PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hobert Butler (ranked 24442 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lasse Mankeli (ranked 4508 p4p, 477 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Butler
vs
Mankeli

193 cm
20
193 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

182 cm
21
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hobert Butler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lasse Mankeli!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Knees to the body from Mankeli.
Mankeli prevents a body shot from Butler.
Butler is trying to pull guard but Mankeli has him pressed against the cage.

Butler jumps guard.
Butler looking for a sweep. Not yet Butler, not yet.
Mankeli not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mankeli throwing strikes from guard but Butler blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butler thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Butler 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.
Butler manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mankeli manages to get himself to full guard.

Butler 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mankeli looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mankeli is still trying to improve position.
Mankeli is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mankeli is looking to stand up but Butler isn't so interested in that idea.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Mankeli manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

Mankeli breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mankeli avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mankeli tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Butler defends well and Mankeli ends up having to push Butler into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Mankeli gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mankeli lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Butler backwards.

Butler jumps into guard, dragging Mankeli to the mat.
Butler will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Butler trying to strike off his back.
Butler not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mankeli controls from within his opponent's guard.
Butler wants to get back to his feet but Mankeli passes into half guard.
Butler is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mankeli tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Mankeli is looking for a kimura but Butler is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mankeli to get the leverage.
Butler is trying to get back to full guard.
Mankeli throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mankeli blocks the strikes from Butler.
Mankeli is thwarting Butler's attempts to control the position.
Mankeli sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Butler defending well though.
Butler moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mankeli must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Mankeli throwing strikes from guard but Butler blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Butler is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mankeli is controlling him.
Butler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mankeli trying to stand up but can't free himself from Butler's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Butler is trying to control the position but Mankeli postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mankeli takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Butler tries to keep at a distance but Mankeli has taken the fight into the clinch.

Butler jumps into guard, dragging Mankeli to the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Butler looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Mankeli puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Butler moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Butler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mankeli is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lasse Mankeli will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Butler shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mankeli sprawls well. Mankeli wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Butler gets slowly back to his feet.
Hobert Butler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Butler defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mankeli.
Mankeli cracks the inside of Butler's front leg.
Mankeli has his takedown stuffed
letting Butler counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mankeli with a poor takedown
and Butler counters with a nice body shot.
Hobert Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lasse Mankeli.

Butler drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mankeli is breathing heavily.

Mankeli has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Butler 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 Mankeli.
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.

Butler tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Butler has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Mankeli is trying to control Butler's posture but Butler avoids it.

Butler looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Butler is chipping away with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mankeli is trying to control Butler's posture but Butler avoids it.
Mankeli pushes Butler away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Butler gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Butler goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Mankeli has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Butler but great work by Mankeli.
Butler manages to work his way to half guard, despite Mankeli's best efforts.
Mankeli wants to stand up but Butler has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Mankeli is trying to control. Butler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Butler won't allow Mankeli to pass to mount.
Hobert Butler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butler is looking for a sweep. Mankeli is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Butler actively working from the bottom here.
Butler moves into full guard.
Butler wants to sweep but no luck.
Butler manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mankeli manages to get himself to full guard.

Mankeli wants to sweep but no luck.
Butler wants to stand but Mankeli has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Butler distracts Mankeli with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Butler gets to his feet. Mankeli looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Nice sprawl there from Mankeli as Butler shoots in.
Mankeli misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Butler fails to land the takedown.
Lasse Mankeli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Butler shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Butler was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mankeli is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hobert Butler dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Butler swinging wildly here.

Mankeli clinches.
Butler tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mankeli smiles and moves away.
Mankeli shoots for a takedown but Butler saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Butler was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Mankeli misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Butler feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Mankeli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mankeli wants to stand and escape but Butler is having none of it.
Butler wants to stand but Mankeli has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mankeli wants to sweep but no luck.
Mankeli throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Butler showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Mankeli isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Butler stacks Mankeli on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Butler!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mankeli is looking to reverse the position.

Butler is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mankeli is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Butler stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Mankeli forces Butler back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butler swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Butler is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mankeli is keeping busy.
Butler misses with a hook to the ribs.

Mankeli breaks the clinch.

Butler fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mankeli, pushing him back against the cage.
Butler fails to pull guard.
Butler missing with knees to the body.
Butler prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hobert Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lasse Mankeli.
Butler is looking to break free of the clinch but Mankeli has double underhooks.
Mankeli scores with a nice hook to the head.
Butler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mankeli just stands there and leans against the cage.

Mankeli breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mankeli dives in for a single leg takedown but Butler sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Butler throws a big counter combination but Mankeli scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mankeli is defended easily by Butler.
It looked like Butler was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Mankeli displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Butler.

Butler shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mankeli is trying to defend but Butler finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Mankeli kicks Butler off and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lasse Mankeli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Lasse Mankeli!