PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aleksi Heimo (ranked 2150 p4p, 1614 weight class) and Bernhard River (ranked 107 p4p, 81 weight class). River is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Metallica: Enter Sandman. Bernhard River told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Heimo
vs
River

169 cm
25
146
6 - 12 - 0

170 cm
24
135
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aleksi Heimo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bernhard River!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paul Aken and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
River connects with a solid leg kick.
Heimo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from River misses the target.
River takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
River uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Heimo.
Heimo misses with an uppercut.
Heimo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
River moves out of range of the body kick.

River takes the fight into the clinch.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Heimo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Heimo tries a head kick but it misses.
Heimo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
River slips under a jab from Heimo.
Heimo throws a push kick but River slaps the foot to one side.
River ducks under a wild hook from Heimo.
Heimo will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
River is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Heimo with a body shot.
River cracks Heimo with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Heimo moves forwards but River connects with a nice, crisp jab.
River on the wrong end of a nice hook.
River uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Heimo.
We've been informed that River has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heimo gets off balance looking for a body kick
and River connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A head kick misses from Heimo.

River drives through with a takedown into Heimo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Heimo pushes River off and scrambles back to his feet.
Heimo misses with a hook.
River throws a body shot but no joy.
Heimo throws a low kick, looking for River's leg but River calmly moves out of range.
River throws a body shot but no joy.
River displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Heimo throws out the jab.
Good standup being displayed there by Heimo as he connects with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
River 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.
Heimo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

River clinches up against the cage.
River digs a right hand underneath Heimo's ribcage. Heimo let out a lung full of air as it connected.
River scores with an uppercut up the middle.
River throws a head punch that misses.
Heimo is trying to break the clinch but River is controlling him.
Heimo blocks a body shot from River.
River goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Heimo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Heimo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Heimo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Heimo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
River lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Heimo.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
River taking a breather.
Heimo is trying to break the clinch but River has him pressed against the cage.

Heimo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
River with a hook.
River uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Heimo.
Heimo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
River misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Heimo throws a push kick but River slaps the foot to one side.
Aleksi Heimo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

River shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Heimo napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Heimo sneaks out the side door and pushes River away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
River with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A nice leg kick from Heimo, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice cross by River.

Heimo is rocked!
A nice inside leg kick there by River. That's going to slow Heimo down.
Oh Heimo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
BAM! River delivers a spinning backfist that drops Heimo like a ragdoll! This is all oooooveeeer! He was out before he hit the ground!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Spinning Backfist). Bernhard River!
Bernhard River seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.