PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Manners (ranked 2582 p4p, 2206 weight class) and Aapo Jukola (ranked 324 p4p, 273 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Manners
vs
Jukola

200 cm
30
215
10 - 19 - 0

200 cm
30
218
18 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Manners!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aapo Jukola!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manners shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jukola defends it nicely.
Jukola swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Manners uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Jukola.
Jukola looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Jukola lands with a shot to the body.
Jukola throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Manners shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Jukola is controlling Manners's trapped leg to prevent Manners from advancing to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manners wants to stand but Jukola has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Jukola manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jukola throws a left and a right that both miss

and Manners counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Manners.
Manners is standing up over Jukola. Jukola looks to escape but Manners dives into side control.

Manners decides to stand back up.
Jukola throws a big shot that misses.
Manners shoots in but Jukola avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Manners shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Jukola is trying to defend but Manners finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Jukola tries to get to full guard but Manners has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manners wants to stand up but Jukola manages to regain full guard.
Jukola is adopting a defensive guard.
Jukola wants to sweep here but Manners controlling him for the moment.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jukola is looking to sweep but instead, Manners has passed into half guard.
Jukola is doing well to control the position and prevent Manners from advancing to side control.
It looks like Manners is going to stand back up.
Jukola tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Manners has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Jukola tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jukola tries to hold on but Manners pushes him away.

Manners stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Manners drives through with a takedown into guard.

Jukola pushes Manners off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Manners.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Manners. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manners throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jukola's waist but Jukola gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manners off to one side.
Jukola stuffs the takedown.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Manners takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Manners dives in for a single leg takedown but Jukola sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Manners tries for a takedown but Jukola manages to get underhooks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Aapo Jukola will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Manners slips under a jab.
Jukola throws a hook to the side of Manners's head but Manners sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Manners.
A countering left hand to the body from Jukola misses.
Manners looks for a takedown but Jukola sprawls well.
Manners slips under a jab.

Manners closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Jukola quickly recovers to half guard.
Jukola trying to control but Manners postures up.
Jukola gets full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jukola is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jukola looking for a sweep. Not yet Jukola, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jukola has his hands on Manners's head, controlling the position.
Jukola's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Matt Manners overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jukola working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Manners shoots in looking for a takedown. Jukola tries to sprawl out of it but Manners keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jukola manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Manners. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jukola stuffs the takedown.
Manners dives in for a single leg takedown but Jukola sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Jukola looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jukola misses with the head strike.
Jukola prevents the takedown attempt.
Manners throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jukolas head.
Manners blocks a body shot from Jukola.
Manners tries for a takedown but Jukola manages to get underhooks.
Manners wants to take the fight to the mat but Jukola manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Manners has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jukola is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Manners avoids the elbow strike from Jukola, against the cage.
Manners tries to score a body lock takedown but Jukola shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Manners is working for takedown but Jukola is calmly controlling the position for now.
Manners is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jukola gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Our sources have told us that Manners has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Jukola digs a right hand underneath Manners's ribcage. Manners let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Jukola pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Manners shoots in for a takedown but Jukola shows good takedown defense.
Jukola tries to land a leg kick but Manners saw it coming and moves away.
Manners drops his hands momentarily and Jukola takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manners shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jukola as he avoids it easily.
Matt Manners seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jukola misses the shot to the body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Jukola. Manners shrugs it off though.
Manners ducks under a wild hook from Jukola.
Manners misses with a takedown
and Jukola counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jukola swinging wildly here.
Jukola throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Manners is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jukola sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Manners ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jukola has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jukola pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Aapo Jukola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manners shoots for a takedown but Jukola saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Manners looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
It seemed like Jukola was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Manners moves out of range of the body kick from Jukola.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Jukola does no damage.
Manners shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Jukola counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Matt Manners has been cut.

Manners shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Jukola's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jukola looking to control.
Manners preventing the sweep.
Jukola is trying to keep Manners in close.
Manners would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Manners preventing the sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aapo Jukola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matt Manners's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Manners misses with a takedown attempt
and Jukola counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jukola fakes the leg kick and cracks Manners in the body.
Jukola leaves Manners with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Manners bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Manners avoids the body shot from Jukola.
Manners half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Manners has a takedown stuffed.
As Manners backs off Jukola throws a huge counter combo but Manners manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Manners. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manners shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jukola but Jukola pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A little jabbing left from Jukola on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Manners will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Aapo Jukola seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manners keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jukola.
Danga de danga de dang - Jukola scores with a four punch combination!
Manners closes the distance and clinches up with Jukola, looking for a takedown. Manners pushes Jukola against the cage but Jukola circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Manners looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Manners shoots in looking for a takedown but Jukola manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Manners's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jukola with the inside leg kick.
Manners shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jukola but Jukola pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jukola appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Manners dives in for a single leg takedown but Jukola sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Jukola now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Jukola prevents the takedown attempt.
Jukola lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jukola.
Manners is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jukola gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jukola prevents a takedown attempt there.
Manners tries for a takedown. No joy.
Jukola scores with a hook to the body.
Manners takes a shot to the head.
Jukola lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jukola doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jukola working aggressively here.
Jukola lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Manners.
Jukola makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Jukola.

Manners is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jukola throws a big uppercut that drops Manners! More strikes from Jukola and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Manners lies dazed against the cage as Jukola celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aapo Jukola!
A very excited looking Aapo Jukola made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.