PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Manu Ahonen (ranked 891 p4p, 131 weight class) and Gum Shoe (ranked 1055 p4p, 152 weight class). Ahonen comes to the cage accompanied by For Heavy Metal we will die!. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Ahonen
vs
Shoe

182 cm
33
170 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

178 cm
34
180 lbs
23 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manu Ahonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gum Shoe!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Steven Brown and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahonen blocks a low kick nicely.
Shoe gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ahonen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A shot to the liver by Ahonen. Beautiful body shot.
Shoe with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A big right from Ahonen misses.
Shoe connects with a solid leg kick.
Shoe tries to clinch up.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ahonen misses with a hook. Shoe ducked under it nicely.
Ahonen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shoe.
Ahonen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shoe.
Shoe lands a nice looking body shot.
Ahonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Ahonen lands a nice looking body shot.
Ahonen takes a jab right on the kisser.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ahonen moves forwards but Shoe connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Shoe throws a lazy right hand but Ahonen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ahonen swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Shoe avoids the body shot from Ahonen.
We've been hearing reports that Ahonen has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A jab from Shoe does it's job there.
Shoe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ahonen.
Ahonen swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahonen ducks under a wild hook from Shoe.
Shoe tests Ahonen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Shoe avoids the body shot from Ahonen.
Ahonen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Shoe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A jab from Ahonen misses.
Shoe cracks a nice hook into Ahonen's ribs.
A low kick from Shoe misses
and Ahonen counters with a stiff right hand.
Ahonen misses with a looping right.
Shoe takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Ahonen moves out of range as Shoe throws a body kick.
Ahonen cracks Shoe with a good jab.
Shoe looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Shoe lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ahonen will feel that in the morning.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shoe lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ahonen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Shoe finds it's way round the side to connect with Ahonen's head.
Shoe throws out a powerful jab.
Shoe tries to work over Ahonen's front leg with a kick but Ahonen checks it.
Ahonen walks into a straight right hand from Shoe.
Shoe gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Shoe.
Shoe throws a body punch but Ahonen moves out of range.
Ahonen misses with a body shot.
Ahonen stalks Shoe and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Shoe's face. Shoe staggers backwards, shaken.
A left lands for Ahonen.
Ahonen throws a looping overhand right but Shoe ducks down to avoid it.
A slow jab from Shoe misses its intended target.
Ahonen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Nice uppercut lands for Shoe. That snapped Ahonen's head back.
Ahonen misses with a wild body shot.
Shoe let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Shoe walks into a left hand.
Ahonen throws a body shot but no joy.
Ahonen misses with an uppercut
and Shoe counters with a nice body kick.
Shoe looks to land a left hand but Ahonen moved out of range nicely.
Shoe lands with a good body shot.
Shoe has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ahonen finds it's way round the side to connect with Shoe's head.
Ahonen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ahonen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Shoe misses with a jab, cross combination.
It looked like Ahonen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Shoe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shoe avoids the body shot from Ahonen.
Shoe uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ahonen.
Ahonen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ahonen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ahonen takes a swing at Shoe's ribcage but misses.
Shoe explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Shoe ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Shoe looks to land a combination but Ahonen avoids it well.
Shoe throws a leg kick
and Ahonen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shoe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Shoe throws a lazy body kick
and Ahonen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ahonen swings for the body but Shoe moves out of range.
Shoe thumps Ahonen with a low kick.
Ahonen throws a right hand that misses
and Shoe counters with a nice body shot.
Shoe ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ahonen moves away.
Ahonen throws the left hand but Shoe avoids the punch easily.
Ahonen misses with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ahonen misses with a hook. Shoe ducked under it nicely.
Shoe throws a big shot that misses.
Ahonen attempts a counter takedown but Shoe avoids it well and moves away.
Ahonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shoe was well out of range. Poor timing from Ahonen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen misses with a right hand
and Shoe counters with a low kick, right behind Ahonen 's knee.

Shoe closes the distance and pushes Ahonen back into the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A head punch on the inside from Shoe fails to land.
Ahonen misses with the head strike.
Ahonen misses with a hook to the ribs.

Shoe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gum Shoe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ahonen connects with the punch.
Shoe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
It looked like Ahonen was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Ahonen is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Shoe pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Shoe takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Shoe instigates a clinch.
Ahonen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Shoe's elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ahonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shoe moves out of range of the strikes.
Shoe fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Ahonen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ahonen misses the jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ahonen throws a good cross that connects.
Shoe throws a series of punches but Ahonen moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Ahonen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ahonen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick misses from Shoe.
Shoe tries to move into range but Ahonen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Ahonen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gum Shoe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fighters circling - Ahonen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ahonen throws a good cross that connects.
Ahonen misses the jab.
Ahonen throws a hook but Shoe blocks it.
Shoe misses with an uppercut.
Ahonen misses with a straight right.
Shoe misses with a wild body shot.
Shoe throws a push kick but Ahonen slaps the foot to one side.
Ahonen swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Shoe scores with the left hand. Ahonen knows he should have avoided that one.
Shoe scores with a jab to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ahonen misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Shoe to counter with a crisp jab.
Ahonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shoe slips under a jab from Ahonen.
Ahonen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahonen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ahonen throws a body shot but no joy.
Shoe scores with a nice right hand.
Ahonen scores with a decent looking hook.
Shoe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ahonen.
Shoe lands a slapping body shot.
Shoe goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ahonen throws out a loose jab but Shoe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shoe swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Shoe swinging wildly here.
Shoe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ahonen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Shoe in his tracks.
Ahonen misses the jab.
Shoe does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ahonen shoots for a takedown but Shoe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ahonen scores with a three punch combo!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ahonen misses with a series of wild punches.
Shoe throws a jab when Ahonen was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shoe connects with a right hand. Ahonen shakes it off.
Ahonen misses with a body shot
and Shoe counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shoe lands with a kick to the ribs.
Shoe looks to land a body kick but Ahonen moved away.
Shoe thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ahonen punishes Shoe's body with a nice straight punch.
Shoe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ahonen lands the left hand.
Shoe defending well as Ahonen loads up on a big left hand.
Ahonen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ahonen has a takedown stuffed.
Shoe connects with a right hand. Ahonen shakes it off.
Shoe fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ahonen is out of range.
Shoe has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Shoe does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Ahonen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Shoe fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Shoe.
Shoe throws a hook but Ahonen blocks it.
Ahonen misses with a looping left.
Shoe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shoe pushes Ahonen away with a front kick.
Ahonen checks a leg kick.
Ahonen checks a leg kick.
Shoe slips under a jab from Ahonen.
Shoe lands a jab-cross combination.
Ahonen misses with a hook. Shoe ducked under it nicely.
No luck for Ahonen with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manu Ahonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shoe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ahonen.
Shoe slips a jab and a cross from Ahonen.
Shoe throws out a counter right but Ahonen avoids it with no problem.
Ahonen misses with a straight left.
Shoe feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ahonen's calf.

Shoe moves into range and clinches up with Ahonen.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shoe has Ahonen pressed against the cage, preventing Ahonen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shoe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shoe blocks an uppercut.
Shoe blocking some punches.
Ahonen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Shoe makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ahonen wants to take the fight to the mat but Shoe manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Shoe trying to control the position but instead, Ahonen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shoe into the cage.
Shoe lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ahonen blocks a body shot from Shoe.
Shoe tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ahonen misses with a short punch on the inside.

Ahonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shoe ducks under a wild hook from Ahonen.
Shoe lands a high kick!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ahonen staying out of range there.

Shoe closes the distance and pushes Ahonen back into the cage.
Shoe softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ahonen can't break the clinch.
Ahonen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Shoe after a bit of a struggle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gum Shoe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ahonen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Shoes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Shoe looks to throw the jab but Ahonen is out of range.
Shoe moves out of range of the strikes.
Ahonen slips a straight right by Shoe.
Ahonen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shoe.
Shoe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Shoe scores with a nice head shot.
A jab from Shoe finds it's way through Ahonen's defenses.
Shoe takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Shoe throws a hook but Ahonen avoids it easily.
Ahonen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ahonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Shoe! But no joy.
Shoe scores with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ahonen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shoe scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Shoe is looking to score with low kicks.
Shoe looks for the body kick but Ahonen saw that one coming.
Shoe takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Shoe throws the left hand but Ahonen avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shoe misses with a body kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Ahonen misses the target.
Ahonen misses with a straight right.
A telegraphed right hand from Shoe misses the target.
Shoe throws a big shot that misses.
Ahonen misses with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shoe. Ahonen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ahonen moves out of range of the strikes.
Shoe misses with an uppercut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ahonen is defended easily by Shoe.
Shoe works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ahonen throws a looping overhand right but Shoe ducks down to avoid it.
Shoe stuffs the takedown.
Ahonen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Manu Ahonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shoe works over Ahonen's head and body with a nice combination.
Shoe connects with an inside leg kick.
Ahonen throws a good cross that connects.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shoe misses with a low kick as Ahonen jumps back.
A left lands for Shoe.
Crunch! Shoe slams his shin into Ahonen's torso.
Shoe avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ahonen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Shoe tries to clinch there but Ahonen circles away.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Shoe - that will leave a mark!
Ahonen moves away from the strike by Shoe.
Shoe throws a body shot but no joy.
Ahonen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Shoe.
Shoe just misses with a punch to the body.
Shoe throws out a powerful jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahonen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Ahonen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shoe counters with a good low kick that Ahonen was not able to check.

Shoe closes the distance and clinches.
Ahonen has had enough of the clinch but Shoe keeps him there for the moment.
Ahonen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shoe gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manu Ahonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ahonen has had enough of the clinch but Shoe keeps him there for the moment.
Shoe lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ahonen backwards.
Shoe lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Shoe lands a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shoe working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Shoe.
Shoe lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Ahonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ahonen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Shoe lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shoe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ahonen.
Shoe smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Shoe rushes Ahonen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shoe keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ahonen's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shoe breaks from the clinch.
Shoe tries a head kick but it misses.
A jab from Shoe finds it's way through Ahonen's defenses.
Shoe is looking to slow Ahonen down with leg kicks.
Shoe feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ahonen's calf.
Shoe throws a good cross that connects.
Ahonen fails to land the takedown.
Shoe throws a looping overhand right but Ahonen ducks down to avoid it.
Shoe throws a leg kick which misses Ahonen's front leg but catches the back leg as Ahonen tries to avoid it.
Shoe lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ahonen at a distance.
Shoe doesn't manage to clinch there - Ahonen circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A punch lands to the side of Ahonen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ahonen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ahonen will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Ahonen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gum Shoe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shoe steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ahonen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gum Shoe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shoe has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gum Shoe!
Post fight, an emotional Gum Shoe said 'Don't touch my gums, I won't steal your shoes.'.