PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manny Heleko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rene Redzepi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Redzepi has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Manny Heleko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Heleko
vs
Redzepi

190 cm
25
256 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

192 cm
20
268 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Manny Heleko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rene Redzepi!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Redzepi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Redzepi wants it to stay on the feet.
Redzepi is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Heleko with a body shot.
Redzepi lands with a hook. Heleko tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Heleko shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Redzepi bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Heleko's head.

It looks like Manny Heleko has been cut.
Heleko takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Redzepi tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Heleko defends well and Redzepi ends up having to push Heleko into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Heleko went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Rene Redzepi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Heleko misses with a looping left.
Heleko dives in for a single leg takedown but Redzepi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Heleko misses with a low kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Redzepi finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Redzepi cracks Heleko with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Heleko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Redzepi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Heleko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Heleko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Heleko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Redzepi scores with a push kick.
Redzepi lands a leg kick that knocks Heleko off balance momentarily.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Redzepi.
Heleko definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Heleko has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Redzepi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heleko throws a jab when Redzepi was well out of range.
Redzepi looks to score with a jab to the body but Heleko is just out of range.
Redzepi avoids a punch combination nicely.
A solid body kick from Redzepi.
An inside leg kick lands from Redzepi.
Heleko tries to clinch but Redzepi is having none of it.
Redzepi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Redzepi looks winded!
Heleko misses with a wild combination.
Redzepi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Heleko moves into range and clinches up with Redzepi.
A head punch on the inside from Redzepi fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heleko tries to pull guard but Redzepi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Heleko is stalling here.
Heleko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Heleko tries to pull guard but Redzepi won't allow it.
Redzepi lands an uppercut.
Heleko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Heleko can't find room to land a body shot as Redzepi controls the action.
Redzepi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Redzepi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Redzepi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Heleko tries to throw a body punch but Redzepi avoids it by throwing Heleko back against the cage.
Redzepi is working Heleko over against the cage.
Heleko jumps guard but Redzepi stands there with Heleko around his waist. Heleko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Heleko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heleko lands with a light punch inside.
Heleko blocking some punches.
A short right from Redzepi on the inside.
Redzepi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Redzepi tries to throw a body punch but Heleko avoids it by throwing Redzepi back against the cage.
Heleko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Heleko scores with a shoulder strike.
Redzepi tries a body shot but Heleko blocks it.

Redzepi breaks from the clinch.
Redzepi throws a leg kick which misses Heleko's front leg but catches the back leg as Heleko tries to avoid it.
Heleko is looking to clinch.
Redzepi throws out a counter right but Heleko avoids it with no problem.
Heleko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Redzepi but Redzepi pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Redzepi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Heleko misses with a combination
and Redzepi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heleko shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Redzepi sprawls well. Redzepi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Heleko gets slowly back to his feet.
Redzepi stuffs the takedown.
Heleko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Heleko misses the shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Redzepi lands with a kick to the ribs.
Redzepi scores with a nice right hand.
Redzepi lands an overhand right.
Heleko dives in for a single leg takedown but Redzepi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Redzepi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Redzepi is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Heleko had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Heleko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Heleko is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rene Redzepi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Manny Heleko'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.

Redzepi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Heleko.
Redzepi pushes Heleko away with a front kick.
Heleko will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Redzepi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Heleko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Redzepi's waist but Redzepi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Heleko off to one side.
Redzepi misses with a head kick.
Redzepi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Heleko moves away.
Heleko on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Redzepi throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice shot by Redzepi.
Heleko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Redzepi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice leg kick lands there from Redzepi.
Redzepi is breathing heavily.
Redzepi shoots for a double leg takedown but Heleko sprawls well. He's pushed Redzepi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Heleko shoots in but no luck this time.
Heleko misses with a low kick.
Heleko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Redzepi as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Heleko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Redzepi tests Heleko's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Heleko shoots in and drives through. Redzepi sprawls well.
Redzepi cracks Heleko with a right hand to the side of the head.
Redzepi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Heleko is looking for a counter combo.
Rene Redzepi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Heleko takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Manny Heleko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Heleko misses with an uppercut.
Heleko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Redzepi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Heleko has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Heleko there as he acknowledges the shot.

Redzepi gets tackled into the cage by Heleko. Heleko maintains the clinch.
Heleko throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Redzepis head.
Redzepi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Redzepi struggles to land a body shot inside as Heleko controls his hands.
Redzepi misses with some punches.
Heleko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Redzepi.
Redzepi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Heleko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heleko tries to pull guard but Redzepi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Redzepi misses with a punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Heleko prevents a body shot from Redzepi.
Redzepi lands a body punch.
Heleko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Redzepi pushes Heleko back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Heleko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Heleko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Redzepi walks away with a smile on his face. Heleko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Heleko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Redzepi as he avoids it easily.
Heleko misses with a hook to the body
and Redzepi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Heleko misses with a series of wild punches.
Heleko on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Redzepi. Redzepi obviously looking to wear him down.
Redzepi walks into a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heleko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Redzepi is trying to counter with his kicks.
Redzepi thuds a left hand into Heleko's body.
Redzepi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Heleko throws out the jab.
Heleko on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Heleko wants to clinch.
Heleko fails with a takedown attempt.
Redzepi lands with an overhand left.
Redzepi lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heleko pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Redzepi back to the cage. Heleko follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Redzepi scores with a jab to the body.
Heleko throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A little jabbing left from Redzepi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Heleko throws a right hand that misses
and Redzepi counters with a right hand to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Heleko has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Redzepi.
A solid body kick from Redzepi.
Heleko throws a body punch but Redzepi moves out of range.
A slow jab from Heleko misses its intended target.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Heleko.
Redzepi ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Redzepi scores with a hook to the body. Heleko takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Heleko tries to clinch there but Redzepi circles away.
Heleko throws a leg kick that is checked
and Heleko takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rene Redzepi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Manny Heleko's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Heleko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Redzepi manages to avoid it.
Redzepi lands with a nice body kick.
Heleko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Redzepi circles away quickly and effectively.
Redzepi ducks under a wild hook from Heleko.
Redzepi lands a front kick.
Redzepi connects with a leg kick. Heleko looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Heleko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Redzepi scores with a shot to the body.
Redzepi checks a leg kick.
Redzepi cracks a nice hook into Heleko's ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heleko takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Redzepi feints and then cracks Heleko's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Heleko down.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Heleko takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Redzepi scores with a push kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Heleko tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Redzepi swats away the attempt to clinch by Heleko.
Redzepi counters with a body kick.
Redzepi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Heleko missing with a left hand there. Redzepi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Heleko is looking to clinch.

Redzepi moves into the clinch.
Rene Redzepi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short uppercut from Redzepi.
Heleko tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Redzepi avoids it.
Heleko blocks an uppercut.
Redzepi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Redzepi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Heleko goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Heleko misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Redzepi fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heleko doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Redzepi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Heleko's efforts to push away.
Redzepi swings wildly with an uppercut but Heleko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rene Redzepi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Heleko pulls guard.
Heleko wants to get back to his feet but Redzepi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Redzepi gets to his feet - Heleko follows without any prompting.
Redzepi connects with a solid leg kick.
Heleko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Redzepi fails with a takedown attempt.
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!
Redzepi scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Redzepi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Redzepi misses the shot to the body.
Heleko is looking to counter the offense by Redzepi and move into the clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Redzepi.
Redzepi jabs Heleko to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Redzepi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Heleko has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Redzepi takes one on the button.
Heleko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Redzepi tries to counter with a clinch but Heleko shakes him off and moves away.

Heleko gets a clinch.
Heleko tries to pull guard but Redzepi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Redzepi throws a head punch that misses.
Redzepi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Heleko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Redzepi throws a punch but it's blocked by Heleko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heleko fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manny Heleko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Heleko has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Redzepi uses from the top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Redzepi stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Heleko moves away from the strike by Redzepi.
Heleko throws a body punch but Redzepi moves out of range.
Redzepi connects with a solid leg kick.
Heleko doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Heleko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Redzepi is fending him off so far but Heleko persists. Nope, Redzepi circles away and we're back to standing.
A shot to the liver by Heleko. Beautiful body shot.
Nice defenses there by Redzepi.
Heleko finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Heleko goes for a double leg but Redzepi avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Redzepi continues to drive forward.
Heleko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Manny Heleko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Heleko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Redzepi.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rene Redzepi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Redzepi 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rene Redzepi!
Our winner, Rene Redzepi, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.