PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Urho Mannerheim (ranked 22114 p4p, 436 weight class) and Alexander Zuev (ranked 21617 p4p, 447 weight class). Urho Mannerheim has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mannerheim
vs
Zuev

210 cm
23
265 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

210 cm
21
280 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Urho Mannerheim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alexander Zuev!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick lands from Mannerheim.
Zuev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mannerheim as he avoids it easily.
Zuev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mannerheim circles away.
Zuev throws a nice head kick!
Mannerheim dodges the punch combination from Zuev.
Mannerheim throws a right hand that Zuev ducks under and follows up with a left that Zuev also avoids with ease.
Zuev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Urho Mannerheim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Zuev.
Zuev shoots in but no luck this time.
Zuev tries to clinch but Mannerheim is having none of it.
Mannerheim lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Zuev has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Mannerheim.
Mannerheim walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Zuev checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Mannerheim throws a half hearted mid kick.
Mannerheim scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mannerheim scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Mannerheim connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Mannerheim swats away the attempt to clinch by Zuev.
It looked like Mannerheim was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Zuev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuev keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mannerheim.
Zuev fails in his attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Mannerheim, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mannerheim tries a head kick but it misses.
Mannerheim throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mannerheim tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zuev was well out of range. Poor timing from Mannerheim.
A punch combination from Mannerheim misses.
Urho Mannerheim is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zuev takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Zuev shoots in looking for a takedown. Mannerheim tries to sprawl out of it but Zuev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Mannerheim manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Zuev tries to clinch up but Mannerheim circles away and keeps his distance.
Mannerheim throws a lazy right hand but Zuev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zuev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mannerheim defends well and Zuev ends up having to push Mannerheim into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Zuev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mannerheim but Mannerheim pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mannerheim slaps away a takedown attempt from Zuev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mannerheim lands with a straight right. Zuev didn't see that one coming.
Mannerheim throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Zuev is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A combination from Zuev does no damage.
Mannerheim connects with a single shot there.
Zuev moves in looking to clinch but Mannerheim pushes him off.
It looked like Mannerheim wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mannerheim waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zuev.
Zuev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
No luck for Zuev with that takedown attempt.
Mannerheim lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Mannerheim.

Zuev darts in and clinches Mannerheim up against the ropes.

Zuev breaks the clinch.
Zuev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mannerheim's waist but Mannerheim gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zuev off to one side.
Zuev on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mannerheim. Mannerheim obviously looking to wear him down.
Mannerheim throws an overhand right that lands on Zuev's shoulder, as Zuev tries to avoid the shot.
Zuev misses with a takedown attempt - Mannerheim sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mannerheim dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Zuev fails with the takedown.
Mannerheim lands with a nice body punch.
Mannerheim lands an overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mannerheim catches Zuev with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Zuev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A clash of legs there as Zuev blocks the low kick.
Zuev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mannerheim sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mannerheim pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mannerheim with a jab.
A slow jab from Mannerheim misses its intended target.

Zuev moves into the clinch successfully.

Mannerheim pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zuev misses with a takedown attempt - Mannerheim sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mannerheim scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Zuev is rocked!
Mannerheim works Zuev's body with a nice hook.
Zuev on the wrong end of a nice jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urho Mannerheim dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mannerheim fakes a right and follows up with a big left that drops Zuev to one knee - oooooh, he's wobbly! Zuev looks to clinch but Mannerheim throws him off and pummels him into the canvas! Zuev taps out under the strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Urho Mannerheim!
A relieved looking Urho Mannerheim thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.