and Koira counters by clinching up.

Koira has picked Manton up - he's going for a ride! Koira dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Manton is trying to stand up here but Koira is controlling him well.
Koira sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Manton defending well though.
Koira prevents Manton from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koira thows a huge punch but Manton dodges it nicely.
Koira trying to control from half guard but Manton is working away.
Koira prevents Manton from improving his position.
Manton wants to get back to full guard but Koira has mounted him!
Manton in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Koira looking to control but Manton is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Koira 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.
Koira fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Manton is looking to get to half guard.
Koira putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Koira looking to finish Manton with some ground and pound. This is bad for Manton!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koira can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Manton is looking to escape.
Koira lands a nice shot to the head.
Manton avoids a series of strikes thrown by Koira.
BOOM! Koira connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Manton is rocked!
Koira postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Manton in real trouble here! The ref calls for Manton to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kulku Koira!