PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Maanpohja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Holt McCoy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McCoy has chosen Take it Outside as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Maanpohja
vs
McCoy

171 cm
32
173 lbs
15 - 21 - 0

177 cm
31
212 lbs
7 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

****160Q Energy for $150****
On Tap (160Q)

Machiavelli Boutique

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Maanpohja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 1, fighting out of London, Holt McCoy!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from McCoy. No joy for Maanpohja on that attempt.
McCoy is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Maanpohja tries for a takedown but McCoy sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
No luck for Maanpohja with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johannes Maanpohja. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maanpohja throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maanpohja shoots in looking for a takedown. McCoy tries to sprawl out of it but Maanpohja keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. McCoy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McCoy throws a body shot but no joy.
Maanpohja misses with a few strikes there.
McCoy misses with a looping right.
McCoy with a body punch. A glancing blow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McCoy gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McCoy tries a body shot but Maanpohja blocks it.
Maanpohja tries for a takedown. No joy.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, McCoy creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
McCoy is pressed up against the cage. Maanpohja has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McCoy down to the mat. McCoy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

McCoy closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McCoy lands in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCoy is stalling in the full guard.
McCoy passes into half guard.
Maanpohja moves into full guard.

McCoy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McCoy sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Maanpohja's guard.

McCoy seems to be working for a kimura but Maanpohja defends the submission attempt.
McCoy wants to take a breather but Maanpohja is having none of it.
McCoy tries to pass to full mount but Maanpohja defends it.

McCoy seems to be working for a kimura but Maanpohja defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maanpohja is in trouble now - McCoy has advanced to mount!
Maanpohja sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
McCoy trying to mount his opponent but Maanpohja defends it.

Maanpohja looking for submissions off his back.

Maanpohja looking for submissions off his back.
McCoy works his way into side control.

McCoy tries for a kimura but Maanpohja is defending well.
Maanpohja gets back to half guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maanpohja won't allow McCoy to pass to mount.

Maanpohja looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Maanpohja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McCoy pulls his head out easily.
Maanpohja is in trouble now - McCoy has advanced to mount!
Maanpohja is controlling an arm, preventing McCoy from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Maanpohja is in all sorts of trouble here.

Maanpohja defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from McCoy.
McCoy throwing strikes here but Maanpohja is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Maanpohja is trying to escape the mount.
McCoy punching from mount but Maanpohja doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Maanpohja tries to reverse the position but McCoy maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCoy with the ground and pound from mount.
Maanpohja is desperately trying to improve his position but McCoy has a good base and remains in mount.
McCoy takes Maanpohja's back.
Maanpohja is really stuck here.
McCoy missing with strikes from the back.

McCoy tightening his grip on Maanpohja, looking for the choke.

McCoy is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Maanpohja has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

McCoy has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Maanpohja has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McCoy throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Well, with McCoy on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Maanpohja is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Maanpohja rolls, trying to escape but McCoy keeps control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Holt McCoy 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.

Maanpohja shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McCoy but McCoy pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Maanpohja misses with a few strikes there.

McCoy manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Maanpohja on his heels. He'll look to pass Maanpohja's guard now, I'm sure.
McCoy forces his way into half guard.

McCoy is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Maanpohja defends it well.
McCoy passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Maanpohja!
Maanpohja is looking to get to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maanpohja is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCoy trying to control but Maanpohja is having none of it.
McCoy scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Maanpohja?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maanpohja is trying to reverse the position but instead McCoy has taken his back - oops!

McCoy has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

McCoy is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

McCoy looking for the choke from the back.
Maanpohja tries to break free.
McCoy doesn't have the hooks in and Maanpohja manages to turn into his guard.
McCoy is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maanpohja accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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

McCoy wants to control from the top but Maanpohja keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McCoy gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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

Maanpohja is looking for a triangle but McCoy pushes his legs off easily.
Maanpohja can't keep his opponent in guard - McCoy advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
McCoy wants to control but Maanpohja is keeping him busy.
Maanpohja is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McCoy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCoy moves nicely into side control.
Check out the look on McCoy's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

McCoy looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sloppy strikes there by McCoy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCoy trying to control the action but Maanpohja is working from the bottom.
Maanpohja is trying to get back to half guard.

McCoy tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Maanpohja is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Holt McCoy has got the better of the ground game so far.
McCoy is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

McCoy tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Maanpohja regains half guard.

Maanpohja looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
McCoy tries to pass to full mount but Maanpohja defends it.

Maanpohja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McCoy pulls his head out easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCoy seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Maanpohja does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Maanpohja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McCoy pulls his head out easily.

Maanpohja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McCoy pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Holt McCoy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

McCoy gets a double leg takedown into Maanpohja's guard.

Maanpohja looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! McCoy has picked Maanpohja up and slammed him! Maanpohja can't keep hold of the triangle and McCoy manages to pass to side control!
Sloppy strikes there by McCoy.

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

McCoy tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McCoy has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

McCoy thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maanpohja tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McCoy wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
McCoy lands a few punches from side control.
Maanpohja is trying to get back to half guard.
Maanpohja manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCoy moves nicely into side control.
McCoy working the head and body with strikes.
Maanpohja tries to buck McCoy off but McCoy is having none of it.
Maanpohja manages to work his way to half guard, despite McCoy's best efforts.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Maanpohja is defending against the submission attempts here by McCoy.
McCoy wants to control but Maanpohja is keeping him busy.
Maanpohja moves into full guard.

Maanpohja is looking for a triangle but McCoy pushes his legs off easily.
McCoy trying to control but Maanpohja is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCoy passes Maanpohja's left leg - he's now in half guard.
McCoy trying to pass the guard but Maanpohja defending well.
Maanpohja keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Maanpohja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McCoy pulls his head out easily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Holt McCoy is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Let's hope that McCoy has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Maanpohja is staying active underneath McCoy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Maanpohja actively working from the bottom here.

Maanpohja actively working from the bottom here.
McCoy trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
McCoy trying to control from half guard but Maanpohja is working away.

Maanpohja actively working from the bottom here.
McCoy perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from McCoy.

Maanpohja actively working from the bottom here.
McCoy is controlling the pace.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Maanpohja looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
McCoy trying to pass the guard but Maanpohja defending well.

Maanpohja is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McCoy pulls his head out easily.
McCoy trying to control the pace.
McCoy wants to control but Maanpohja is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McCoy scores with a punch to the head.
Maanpohja shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and McCoy decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Maanpohja's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCoy wants to control from the top but Maanpohja keeps moving.
McCoy controlling from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Holt McCoy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McCoy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Holt McCoy!
Holt McCoy very nearly forgot to thank Instinct [out of stock until Feb 03 2016] amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.