PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Horner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rauno Makynen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Horner comes to the cage accompanied by Roky Erickson - Stand For The Fire Demon. 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.

Horner
vs
Makynen

180 cm
31
196 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

185 cm
25
195 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite 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 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Horner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rauno Makynen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makynen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Horner misses with a takedown attempt - Makynen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mike Horner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horner with a poor takedown

and Makynen moves into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Makynen fails to land.
A short right from Makynen.
Makynen can't find room to land a body shot as Horner controls the action.
Horner lands a hook that snaps the head of Makynen backwards.

Horner breaks from the clinch.
Horner tries to clinch up
letting Makynen counter with a right hand.
Makynen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Horner.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Horner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horner changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Makynen tries to avoid it but Horner manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Makynen to the ground. Makynen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Horner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck for Horner with that takedown attempt.
Horner shoots in and drives through. Makynen sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Horner scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Horner with the ground and pound but Makynen regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Makynen is looking to escape.
Horner trying to control from half guard but Makynen is working away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Makynen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Makynen is trying to stand back up but Horner is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horner keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mike Horner.
Horner tries to close the distance and clinch but Makynen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Horner tries a head kick but it misses.
A big left from Makynen misses.
Makynen scores with a shot to the body.
Makynen misses with a body shot.
Horner tries a head kick but it misses.
Horner shoots in for a takedown but Makynen shows good takedown defense.

Horner gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Makynen wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horner taking a breather here.
Makynen managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Horner.
Makynen is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Makynen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Horner.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horner tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Horner is looking to take a break and control but Makynen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Makynen parries the strikes from Horner easily there. Horner is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Makynen to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Horner dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Horner looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Makynen is fending him off so far but Horner persists. Nope, Makynen circles away and we're back to standing.
Makynen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Horner shoots in for a takedown but Makynen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Horner lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Makynen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Makynen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Makynen misses with a wild combination.
Horner misses with a takedown attempt
and Makynen counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Horner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horner fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Makynen avoids it really well and circles away.
Makynen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Horner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Horner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Makynen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Makynen avoids the head kick by Horner.
Makynen tries to clinch up but Horner circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makynen tries to clinch there but Horner circles away.
Makynen lunges at Horner with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Horner's hand.
Makynen is looking to land body kicks.
Horner swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Makynen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Makynen 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.
Makynen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rauno Makynen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Horner fails with an attempt to clinch.
Makynen misses with a body shot.
Horner misses with an attempted mid kick.
Makynen tries to bum rush Horner with a series of wild strikes but Horner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Horner shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Makynen as he jumps to the side.

Makynen gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Makynen.
Horner tries to score a body lock takedown but Makynen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Horner blocks a body shot from Makynen.
Horner blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Makynen as Horner tries to tie him up.
Makynen stops a takedown attempt from Horner.
Makynen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Horner manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Horner trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Horner looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Makynen has picked Horner up and slammed him! Horner can't keep hold of the triangle and Makynen manages to pass to side control!

Makynen stands up and beckons Horner to his feet.
Makynen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Horner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makynen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Makynen thows a body shot but no joy.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Horner is defended easily by Makynen.
Horner throws a jab but it's blocked by Makynen.
Makynen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Horner throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Horner missing with a left hand there. Makynen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Horner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Makynen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makynen throws a head kick that misses.

Horner closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Makynen's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Horner with a flurry of punches that miss.

Makynen pushes Horner off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
A head kick by Horner misses
and Makynen counters with a thumping low kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Horner closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Horner lands in his opponent's guard.

Makynen has his feet on Horner's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rauno Makynen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Horner swats away the attempt to clinch by Makynen.
Horner blocks a head kick by Makynen.
Makynen moves away from the strike by Horner.
Makynen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Horner moves in looking to clinch but Makynen pushes him off.
A head kick from Makynen lands but Horner takes it in his stride.

Horner tries to keep at a distance but Makynen has taken the fight into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Makynen.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Makynen.
Horner prevents a body shot from Makynen.
A head punch on the inside from Makynen fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horner is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Horner blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right from Makynen.
Horner wants a takedown but no success here.
Horner content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Makynen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Makynen gets through Horner's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Horner blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Horner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horner throws a lazy right hand but Makynen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Makynen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A punch combination from Horner misses.
Horner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Makynen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Makynen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Horner rather than just go for the knockout.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Makynen!

It looks like Mike Horner has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horner tries to clinch there but Makynen circles away.
A combination from Makynen does no damage.
Horner takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Makynen connects with a solid leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Horner shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Horner wants to control the pace but Makynen is squirming around nicely.
Makynen blocking the ground and pound.

Horner goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Makynen turns into him and now he's in Horner's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horner has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Makynen has passed into side control.
Horner is looking to reverse the position.

Makynen decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makynen gets cracked there but stands up to it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Horner looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Horner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Makynen working aggressively here.

Horner breaks the clinch.
Makynen scores with a shot to the body.
Makynen looks to land a combination but Horner avoids it well.
Horner takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Horner changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Makynen tries to avoid it but Horner manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Makynen to the ground. Makynen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Makynen throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A looping hook to the body misses from Makynen. Horner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Makynen tries to clinch but Horner moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rauno Makynen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Makynen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!