PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eemeli Markkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manchester Red (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Markkanen
vs
Red

180 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
37
287 lbs
32 - 16 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Anarchy Clothing

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eemeli Markkanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Manchester Red!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Radbod Blank and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Red throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Markkanen counters with a stiff right hand.
Red ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Red jabs at Markkanen's body.
Markkanen fails with the takedown.

Red moves into the clinch successfully.
Red keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Markkanen's efforts to push away.
Red looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Markkanen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Red misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Markkanen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markkanen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Red fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eemeli Markkanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Red uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Markkanen.
Red is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
No luck for Markkanen with that takedown attempt.
Red has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Red tries a head kick but it misses.
Markkanen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Markkanen swings for the body but Red moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markkanen slips a jab and a cross from Red.
Red throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Red lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Eemeli Markkanen has been cut.
Red sizes up Markkanen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Red throws a series of punches but Markkanen avoids them all with ease.
Red jabs at Markkanen's body.
Markkanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Red connects with a good right hand that stumbles Markkanen. Markkanen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Markkanen shoots in but Red avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Markkanen cracks Red with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Markkanen misses with a wild body shot.
Red throws a head kick that Markkanen semi-blocks.
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!
Markkanen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Red only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Red bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Markkanen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Red throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Red scores with a body shot.
Red displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Markkanen throws out the jab.
Red looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Red comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Markkanen misses with a lunging right hand

and Red counters with a series of strikes that sends Markkanen to the canvas! Red follows down into guard, looking to finish the fight!

Red decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Markkanen, up you get!
Markkanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Red is looking to slow Markkanen down with leg kicks.
Markkanen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Red counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Markkanen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Red.

Red has Markkanen up against the cage in a clinch.
Red scores a nice knee to the body.
Red unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Markkanen is breathing heavily.
Red connects with a knee to the head.

Eemeli Markkanen's cut is getting worse.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Red.

Eemeli Markkanen's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Red crunches a lovely knee into Markkanen's ribcage.

Red pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Red moves in looking to clinch but Markkanen pushes him off.
Markkanen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Red sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And Red responds with a good body kick, but Markkanen manages to step out the way in time.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Red, as that shot connected.
Markkanen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Markkanen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Red pinned against the cage. Red gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Red plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Jeez, Eemeli Markkanen's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Red stuffs the takedown.
I'm just looking down at my notes here and I see that.... oh! Red has cracked Markkanen with a big right, followed by a left! He's out on his feet! Red lands another huge swinging hook and Markkanen tumbles to the canvas! The ref dives in to save Markkanen, before Red can land any more shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Manchester Red!
During a confident post fight interview, Manchester Red thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.