PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Esa Akerlund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akerlund kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Rainer Friman - Valkeat vaunut. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Akerlund
vs
Manhoef

180 cm
25
152 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

179 cm
25
151 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Crashforce Nutrition (Authentic 159Q Recovery $79)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Esa Akerlund!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Melvin Manhoef!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Radbod Blank and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akerlund throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Akerlund misses with a straight right.
The fighters circling - Manhoef throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Manhoef throws a head kick that misses.
Akerlund throws a sloppy head kick and Manhoef moves out of range easily.
Manhoef rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Akerlund counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Manhoef thows a left - swing and a miss!
Akerlund connects with a leg kick. Manhoef looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Manhoef misses with a kick to the body.
Akerlund throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Manhoef looks to throw a body kick
and Akerlund connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Manhoef throws a lazy uppercut
and Akerlund finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Akerlund misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Akerlund throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Akerlund blocks a jab.
Akerlund throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like Melvin Manhoef has been cut.
Manhoef swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Manhoef connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Akerlund's hands.
Akerlund lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Manhoef backs up against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Manhoef has closed the distance and engaged Akerlund in a clinch.
Manhoef digs a right hand underneath Akerlund's ribcage. Akerlund let out a lung full of air as it connected.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Manhoef.

Akerlund's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Akerlund misses with a wild combination.
Manhoef throws the left hand but Akerlund avoids the punch easily.
Akerlund misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Akerlund pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Akerlund pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akerlund throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Manhoef.
A head kick from Akerlund lands but Manhoef takes it in his stride.
Akerlund throws a sloppy head kick and Manhoef moves out of range easily.
Manhoef paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Manhoef getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Akerlund looks to score with a jab to the body but Manhoef is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Akerlund coming out on top.
Manhoef misses with a left hand
and Akerlund counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Manhoef is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A low kick from Manhoef misses
and Akerlund counters with a lovely shot to the body.
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!
Akerlund stalks Manhoef and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Manhoef's face. Manhoef staggers backwards, shaken.
Akerlund misses with a series of wild punches.
Akerlund throws a head kick that misses
and Manhoef counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Manhoef swings widly with a right hand
and Akerlund counters with a three punch combo that has Manhoef backing up. Manhoef nods at Akerlund to acknowledge the strikes.

That has opened up Melvin Manhoef's cut even more.
Manhoef fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Akerlund getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Akerlund dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Manhoef. That did some damage!
Manhoef looks gassed!
Akerlund checks a low kick from Manhoef.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Akerlund tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Akerlund cracks Manhoef with an open hand slap.
Akerlund scores with a head kick. Manhoef tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Manhoef is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Akerlund.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Akerlund dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Melvin Manhoef's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Akerlund, right into the meat.
Manhoef is looking to clinch but Akerlund is avoiding it.
Akerlund with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Akerlund throws a right and a left that both miss.
Akerlund lands with a good body shot.
Manhoef has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Manhoef lands a nice hook to Akerlund's body. Akerlund takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Akerlund slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

The cut above Melvin Manhoef's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Esa Akerlund is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akerlund takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A low kick from Manhoef misses
and Akerlund counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Manhoef misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Akerlund.
Manhoef is breathing heavily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Akerlund.
Akerlund throws an off balance right hand

and Manhoef holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Akerlund tries to break free but Manhoef pushes him back against the ropes.

Manhoef breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akerlund slips a straight right by Manhoef.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akerlund throws a push kick but Manhoef slaps the foot to one side.
Akerlund misses with a head kick.
Akerlund takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A lazy left from Akerlund finds it's target.
Akerlund misses with a straight right.
Akerlund misses with an attempted mid kick.
Akerlund throws a right hand that Manhoef ducks under and follows up with a left that Manhoef also avoids with ease.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Akerlund - that will leave a mark!
Akerlund lands a nice looking body kick.
Akerlund throws a series of punches but Manhoef avoids them all with ease.
Akerlund with a nice cross.
Manhoef misses with the body kick
and Akerlund counters with a series of strikes. Manhoef will be more careful next time no doubt.

Melvin Manhoef's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Akerlund scores with a one two! Manhoef had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Akerlund keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Manhoef.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Akerlund falls off balance throwing a combination
and Manhoef counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Manhoef misses with a left hand
and Akerlund counters with a stiff right hand.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Melvin Manhoef's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Esa Akerlund!