PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ibra Il Genio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Emiley Heskey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Il Genio
vs
Heskey

183 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

192 cm
20
196 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Good wrestler
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ibra Il Genio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Emiley Heskey!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Heskey forces Il Genio back against the cage and clinches.
Heskey stalls.
Il Genio's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Il Genio taking a breather.
Il Genio has had enough of the clinch but Heskey keeps him there for the moment.
Il Genio looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Il Genio stops a takedown attempt from Heskey.
Heskey wants a takedown.
Il Genio is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Il Genio tries to break free but Heskey pushes him back against the cage.
Heskey looking for a takedown.
Ibra Il Genio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emiley Heskey.
Il Genio takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Ibra Il Genio has been cut.
Heskey is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Il Genio gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Knees to the body from Heskey.
Heskey is working for takedown but Il Genio is calmly controlling the position for now.
Il Genio is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Heskey keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Il Genio's efforts to push away.
Il Genio is looking to break free of the clinch but Heskey has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Il Genio wants to break free but Heskey has control.
Heskey takes a knee right on the jaw!
Il Genio on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Heskey prevents Il Genio from breaking the clinch.

Heskey has picked Il Genio up - he's going for a ride! Heskey dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Heskey winds up and cracks Il Genio with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Il Genio is trying to maintain the position but Heskey is very close to passing his half guard.

Il Genio kicks off Heskey and gets to his feet.
Heskey shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Il Genio lands a head kick. Heskey smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Heskey is trying hard to land a takedown here. Il Genio sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Il Genio throws a head kick that misses.
Il Genio connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Heskey fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Emiley Heskey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Il Genio throws a sloppy head kick and Heskey moves out of range easily.
Il Genio stuffs the takedown attempt from Heskey. Heskey gets slowly back to his feet.

Heskey moves into range and clinches up with Il Genio.
A frustrated look appears on Il Genio's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Heskey has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Il Genio is trying to keep an underhook but Heskey manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Heskey missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Il Genio is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heskey not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Heskey wants to pass to mount but Il Genio is defending the position.
Heskey scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Heskey working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Heskey content to control rather than advance.
Il Genio regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Heskey.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heskey with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Heskey content to stall in guard here.
Heskey is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Heskey is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
It looks like Heskey might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emiley Heskey dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ibra Il Genio's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

The fighters circling - Il Genio throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Heskey tries for a takedown but Il Genio sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Heskey lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Il Genio checks a low kick from Heskey.

Heskey decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Heskey takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Il Genio tries to kick Heskey off but Heskey keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Il Genio is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Heskey seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Emiley Heskey hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Heskey fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Il Genio sprawls well initially but Heskey persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Heskey is controlling the pace.
Il Genio blocking the ground and pound attempt from Heskey.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Il Genio is trying to control but can't.
Heskey lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Heskey controlling the action here.
Heskey wants to pass the guard but Il Genio is defending well.
Il Genio on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heskey is thwarting Il Genio's attempts to control the position.
Heskey prevents Il Genio from improving his position.
Heskey thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Heskey content to control rather than advance.
Nice strikes from Heskey there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heskey keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Let's hope that Heskey has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Emiley Heskey has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Heskey missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Il Genio trying to control here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Il Genio blocks a leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Il Genio clinches up with Heskey and pushes him back against the cage.
Heskey tries to land knees in the clinch but Il Genio avoids the damage to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emiley Heskey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ibra Il Genio's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Heskey looking to score a takedown here. Il Genio is defending well but Heskey drives through and ends up in Il Genio's guard.
Heskey throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Il Genio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Heskey sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Heskey lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Il Genio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Heskey.
Il Genio wants to stand but Heskey is controlling the position.
Heskey showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heskey won't allow Il Genio to get back to his feet.
Il Genio can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Heskey controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Emiley Heskey was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Heskey takes one on the chin but seems OK.
An inside leg kick from Heskey misses.
Il Genio throws a nice head kick!

Heskey dives in and scores a takedown into Il Genio's guard.
Il Genio being controlled here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heskey stopping the sweep attempt from Il Genio.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Heskey seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Heskey forces his way into half guard.
Still in half guard, Heskey seems content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heskey throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Il Genio to regain full guard.
Heskey engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Emiley Heskey wasn't active enough on the ground.
Heskey changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Il Genio tries to avoid it but Heskey manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Il Genio to the ground. Il Genio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heskey blocks a head kick by Il Genio.
Heskey is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Heskey throws a lazy head kick
and Il Genio cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Il Genio slaps away a takedown attempt from Heskey, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Heskey fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Il Genio manages to avoid it.
Il Genio lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Il Genio misses with a body kick.
Heskey shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Il Genio as he avoids it easily.
Ibra Il Genio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Emiley Heskey is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ibra Il Genio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Emiley Heskey.
Heskey takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Il Genio fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Heskey.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Emiley Heskey.
I've got Heskey winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 28:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emiley Heskey!