PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Simon Hedegaard (ranked 1039 p4p, 958 weight class) and Seppo Maki (ranked 132 p4p, 121 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hedegaard
vs
Maki

208 cm
31
195
30 - 15 - 0

182 cm
25
186
9 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Simon Hedegaard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Maki!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Patrick Alders and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maki throws a jab when Hedegaard was well out of range.
Hedegaard closes this distance looking for a takedown but Maki circles away.

Maki tries to sprawl but Hedegaard drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hedegaard not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Hedegaard is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Maki sees it coming and defends easily.
Maki wants to control but Hedegaard is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Hedegaard is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Maki kicks Hedegaard off and gets back to his feet.

Hedegaard shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hedegaard showed some decent athleticism there.

Maki kicks Hedegaard off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon Hedegaard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hedegaard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maki tries to avoid it but Hedegaard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maki to the ground. Maki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hedegaard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maki as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simon Hedegaard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maki is looking to slow Hedegaard down with leg kicks.
Hedegaard dives in and grabs Maki's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maki pushes down on Hedegaard's head and hops out.
Maki lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Hedegaard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hedegaard looks for a takedown but Maki sprawls well.
Maki moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Maki throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hedegaard doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Maki counter with a right hand.
Hedegaard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maki tries to avoid it but Hedegaard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maki to the ground. Maki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Maki, as that shot connected.
Hedegaard has his takedown stuffed
and Maki counters with a thumping low kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hedegaard shoots for a takedown but Maki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Maki swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hedegaard on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hedegaard tries for a takedown but Maki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Maki looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Hedegaard crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Maki - the referee stops the clock and Hedegaard gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Maki. Hedegaard manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Nice sprawl there from Maki as Hedegaard shoots in.
Maki buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maki scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hedegaard's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Maki connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hedegaard scrambles back to his feet.
Hedegaard on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Maki. Maki obviously looking to wear him down.

Hedegaard closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've been hearing that Hedegaard has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Hedegaard moves into full mount!
Maki just holding on.
Hedegaard throwing strikes here but Maki is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Hedegaard is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Maki is surviving well by controlling Hedegaard's body position as best he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Maki can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hedegaard trying to control but Maki is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hedegaard is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Maki can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Hedegaard can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Maki is looking to escape.
Hedegaard is really struggling to control Maki but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Maki suckers Hedegaard into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Maki is now in Hedegaard's guard!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Maki dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hedegaard doesn't succeed with the takedown
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Maki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Maki fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hedegaard looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hedegaard displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maki throws out the jab.
Hedegaard takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Maki lands with an uppercut that bounces Hedegaard off the cage and back into range.
Maki throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hedegaard moves out of range of the strikes.
A nice inside leg kick there by Maki. That's going to slow Hedegaard down.
Maki connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maki throws a nice inside leg kick.
Maki fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hedegaard tries for a takedown but Maki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maki feints and then cracks Hedegaard's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hedegaard down.
Seppo Maki seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hedegaard needs to keep his hands up - Maki had a free shot at his head there.
Hedegaard darts in trying to clinch
and Maki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hedegaard fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simon Hedegaard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hedegaard.
Maki thumps Hedegaard with a low kick.
Hedegaard shoots and misses
and Maki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A telegraphed right hand from Hedegaard misses the target.
Seppo Maki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maki lands the left hand.
Hedegaard fails with a takedown attempt.
Maki slaps away a takedown attempt from Hedegaard, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hedegaard with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Maki counter with a right hand.
Hedegaard fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maki avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hedegaard throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Maki's waist but Maki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hedegaard off to one side.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maki is looking to slow Hedegaard down with leg kicks.
Hedegaard takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hedegaard shoots and misses
and Maki counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Maki.
A solid leg kick lands there for Maki.
Maki throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Maki dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hedegaard. That did some damage!
Maki has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Hedegaard is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Hedegaard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Maki is fending him off so far but Hedegaard persists. Nope, Maki circles away and we're back to standing.
A left lands for Maki.
Maki lands a head shot.
Hedegaard fails with the takedown
and Maki counters with a nice uppercut.
Hedegaard chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maki can pounce on him.
Maki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Maki connects with a solid leg kick.
Hedegaard throws a hook but Maki blocks it.
Hedegaard walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hedegaard on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Crunch! Maki slams his shin into Hedegaard's torso.
Hedegaard throws a lazy uppercut
and Maki cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hedegaard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maki makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Maki chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Maki scores with a leg kick.
Hedegaard takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hedegaard tries for a takedown but Maki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Maki sizes up Hedegaard with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Hedegaard fails with a takedown attempt.
Hedegaard on the wrong end of a nice jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Maki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Maki tests Hedegaard's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hedegaard is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hedegaard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Maki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Maki - that will leave a mark!

Hedegaard fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Maki sprawls well initially but Hedegaard persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Maki has one foot on Hedegaard's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good exchange - Maki coming out on top.
Nice uppercut lands for Maki. That snapped Hedegaard's head back.
Jab from Maki.
Hedegaard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maki moves away.
Maki throws a hook but Hedegaard blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Maki.
Hedegaard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Maki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hedegaard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hedegaard falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hedegaard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd cheers as Maki lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hedegaard doesn't seem phased though.
Hedegaard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hedegaard takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simon Hedegaard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hedegaard looks to land a left hand but Maki moved out of range nicely.
Maki throws a head kick that half lands.

Hedegaard is rocked!
Hedegaard shoots and misses
letting Maki counter with a right hand.
Oh Hedegaard is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hedegaard misses with a takedown attempt
and Maki counters with a good low kick that Hedegaard was not able to check.
Maki connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hedegaard's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good leg kick by Maki.
Hedegaard misses with a takedown
and Maki counters with a stiff right hand.
Jab, jab by Maki - just one landing.
Maki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hedegaard.
Hedegaard on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hedegaard seems to have got his legs back now.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Hedegaard crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Maki - the referee stops the clock and Hedegaard gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Maki. Hedegaard manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Maki buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hedegaard dives in and grabs Maki's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maki pushes down on Hedegaard's head and hops out.
Maki appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Hedegaard looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Maki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hedegaard on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Maki lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hedegaard doesn't seem phased though.
Maki lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hedegaard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Maki follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
That kick from Maki tenderised Hedegaard's leg. Hedegaard is trying to keep his angry face on.
A chopping leg kick lands by Maki.
Maki turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hedegaard will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Maki lands a jab.
Maki connects with a leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Maki.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maki with a hook.
Hedegaard takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maki darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hedegaard takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hedegaard blocks a head kick by Maki.
Hedegaard tries to counter by clinching up but Maki breaks away and moves out of range.
Maki lands a glancing blow to the side of Hedegaard's head.
Maki with a nice calf kick.
Hedegaard has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Maki finds it's way round the side to connect with Hedegaard's head.
Hedegaard is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hedegaard swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maki thuds his right hand into Hedegaard's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Maki connects with a leg kick.
Simon Hedegaard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maki lunges at Hedegaard with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hedegaard's hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seppo Maki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maki has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 25:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 25:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seppo Maki!
During a confident post fight interview, Seppo Maki thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.