PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Witse Beukes (ranked 5614 p4p, 3068 weight class) and Justin Mkenn (ranked 228 p4p, 143 weight class). Justin Mkenn will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Beukes
vs
Mkenn

198 cm
19
300
0 - 2 - 0

225 cm
22
300
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Witse Beukes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Justin Mkenn!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Illya Tyunina and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Beukes shoots in and drives through. Mkenn sprawls well.
Mkenn wants to clinch up but Beukes keeps it at a distance.
Mkenn tries to bum rush Beukes with a series of wild strikes but Beukes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Beukes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mkenn pinned against the cage. Mkenn gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Mkenn!

It looks like Witse Beukes has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mkenn connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Beukes's hands.
Nice uppercut lands for Mkenn. That snapped Beukes's head back.
Mkenn lands with a slapping head kick.
Justin Mkenn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mkenn connects with a crisp jab.

Witse Beukes's cut is getting worse.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mkenn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mkenn misses with a series of wild punches.
Beukes dives in and grabs Mkenn's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mkenn pushes down on Beukes's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Witse Beukes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Mkenn.
Beukes feinted with a counter takedown.
Mkenn scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Mkenn displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Mkenn lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Beukes sprawling to the canvas. Mkenn follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Beukes hang on?

Witse Beukes's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
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!

Beukes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mkenn pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beukes is looking to escape.

Beukes actively working from the bottom here.

Beukes actively working from the bottom here.
Beukes is breathing heavily.
Beukes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Beukes.

Beukes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mkenn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Mkenn got a little sloppy there for a moment and Beukes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mkenn has managed to get both his arms back between Beukes's legs - danger averted.

Beukes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mkenn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Beukes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mkenn is aware though and is defending well.

Beukes looking for a guillotine here but Mkenn defends easily.
Mkenn has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Beukes is proving hard to escape from.
Mkenn trying to control but Beukes is working from the bottom.

Beukes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mkenn can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Beukes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Beukes looking for a guillotine here but Mkenn defends easily.
Mkenn wanted to stand there but Beukes had control of the position.

Beukes looking for a guillotine here but Mkenn defends easily.

Beukes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mkenn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Mkenn dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Witse Beukes's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Mkenn lands with a kick to the temple. Beukes shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
No luck for Beukes with that takedown attempt.
Beukes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mkenn moves to clinch but Beukes breaks away

and Beukes counters with a single leg into guard. Mkenn didn't expect that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beukes lands a couple of digs.
Beukes scoring with some ground and pound.
Beukes distracts Mkenn with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Witse Beukes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Beukes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Beukes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Beukes lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beukes forces his way into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Beukes lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Beukes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mkenn defends it well.
Beukes lands strikes from half guard.
Beukes prevents Mkenn from improving his position.
Beukes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beukes lands strikes from half guard.

Beukes stands up and beckons Mkenn to join him on the feet.
Mkenn wants to clinch up but Beukes keeps it at a distance.
Beukes tries to counter by clinching up but Mkenn breaks away and moves out of range.
Justin Mkenn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mkenn connects with a body shot.
Mkenn scores with a sloppy right hand. Beukes should have avoided that one.

Beukes closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mkenn to the mat! Mkenn manages to get full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
Beukes wants to pass the guard but Mkenn is keeping the position.

Beukes drops back looking for a leg! Mkenn is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mkenn manages to kick Beukes off! Beukes jumps back into Mkenn's guard.
Beukes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mkenn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Beukes throws a big elbow that misses.
Beukes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Beukes wants to pass the guard but Mkenn is keeping the position.
Mkenn is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mkenn working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Beukes.
Beukes throwing strikes from guard but Mkenn blocks nicely.
Beukes chips away with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Beukes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Beukes wants to pass the guard but Mkenn is keeping the position.
Mkenn is trying to control the position but Beukes postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Beukes drops back looking for a leg! Mkenn is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Mkenn manages to kick Beukes off! Beukes jumps back into Mkenn's guard.
Beukes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Beukes with a nice head shot there.
Beukes postures up in Mkenn's guard and throws a big left but Mkenn blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Beukes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Beukes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Beukes wants to pass the guard but Mkenn is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Mkenn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Beukes feinted with a counter takedown.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Witse Beukes dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Witse Beukes's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mkenn scores with a nice right hand.
Mkenn lands a high kick!
Mkenn tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Beukes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mkenn tries to clinch up but Beukes circles away and keeps his distance.
Beukes is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Mkenn.
Mkenn tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mkenn lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Jeez, Witse Beukes's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Mkenn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mkenn has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Beukes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Beukes tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Mkenn manages to circle out of the way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mkenn misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Beukes counters with a single leg into guard. Mkenn didn't expect that.
Beukes stands and throws Mkenn's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Beukes working the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beukes lands a few punches from side control.

Beukes in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Mkenn is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Witse Beukes!