PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Gelfen (ranked 510 p4p, 59 weight class) and HL Mencken (ranked 323 p4p, 38 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.

Gelfen
vs
Mencken

195 cm
26
275 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

195 cm
33
261 lbs
23 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

THE END 32

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eddie Gelfen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, HL Mencken!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gelfen wants to clinch up but Mencken keeps it at a distance.
Gelfen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Gelfen swings widly with a right hand
and Mencken makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gelfen throws a sloppy head kick and Mencken moves out of range easily.
Mencken misses with a body kick.
Gelfen jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Gelfen misses with a low kick.
Mencken misses with a body shot.
Mencken throws a half hearted mid kick.
Mencken keeps the fight on the outside.
Mencken misses with an uppercut.
Eddie Gelfen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mencken swings for the body but Gelfen moves out of range.
Gelfen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Mencken throws a predictable looking body shot
and Gelfen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jab by Mencken.
Mencken scores with a hook to the body. Gelfen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gelfen misses with a looping left.
Gelfen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Gelfen 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 Mencken has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mencken and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Mencken tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gelfen was well out of range. Poor timing from Mencken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gelfen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gelfen swings widly with a right hand
and Mencken counters with a three punch combo that has Gelfen backing up. Gelfen nods at Mencken to acknowledge the strikes.
Gelfen lands an overhand right.
Gelfen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mencken has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Mencken is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Gelfen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Gelfen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mencken scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gelfen in his tracks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mencken. Gelfen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mencken misses with a two punch combination.
Gelfen throws a body shot but no joy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A bone on bone clash there as Mencken blocks the leg kick.
Mencken throws a wild body kick that Gelfen sees coming a mile off.
Gelfen throwing a counter right hand but Mencken manages to avoid it.
Gelfen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mencken.

Gelfen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mencken, pushing him back against the cage.

Mencken breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A cross from Mencken lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gelfen lands a jab to Mencken's midsection.
Mencken misses with a jab to the body
and Gelfen counters with an outside leg kick.
Gelfen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mencken paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gelfen misses with a body kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Mencken crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Gelfen - the referee stops the clock and Mencken gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Gelfen. Mencken manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Mencken scores with a jab to the head.
Gelfen swinging wildly here.
Gelfen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Mencken moves away from the strike by Gelfen.
It seemed like Mencken was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Mencken has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Gelfen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mencken.
Gelfen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Gelfen blocks a jab.
Mencken throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Gelfen on the side of the head.
Mencken circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mencken keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gelfen moves out of range of the strikes.
Gelfen avoids the body shot from Mencken.
Mencken misses with a hook.
Mencken connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gelfen's hands.
Gelfen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mencken.
Mencken tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gelfen was well out of range. Poor timing from Mencken.
Mencken throws a body kick that misses.
A punch lands to the side of Mencken 's head but he takes it in his stride.

It looks like HL Mencken has been cut.
Gelfen scores with a push kick.
Mencken throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gelfen moves out of range as Mencken throws a body kick.
Gelfen cracks Mencken with a good jab.

Gelfen lands a big shot that drops Mencken! Can he finish him?

Mencken is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gelfen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mencken is still in real trouble! Can Gelfen finish him?

Gelfen drops back looking for a leg! Mencken is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mencken manages to kick Gelfen off! Gelfen jumps back into Mencken's guard.
Gelfen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mencken swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mencken seems to have recovered his senses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mencken looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gelfen wants to control from the top but Mencken keeps moving.
Gelfen is looking to stand up but Mencken won't let him.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gelfen stops Mencken from standing up.

Gelfen gets to his feet. Mencken looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Gelfen throws an overhand right that lands on Mencken's shoulder, as Mencken tries to avoid the shot.
A swing and a miss from Gelfen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Eddie Gelfen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on HL Mencken's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mencken slips a jab from Gelfen.
Mencken moves out of range of the strikes.
Gelfen misses with a body kick.

Gelfen clinches with his opponent.
Gelfen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A frustrated look appears on Mencken's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mencken struggles to land a body shot inside as Gelfen controls his hands.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mencken tries to break free but Gelfen pushes him back against the cage.

Mencken breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Gelfen throws a shot from downtown. Mencken moves away and avoids it.
Mencken throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gelfen tries a low kick but Mencken avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gelfen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Mencken scores with a spinning back kick!
Gelfen misses with a wild combination.
A nice inside leg kick there by Gelfen. That's going to slow Mencken down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gelfen. Mencken does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gelfen throws an overhand right that lands on Mencken's shoulder, as Mencken tries to avoid the shot.
Mencken checks a leg kick nicely.
Gelfen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Gelfen throws an overhand right that lands on Mencken's shoulder, as Mencken tries to avoid the shot.
Gelfen misses with a looping left.
A jab from Mencken misses.
Mencken throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gelfen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gelfen moves away from the strike by Mencken.
Gelfen avoids the body shot from Mencken.
Gelfen is looking for a counter combo.
Mencken scores with a punch to the head.
Mencken throws a predictable looking body shot
and Gelfen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Gelfen tries to clinch up.
Gelfen blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mencken throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Gelfen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Mencken fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gelfen manages to avoid it.
Gelfen throws a quick counter kick to the body but Mencken avoids it.
A swing and a miss from Gelfen.
Gelfen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mencken.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mencken throws a hook but Gelfen blocks it.
Mencken takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gelfen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Gelfen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mencken moves away.
Gelfen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gelfen thows a leg kick but Mencken checks it
and Gelfen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gelfen wants to clinch.
Mencken is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gelfen.
Mencken displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gelfen throws out the jab.
Mencken digs a good hook to Gelfen's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mencken looks to score with a jab to the body but Gelfen is just out of range.
Gelfen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Gelfen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mencken sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gelfen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gelfen missing with a left hand there. Mencken was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A punch lands to the side of Gelfen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Gelfen throws a combination that misses
and Mencken counters with a nice body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gelfen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Mencken avoids the body shot from Gelfen.
Gelfen throws a looping overhand right but Mencken ducks down to avoid it.
Mencken looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A leg kick checked by Mencken.
Mencken now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Mencken fails to land with a series of punches.
Mencken swats away the attempt to clinch by Gelfen.
Mencken slips a jab from Gelfen.
Mencken slips a jab from Gelfen.
Mencken uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gelfen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mencken misses with a body shot.
A head kick misses from Mencken.
Mencken misses with a looping left.
Gelfen moves out of range as Mencken strikes.
Mencken steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gelfen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mencken gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gelfen.
Mencken closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Gelfen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Mencken to score with a decent uppercut.
Mencken keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gelfen.
Gelfen tries to close the distance and clinch but Mencken swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gelfen throws a jab when Mencken was well out of range.
Mencken follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
A telegraphed right hand from Gelfen misses the target.
Gelfen misses with a body shot.
Gelfen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Eddie Gelfen is winning the standup battle so far.
Mencken lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gelfen circles away quickly and effectively.
Gelfen swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Gelfen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Eddie Gelfen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on HL Mencken'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.

Gelfen throws a head kick but Mencken moves out of range.
Mencken scores with a hook to the body. Gelfen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nice uppercut lands for Mencken. That snapped Gelfen's head back.
Mencken explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Mencken keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gelfen.
Mencken tests Gelfen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Gelfen takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Mencken is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gelfen.
Gelfen takes one to the chin there.
A jab from Gelfen misses.
Gelfen cracks the inside of Mencken's front leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gelfen tries to clinch there but Mencken circles away.
Gelfen misses with a looping right.
Gelfen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mencken swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gelfen misses with an uppercut. Mencken saw that one coming.
Gelfen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Mencken scores with a spinning back kick!
Mencken connects with a single shot there.
Mencken drops a shoulder and throws an uppercut that cracks Gelfen right on the button. Gelfen goes down! Mencken follows him to the mat and finishes the job with more strikes! Mencken gets the win via TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). HL Mencken!