PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nigel Benn Jr (ranked 977 p4p, 1754 weight class) and Keijo Maki (ranked 136 p4p, 248 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Benn Jr
vs
Maki

185 cm
37
203
27 - 19 - 0

205 cm
27
220
9 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nigel Benn Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Keijo Maki!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maki tried to score with a low kick but Benn Jr checks it.
Benn Jr throws a big shot that misses.
Maki avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Maki misses with a left hand
and Benn Jr counters with a low kick, right behind Maki 's knee.
Maki doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
A leg kick checked by Benn Jr.
Benn Jr has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Panda Sprawl n Brawl in the buildup to the fight.
Maki feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Benn Jrs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Maki has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Maki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benn Jr.
Maki throws a solid leg kick but Benn Jr takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Maki.
Maki misses with a low kick as Benn Jr jumps back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benn Jr lands a jab to the nose.
Maki throws a lazy uppercut
and Benn Jr counters with a nice leg kick.
Benn Jr on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Benn Jr misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maki throws a leg kick which misses Benn Jr's front leg but catches the back leg as Benn Jr tries to avoid it.
Benn Jr loads up on a big right hand but Maki slips the punch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Maki! But no joy.
Maki swings for the body but Benn Jr moves out of range.
Maki throws a hook to the side of Benn Jr's head but Benn Jr sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A big right from Benn Jr misses.
Maki looks to land a right hand but Benn Jr moved out of range.
Maki doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Keijo Maki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benn Jr misses with the combination.
Benn Jr throws a jab when Maki was well out of range.
Nice defenses there by Maki.
Maki with a nice cross.
Benn Jr uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benn Jr misses with a two punch combination.
Maki drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Benn Jr keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters circle momentarily. Benn Jr darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Maki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Benn Jr bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Maki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benn Jr.
A big left from Benn Jr misses.
Maki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benn Jr.
It looked like Benn Jr was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Benn Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Benn Jr throws the left hand but Maki avoids the punch easily.
Maki throws a low kick but it's checked well by Benn Jr.
Benn Jr works the jab nicely.

It looks like Keijo Maki has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benn Jr checks the leg kick nicely there.
Benn Jr scores with a crisp jab that stopped Maki in his tracks.
Benn Jr throws a hook but Maki blocks it.
Jab by Maki.
Sloppy strikes from Benn Jr. Those never looked like landing.
Benn Jr listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Maki tries to land a leg kick but Benn Jr saw it coming and moves away.
Benn Jr is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Benn Jr swinging wildly here.
Benn Jr throws the left hand but Maki avoids the punch easily.
Maki now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Benn Jr throws a hook but Maki blocks it.
Maki takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Maki scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Benn Jr doesn't seem bothered though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Maki throws the left hand but Benn Jr avoids the punch easily.
Maki stalks Benn Jr and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Benn Jr's face. Benn Jr staggers backwards, shaken.
Benn Jr swings for the body but Maki moves out of range.
Benn Jr takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sloppy strikes from Benn Jr. Those never looked like landing.
Maki swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Benn Jr jabs Maki to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Maki thuds his right hand into Benn Jr's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A combination from Benn Jr does no damage.
Benn Jr connects with a single shot there.
Benn Jr is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Benn Jr lands a jab to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nigel Benn Jr dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Keijo Maki's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maki tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Benn Jr is able to avoid easily.
Maki lands a body shot.
Maki throws a solid leg kick but Benn Jr takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Maki.
Benn Jr looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Maki throws a leg kick but Benn Jr checks it.
Maki slips a jab and a cross from Benn Jr.
Benn Jr missing with a left hand there. Maki was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maki feints a counter leg kick.
Nigel Benn Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maki keeps Benn Jr at a distance using the push kick.
A jab from Maki misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Benn Jr misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maki throws a low kick but Benn Jr moves out of range easily.
Nigel Benn Jr is winning the standup battle so far.
Benn Jr takes a swing at Maki's ribcage but misses.
Maki cracks Benn Jr with a good jab.
Maki just misses with a punch to the body.
Benn Jr is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maki can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maki misses with a lunging right hand
and Benn Jr counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Benn Jr misses with a series of wild punches.
Benn Jr throws a lazy right hand but Maki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maki throws a front kick aimed at Benn Jr's knee but Benn Jr avoids it well.
Benn Jr appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Benn Jr looks to score with a jab to the body but Maki is just out of range.
Maki misses the shot to the body.
Maki moves out of range of the strikes.
Maki thows a left - swing and a miss!
Benn Jr steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Maki. That one must have hurt.
Benn Jr scores with a sloppy right hand. Maki should have avoided that one.
Maki throws a combination that misses
and Benn Jr counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benn Jr misses with a series of wild punches.
Maki moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Maki lands with a good body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benn Jr.
Benn Jr misses with a right hand
and Maki counters with a straight right hand.
Nice jab there from Maki.
Maki misses with a right hand
and Benn Jr connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maki throws an off balance right hand
letting Benn Jr counter with a right hand.
Maki misses with an attempted mid kick.
Benn Jr buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maki dips to his left and cracks Benn Jr with an uppercut!
Maki takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Benn Jr throws a body shot but no joy.
Benn Jr looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Benn Jr checks a leg kick.
Maki throws a jab but it's blocked by Benn Jr.
Maki takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Maki thumps Benn Jr with a low kick.
Maki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maki misses with a straight left.
Benn Jr is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Maki.
Benn Jr throws a lazy uppercut
and Maki counters with a nice uppercut.
Benn Jr misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maki throws a leg kick that is checked
and Benn Jr counters with a stiff right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maki lands a nice shot that snaps Benn Jr's head back.
An inside leg kick from Maki misses.
Benn Jr with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Maki to score with a decent uppercut.
Maki connects with a body shot.
Benn Jr misses with a wild combination.
Benn Jr falls off balance throwing a combination
and Maki counters with a right hand to the body.
Benn Jr throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maki.
Maki moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Benn Jr slips under a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Maki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Keijo Maki's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Benn Jr throws a body punch but Maki moves out of range.
Benn Jr lands a lovely overhand right.
Maki thows a leg kick but Benn Jr checks it
and Benn Jr counters with a nice uppercut.
Benn Jr looks to land a left hand but Maki moved out of range nicely.
Benn Jr steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Maki.
Benn Jr moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Benn Jr looks to land a right hand but Maki moved out of range.
Good exchange - Benn Jr coming out on top.
Benn Jr throws a shot from downtown. Maki moves away and avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick lands for Benn Jr.
Maki has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Maki there as he acknowledges the shot.
Maki misses with a right hand
and Benn Jr counters with a series of strikes. Maki will be more careful next time no doubt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maki finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Benn Jr appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maki swings for the body but Benn Jr moves out of range.
Maki scores with a punch to the head.
Benn Jr throws a wild body kick that Maki sees coming a mile off.
Maki drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A big left from Maki misses.
Benn Jr jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Benn Jr misses with a straight right.
Benn Jr lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maki circles away quickly and effectively.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Maki might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Benn Jr has got the better of the exchanges.
Benn Jr pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Maki back to the cage. Benn Jr follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Maki is rocked!
Benn Jr throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Maki flicks out a counter leg kick but Benn Jr steps away.
Maki is still on wobbly legs! Can Benn Jr finish him?
Benn Jr throws a lazy right hand but Maki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Benn Jr misses with a hook
and Maki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Maki throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Benn Jr appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Maki digs a good hook to Benn Jr's body.
Maki seems to have recovered his senses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maki jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Maki misses the target.
Maki cracks Benn Jr with a good jab.
Benn Jr takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Maki misses with an uppercut.
Benn Jr swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Maki misses with a looping left.
Benn Jr lands a nice shot to the body.
Maki throws a quick inside leg kick.
Maki has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Maki throws a low kick but it's checked well by Benn Jr.
A cross from Benn Jr lands.
Benn Jr throws a series of punches but Maki moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benn Jr lands a nice looking body shot.
Maki scores with a decent looking hook.
Benn Jr misses with a shot to the body
and Maki counters with a thumping low kick.
Maki darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Benn Jr throws a lazy uppercut
and Maki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Maki attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A little feinted left hand from Benn Jr on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Benn Jr darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Maki slips a jab and a cross from Benn Jr.
A punch lands to the side of Benn Jr 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Maki punishes Benn Jr's body with a nice straight punch.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Maki.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maki lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maki scores with a jab.
Maki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Benn Jr was well out of range. Poor timing from Maki.
Maki connects with a leg kick.
Maki keeps Benn Jr at a distance using the push kick.
Benn Jr moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Maki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Benn Jr.
Maki thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maki misses with a straight left.
Benn Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Maki avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Maki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Benn Jr on the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Keijo Maki.
I think Maki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keijo Maki!
A relieved looking Keijo Maki thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
The defeated Nigel Benn Jr had this to say: 'ill be back'.