PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike The Shark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johannes Maanpohja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The Shark comes to the cage accompanied by Still. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

The Shark
vs
Maanpohja

179 cm
28
175 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

171 cm
28
173 lbs
9 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Perkele!

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike The Shark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Maanpohja!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maanpohja tries to keep at a distance but The Shark has taken the fight into the clinch.

The Shark escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The Shark clinches.

The Shark breaks from the clinch.
The Shark misses with a two punch combination.
The Shark scores with a crisp jab that stopped Maanpohja in his tracks.
Maanpohja blocks a jab.
Maanpohja shoots for a double leg takedown but The Shark sprawls well. He's pushed Maanpohja's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The Shark throws a big shot that misses.

The Shark gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The Shark lands a right hand that snaps the head of Maanpohja backwards.
The Shark wants to stall.

The Shark pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maanpohja fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but The Shark avoids it really well and circles away.
The Shark feints and then cracks Maanpohja's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maanpohja down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Shark swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The Shark looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Maanpohja gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and The Shark cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mike The Shark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johannes Maanpohja.

Maanpohja shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Maanpohja showed some decent athleticism there.
Maanpohja wants to free his trapped foot but The Shark is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Maanpohja sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. The Shark defending well though.

Maanpohja is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Maanpohja tries to pass the half guard into mount. The Shark knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and The Shark defends it well.
The Shark is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Maanpohja is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The Shark pushes Maanpohja off looking to stand but Maanpohja dives back in and keeps control.

Maanpohja is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Maanpohja wants to pass to mount but The Shark is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Shark keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Maanpohja not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maanpohja with the ground and pound but The Shark uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Maanpohja won't allow The Shark to get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The Shark is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Maanpohja looking to pass the guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Maanpohja throws an elbow that misses. The Shark uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Maanpohja's guard. Nice move by The Shark!

Maanpohja is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Maanpohja had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. The Shark defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. The Shark defends it easily.
Maanpohja has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The Shark working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The Shark decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Maanpohja, up you get!
The Shark buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Mike The Shark is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice takedown defense from The Shark. No joy for Maanpohja on that attempt.
Maanpohja fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but The Shark avoids it really well and circles away.
Maanpohja dodges the punch combination from The Shark.
Maanpohja changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The Shark scores with a hook to the body. Maanpohja takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike The Shark dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

The Shark lands with a shot to the body.
Maanpohja changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. The Shark tries to avoid it but Maanpohja manages to keep hold of a leg and drag The Shark to the ground. The Shark escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The Shark looks to land a combination. Maanpohja sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The Shark misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maanpohja.

Maanpohja shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. The Shark is trying to defend but Maanpohja finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Maanpohja trying to pass the guard but The Shark defending well.
Maanpohja throwing shots but The Shark is blocking nicely.
The Shark is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maanpohja's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maanpohja's back!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maanpohja tries to escape but The Shark has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

The Shark working for a choke but Maanpohja is defending well.

The Shark is persistently looking for the submission but Maanpohja is defending it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maanpohja tries to escape the position.
The Shark has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Maanpohja's body.
The Shark keeps control of the position as Maanpohja tries to break free.
The Shark is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maanpohja can do to turn this around?

Maanpohja is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Will The Shark go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Shark is really struggling to control Maanpohja but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The Shark keeps control of the position as Maanpohja tries to break free.

Maanpohja is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if The Shark gets his way!
Maanpohja is in bad spot here.
The Shark doesn't have the hooks in and Maanpohja manages to turn into his guard.
Maanpohja looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Shark is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Maanpohja is controlling him.
The Shark keeping full guard, as Maanpohja tries to pass.
Maanpohja postures up.
Maanpohja looking to pass the guard.
Maanpohja advances position into side control!
Maanpohja lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear The Shark down.
The Shark wants to control but Maanpohja postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. The Shark knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Maanpohja looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The Shark tries to bench press Maanpohja off him but Maanpohja keeps the position.

Maanpohja working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maanpohja has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for The Shark!
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 Mike The Shark will probably get the nod.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The Shark scores with a shot to the body.
The Shark wants to land a leg kick but Maanpohja is out of range.
The Shark scores with the left hand. Maanpohja knows he should have avoided that one.
Maanpohja shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and The Shark counters with a three punch combo that has Maanpohja backing up. Maanpohja nods at The Shark to acknowledge the strikes.
Maanpohja with a lazy takedown attempt
and The Shark counters with a right hand to the body.

The Shark closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The Shark pressing his opponent against the cage.

The Shark pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice cross by The Shark.

The Shark closes the distance and pushes Maanpohja back into the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The Shark lands a right hand that snaps the head of Maanpohja backwards.
Maanpohja tries to score a body lock takedown but The Shark shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mike The Shark has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johannes Maanpohja.

The Shark manages to break the clinch.
The Shark connects with a nice looking jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The Shark drops Maanpohja with a beautiful combination! Maanpohja stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - The Shark is looking for the KO!

Maanpohja is rocked!
The Shark cracks Maanpohja with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Maanpohja tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but The Shark pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Maanpohja is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:12 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mike The Shark!
After the big win, Mike The Shark made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Perkele! and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.