PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Galloway Sackett (ranked 1542 p4p, 252 weight class) and Johannes Maanpohja (ranked 2565 p4p, 379 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sackett
vs
Maanpohja

177 cm
36
180 lbs
22 - 14 - 0

171 cm
39
173 lbs
19 - 28 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING

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 22 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Galloway Sackett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 28 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Maanpohja!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sackett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Maanpohja was well out of range. Poor timing from Sackett.

Maanpohja closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Maanpohja seems to be looking for submissions.
Sackett is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Maanpohja scores with a couple of nice shots.

Maanpohja is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

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

Maanpohja is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Maanpohja is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Sackett doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maanpohja.
Sackett avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Maanpohja.
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 sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sackett defending well though.
Sackett keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Maanpohja throwing shots but Sackett is blocking nicely.
Maanpohja throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sackett is positioning himself well to prevent Maanpohja advancing to mount.
Maanpohja with the ground and pound but Sackett uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Sackett working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Maanpohja.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Maanpohja accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Maanpohja wants to pass the guard but Sackett is keeping the position.
Maanpohja has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Maanpohja is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sackett preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sackett controls Maanpohja momentarily but Maanpohja frees himself.
Maanpohja working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sackett is pulling down on Maanpohja's head to control his posture.
Maanpohja working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Maanpohja throws a big elbow that misses.
Maanpohja is looking to advance position but Sackett has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Sackett tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Maanpohja is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maanpohja sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Sackett wants to free his trapped foot but Maanpohja is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Maanpohja looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sackett is looking to take a break and control but Maanpohja is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Maanpohja looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Maanpohja wants to improve his position but Sackett is controlling well.

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.

Maanpohja looking for submissions off his back.

Maanpohja looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Maanpohja with the active half guard here but Sackett passes nicely into side control.
Sackett advances to full mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maanpohja is desperately trying to improve his position but Sackett has a good base and remains in mount.
Maanpohja slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johannes Maanpohja dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maanpohja is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sackett sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sackett fires out a quick counter leg kick but Maanpohja just manages to avoid it.

Maanpohja shoots in and gets a takedown into Sackett's guard.

Maanpohja postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sackett is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Maanpohja, into his guard.

Maanpohja throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Maanpohja has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Maanpohja looking for a guillotine here but Sackett defends easily.
Sackett looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Maanpohja has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Sackett is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Maanpohja.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maanpohja tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maanpohja keeps trying to improve his position.
Maanpohja is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Maanpohja tries to get to full guard but Sackett has control of the leg.

Maanpohja looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two 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.
Sackett seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Maanpohja actively working from the bottom here.
Sackett slows the pace down in half guard.

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

Maanpohja looking for submissions off his back.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maanpohja looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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

Maanpohja looking for submissions off his back.
Sackett not doing much here.
Maanpohja is looking to improve his position.
Sackett looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sackett lands a jab to the nose.
Maanpohja tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Maanpohja looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Maanpohja shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sackett is looking to slow Maanpohja down with leg kicks.
Sackett looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Maanpohja has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Maanpohja fails with a takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Sackett misses the target.
Galloway Sackett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johannes Maanpohja.
Sackett connects with an inside leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Good work by Maanpohja as he checks the leg kick.
Maanpohja takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sackett with a hook.
Maanpohja throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sackett's waist but Sackett gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Maanpohja off to one side.
Sackett throws a good cross that connects.
Sackett lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Maanpohja shoots in for a takedown but Sackett shows good takedown defense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Galloway Sackett dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sackett thumps Maanpohja with a low kick.
Sackett throws a nice head kick!
Johannes Maanpohja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sackett clinches up against the cage.
Maanpohja wants to take the fight to the mat but Sackett manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Maanpohja has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sackett avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sackett.
Sackett makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Sackett working some nice short punches in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Sackett.
Sackett lands with a right to the head.
Sackett working Maanpohja over with knees to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Sackett.
Sackett lands a hook that snaps the head of Maanpohja backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sackett lands a left hand that snaps the head of Maanpohja backwards.
Sackett working Maanpohja over with knees to the body.
Sackett throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Maanpohjas head.
Sackett lands a body punch.
Sackett lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A right hook to the body lands for Sackett.
Maanpohja takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sackett lands a nice uppercut.

Maanpohja is rocked!
Sackett works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sackett makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Maanpohja is still on wobbly legs! Can Sackett finish him?
Sackett lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A short left from Sackett.
Maanpohja has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sackett is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Galloway Sackett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johannes Maanpohja.
Sackett lands a left hand that snaps the head of Maanpohja backwards.
Sackett digs a right hand underneath Maanpohja's ribcage. Maanpohja let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sackett scores with a shoulder strike.
Sackett lands a left hand.
Sackett throws a big uppercut that drops Maanpohja! More strikes from Sackett and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Maanpohja lies dazed against the cage as Sackett celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Galloway Sackett!
After winning the bout, Galloway Sackett thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.