PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Shane MacManus (ranked 1926 p4p, 5072 weight class) and Sauli Somelainen (ranked 249 p4p, 508 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

MacManus
vs
Somelainen

164 cm
22
158
2 - 0 - 0

181 cm
23
160
1 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing
Money Inc. (160Q with Proof ) 165$

FF Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shane MacManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sauli Somelainen!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Somelainen loads up on a big right hand but MacManus slips the punch.
MacManus lands with a shot to the body.
MacManus jabs at Somelainen's body.
Somelainen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Somelainen tries a quick counter leg kick but MacManus is wise to it.
Somelainen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of MacManus's head.
MacManus has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from MacManus there as he acknowledges the shot.
Somelainen misses with an uppercut. MacManus saw that one coming.
A low kick from Somelainen misses

and MacManus counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
MacManus is looking to advance position but Somelainen won't allow it.
MacManus sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Somelainen is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

MacManus wants to work for an arm triangle but Somelainen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
MacManus is trying to control. Somelainen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MacManus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
MacManus not doing much here.
Somelainen is trying to control but can't.
MacManus lands with a punch from half guard.
Somelainen regains full guard. Nicely done.
MacManus looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but MacManus has passed into side control.
MacManus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Somelainen keeps working.
MacManus creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Somelainen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
MacManus wants to control but Somelainen is keeping him busy.
The ground and pound from MacManus seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
MacManus is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Somelainen will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Somelainen managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by MacManus.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen manages to get back to half guard.
MacManus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
MacManus is looking to take a break and control but Somelainen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. MacManus lands a nice short elbow.

MacManus is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Somelainen sees it coming and defends easily.
MacManus is trying to control. Somelainen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Somelainen regains full guard. Nicely done.
MacManus wants to control from the top but Somelainen keeps moving.
Somelainen wants to sweep here but MacManus controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacManus is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Somelainen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and MacManus defends well.
MacManus slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
MacManus slips a straight right by Somelainen.
Somelainen scores with a nice strike.
Somelainen lands a head shot.
Somelainen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Somelainen moves out of range as MacManus strikes.
MacManus throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sauli Somelainen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
MacManus misses with a jab, cross combination.
Somelainen throws a low kick but MacManus moves out of range easily.
MacManus swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Somelainen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shane MacManus dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

MacManus fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Somelainen manages to avoid it.
MacManus shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Somelainen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Somelainen stuns MacManus with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Somelainen misses the shot to the body.
Somelainen throws a leg kick that misses.
MacManus is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
MacManus displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Somelainen throws out the jab.
MacManus was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Somelainen misses with a hook. MacManus ducked under it nicely.
MacManus steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Somelainen.
Sauli Somelainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
MacManus with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The fighters circling - Somelainen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
MacManus ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
MacManus tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Somelainen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. MacManus doesn't seem bothered though.

MacManus shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Somelainen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Somelainen gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Somelainen is squirming around, avoiding MacManus's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacManus raining down shots from the mount!
MacManus looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
MacManus landing shots from mount.
MacManus controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

MacManus moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Somelainen has worked his arm free - good work by Somelainen!
MacManus 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.
MacManus landing a few strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen is trying to escape the position but MacManus is controlling the position.
Somelainen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
MacManus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Somelainen keeps working.
MacManus connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Somelainen some visible discomfort.
MacManus is chipping away with strikes.
Somelainen tries to improve position but can't.
Somelainen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
MacManus landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Somelainen is trying to maintain the position but MacManus is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacManus sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Somelainen defending well though.
MacManus controlling the pace.
MacManus is thwarting Somelainen's attempts to control the position.
MacManus thows a huge punch but Somelainen dodges it nicely.
Somelainen trying to control here.
Somelainen wants to get back to full guard.
MacManus seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Somelainen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Somelainen tries to get to full guard but MacManus has control of the leg.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

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.
MacManus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Somelainen keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Somelainen looks to land a left hand but MacManus moved out of range nicely.
MacManus lands with an uppercut that bounces Somelainen off the cage and back into range.
MacManus keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
MacManus will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Somelainen just misses with a punch to the body.
MacManus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Somelainen can do to turn this around?
MacManus just misses with a punch to the body.
Somelainen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. MacManus looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Somelainen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Somelainen ducks under a wild hook from MacManus.
A looping hook to the body misses from Somelainen. MacManus does a little dance to reset his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Somelainen. MacManus does a little dance to reset his feet.
MacManus just misses with a punch to the body.
Somelainen misses with a low kick as MacManus jumps back.
MacManus misses with a wild body shot.
MacManus tests Somelainen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shane MacManus dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

MacManus tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Somelainen swivels and escapes.
A looping hook to the body misses from MacManus. Somelainen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Somelainen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but MacManus was well out of range. Poor timing from Somelainen.
MacManus is looking to wear down Somelainen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
MacManus throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
MacManus shoots in but no luck this time.
A little jabbing left from Somelainen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

MacManus closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
MacManus is taking a breather. Somelainen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Somelainen is looking to improve his position.
MacManus scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacManus looks to land a strike but Somelainen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Somelainen looking to hit a scissor sweep but MacManus is one step ahead there.
MacManus throws a strike but Somelainen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacManus looking to control.
Somelainen stopping the sweep attempt from MacManus.
Somelainen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
MacManus working a defensive guard here.
MacManus has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Somelainen has passed into side control.
MacManus struggling a bit here.
MacManus might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sauli Somelainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Somelainen throws an elbow but MacManus slips to the side and avoids it well.
Somelainen moves into full mount!
Somelainen throwing strikes here but MacManus is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
MacManus is trying to escape the mount.
Somelainen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for MacManus because Somelainen loaded up on that one.
Somelainen looking to finish MacManus with some ground and pound. This is bad for MacManus!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Somelainen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
MacManus tries to hold on but Somelainen postures up.
MacManus is looking to improve his position but Somelainen isn't that keen on the idea.
MacManus tries to hold on but Somelainen postures up.
MacManus keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
MacManus tries to hold on but Somelainen postures up.
MacManus can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacManus gets back to half guard.

Somelainen is working for a kimura but MacManus is defending it quite comfortably.
MacManus wants to control but Somelainen is keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Somelainen throwing shots but MacManus is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sauli Somelainen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think MacManus has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Shane MacManus!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Shane MacManus!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Shane MacManus!

Shane MacManus wins by unanimous decision!
A victorious Shane MacManus thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.