PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mika Heining (ranked 3820 p4p, 24825 weight class) and Tony Stat (ranked 518 p4p, 757 weight class). Tony Stat will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Heining
vs
Stat

185 cm
24
185
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
19
180
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mika Heining!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Stat!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Heining has Stat up against the cage in a clinch.
Heining works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Stat is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Heining is trying to pull guard but Stat turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Our sources have told us that Heining has been working on his elbows in the gym.

Heining decides to pull guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Stat wants to stand but Heining is controlling his posture from full guard.

Stat gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Stat lunges at Heining with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Heining's hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good standup being displayed there by Stat as he connects with a hook.

Heining drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Heining landing with the ground and pound.
Stat wants to stand but Heining is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heining scoring with some ground and pound.
Heining trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stat wants to stand but Heining is controlling the position.
Heining is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Stat is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Heining is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Heining content to stall in guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Stat throws a left and a right that both miss

so Heining counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Stat wants to stand up but Heining is controlling him.
Heining forces his way into half guard.
Ground and pound from Heining.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Heining in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heining moves nicely into side control.

Heining stands up and beckons Stat to his feet.

Heining looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Stat avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Heining.
Heining looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Heining seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Stat for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stat tries to kick Heining off but Heining keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stat is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Heining clinches up with Stat and pushes him back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mika Heining dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Heining looks to score with a jab to the body but Stat is just out of range.
Stat lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Mika Heining is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Heining clinches with his opponent.
Heining is trying to pull guard but Stat has him pressed against the cage.

Heining breaks from the clinch.
Heining looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stat unleashes a big counter combination but Heining bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Heining takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Stat looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stat misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Heining closes the distance and pushes Stat back into the cage.
Stat can't break the clinch.
Heining jumps guard but Stat stands there with Heining around his waist. Heining gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stat tries to break the clinch but Heining is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heining pressing his opponent against the cage.
Heining throws an elbow that misses.
Heining prevents Stat from breaking the clinch.

Heining manages to break the clinch.
Stat stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Heining clinches with his opponent.
Heining is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stat can do to turn this around?

Heining wants the takedown. Stat is fighting it off but Heining persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Stat's guard against the cage.
Heining content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stat wants to stand up but Heining is controlling him.

Heining drops back, looking for a kneebar! Stat looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Stat looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Stat!

Stat tries to get to his feet but Heining is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Stat in his guard.
Heining wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Heining has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stat can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Heining wants to sweep here but Stat controlling him for the moment.

Heining scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Stat lands a slapping body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stat swats away the attempt to clinch by Heining.
Stat scores with a punch to the head.
Heining misses with a leg kick
and Stat counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Heining on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A decent looking cross lands there for Stat.
Heining walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Heining fails with the takedown
and Stat counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mika Heining. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stat lands with an overhand left.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Stat 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!

A shot to the liver by Stat. Beautiful body shot.
Stat misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A quick step to the side and Heining tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Heining has closed the distance and engaged Stat in a clinch.
Stat working hard to break the clinch.

Heining breaks the clinch.
Stat has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Heining lands a nice shot that snaps Stat's head back.
Heining tries to clinch there but Stat circles away.
Stat lands with a nice combination. Heining backs away looking to recover.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heining takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Heining bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Heining working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Stat is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Heining is controlling him well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heining in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Heining grinds an elbow into Stat's temple.

Heining is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stat has escaped the position, nice work there.
Stat is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Heining is controlling him well.

That's two 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.
Heining scoring with punches from side control.

Heining thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Heining content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stat is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Heining has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Heining taking a breather here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Heining has taken the fight to the clinch.
Heining tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stat avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Heining goes for a takedown attempt but Stat pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Heining tries to clinch up
and Stat counters with a left to the body.
Heining is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Stat.

Heining clinches up with Stat and pushes him back against the cage.
Stat looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stat tries to break the clinch but Heining is controlling the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Heining tries a body shot but Stat blocks it.
Heining misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Heining displaying some good clinch control by pressing Stat up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mika Heining.
I think Heining 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mika Heining!