PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pentti Hilkuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Hilkuri
vs
Manhoef

184 cm
28
193 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

184 cm
31
187 lbs
22 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!
The Big Kabosh

Tab out

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 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pentti Hilkuri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Melvin Manhoef!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hilkuri misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Manhoef tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hilkuri throws a body punch but Manhoef moves out of range.
Hilkuri looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hilkuri lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hilkuri cracks the inside of Manhoef's front leg.
Manhoef walks into a stiff left hand from Hilkuri.
Hilkuri throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Manhoef stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hilkuri lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Manhoef circles away quickly and effectively.
Manhoef throws a head kick but Hilkuri moves out of range.
Manhoef lands a nice shot that snaps Hilkuri's head back.
Hilkuri lands with a slapping head kick.
Hilkuri avoids the body shot from Manhoef.
A head kick from Manhoef lands but Hilkuri takes it in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Manhoef scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hilkuri lands with an uppercut that bounces Manhoef off the cage and back into range.
Manhoef misses with a leg kick
and Hilkuri counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hilkuri throws a low kick but Manhoef moves out of range easily.
Manhoef uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hilkuri.
Hilkuri just misses with a punch to the body.
An inside leg kick from Hilkuri misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilkuri lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hilkuri misses with a straight right.
Hilkuri misses with a body kick.
Pentti Hilkuri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manhoef throws a leg kick that is checked
and Hilkuri counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hilkuri throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Manhoef counters with a low kick, right behind Hilkuri 's knee.
Hilkuri walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Manhoef checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hilkuri thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hilkuri slips under a jab.
Hilkuri misses with a body kick.
Manhoef's coach down at Kebab House was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Manhoef's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Manhoef cracks Hilkuri with a good jab.
Hilkuri avoids the head kick by Manhoef.
Hilkuri punishes Manhoef's body with a nice straight punch.
Hilkuri misses the shot to the body.
Manhoef jabs at Hilkuri's body.
Manhoef throws a leg kick but Hilkuri sees it coming and moves out of range.
Manhoef thows a body shot but no joy.
Hilkuri lands a slapping body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A right-left combo lands from Hilkuri.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hilkuri takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Manhoef throws the kick towards the body but Hilkuri avoids it.
Manhoef cracks Hilkuri with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hilkuri.
Hilkuri lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Manhoef backs up against the cage.
Hilkuri moves out of range of the strikes.
Manhoef throws a leg kick
and Hilkuri counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hilkuri lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Manhoef throws a front kick that sends Hilkuri stumbling back into the cage.
Manhoef uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hilkuri.
Manhoef will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Manhoef lands with a thumping leg kick.
Manhoef walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hilkuri checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Manhoef lands with a good body shot.
Hilkuri ducks right into an uppercut from Manhoef.
Hilkuri takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Manhoef looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hilkuri wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Manhoef throws a leg kick that misses.
Hilkuri tries to bum rush Manhoef with a series of wild strikes but Manhoef uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hilkuri misses with a straight right.
A telegraphed right hand from Manhoef misses the target.
Hilkuri misses with a low kick as Manhoef jumps back.
Manhoef has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hilkuri.
Hilkuri throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
An inside leg kick lands from Manhoef.
Manhoef takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hilkuri takes one to the chin there.
Hilkuri moves out of range of the body kick from Manhoef.
Manhoef misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hilkuri.
Hilkuri fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Manhoef has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hilkuri misses with a straight right.
Hilkuri sizes up Manhoef with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hilkuri tries to land a front kick but Manhoef steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef looks to land a body kick but Hilkuri moved away.
Manhoef bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Hilkuri takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Manhoef lands a head kick!
Manhoef connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hilkuri misses with a shot to the body
and Manhoef counters with a straight right hand.
Hilkuri dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hilkuri slips under a jab from Manhoef.
Hilkuri rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Manhoef moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Manhoef lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hilkuri swings for the body but Manhoef moves out of range.
Hilkuri throws a leg kick which misses Manhoef's front leg but catches the back leg as Manhoef tries to avoid it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Manhoef defending well as Hilkuri loads up on a big left hand.
Hilkuri throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Manhoef counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hilkuri thinking.
Manhoef has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hilkuri.
Manhoef feints and then cracks Hilkuri's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hilkuri down.
Hilkuri stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pentti Hilkuri will probably get the nod.
That's time! Hilkuri's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hilkuri throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Manhoef's head.
Hilkuri does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Manhoef's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hilkuri slips under a jab from Manhoef.
Pentti Hilkuri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hilkuri misses with a shot to the body
and Manhoef makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Hilkuri really felt that one!
Hilkuri looks to land a left hand but Manhoef moved out of range nicely.
Manhoef swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick misses from Manhoef.
Manhoef connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hilkuri slips under a jab from Manhoef.
A low kick from Hilkuri is predictable there
and Manhoef counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hilkuri lands a jab to the nose.
Hilkuri misses the shot to the body.
Manhoef lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pentti Hilkuri is winning the standup battle so far.
Manhoef pushes Hilkuri away with a front kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Manhoef misses with a head kick.
A solid body kick from Manhoef.
Manhoef throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hilkuri.
Hilkuri throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Manhoef's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hilkuri looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Manhoef steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hilkuri.
Some bone on bone action there as Hilkuri checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hilkuri lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Jab, jab by Manhoef - just one landing.
Good shot there by Manhoef.
Manhoef tests Hilkuri's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice defenses there by Manhoef.
Manhoef looks to throw the jab but Hilkuri is out of range.
Hilkuri walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Manhoef checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hilkuri throws a wild body kick that Manhoef sees coming a mile off.
Manhoef slips a jab from Hilkuri.
Manhoef moves out of range as Hilkuri strikes.
Manhoef checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hilkuri takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hilkuri throws a poor cross that misses
and Manhoef counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hilkuri thuds a left hand into Manhoef's body.
Hilkuri throws a series of punches but Manhoef moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hilkuri goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Manhoef connects with an inside leg kick.
Hilkuri misses with a leg kick
and Manhoef counters with a nice kick to the body.
That kick from Manhoef tenderised Hilkuri's leg. Hilkuri is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hilkuri scores with a sloppy right hand. Manhoef should have avoided that one.
A left lands for Manhoef.
Nice body kick there by Manhoef.
Hilkuri walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Manhoef takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Manhoef throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hilkuri on the side of the head.
Manhoef lands an overhand right.
Hilkuri looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Manhoef misses with a kick to the body.
Hilkuri throws a front kick aimed at Manhoef's knee but Manhoef avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Hilkuri, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hilkuri takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hilkuri blocks a head kick by Manhoef.
Hilkuri swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Manhoef lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hilkuri on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Manhoef tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hilkuri stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Manhoef.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hilkuri lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Manhoef has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Manhoef and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A good leg kick by Hilkuri.
Manhoef connects with a right hand. Hilkuri shakes it off.
Hilkuri plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Manhoef misses with a looping right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manhoef throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hilkuri chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hilkuri misses with a hook. Manhoef ducked under it nicely.
A punch lands to the side of Hilkuri 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hilkuri will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
A jab from Hilkuri misses.
Manhoef is looking to land body kicks.
Manhoef keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Manhoef dips to his left and cracks Hilkuri with an uppercut!
Manhoef lands with a nice body punch.
Hilkuri throws a leg kick but Manhoef checks it.
Manhoef punishes Hilkuri's body with a nice straight punch.
Hilkuri looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Manhoef looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hilkuri scores with a hook to the body. Manhoef takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hilkuri takes a swing at Manhoef's ribcage but misses.
Hilkuri takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Manhoef tests Hilkuri's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A combination from Hilkuri does no damage.
Manhoef misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hilkuri.
Hilkuri takes a swing at Manhoef's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melvin Manhoef showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Hilkuri's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hilkuri throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Manhoef tries a head kick but it misses.
Manhoef paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Manhoef lands a leg kick that knocks Hilkuri off balance momentarily.
Manhoef throws the kick towards the body but Hilkuri avoids it.
Hilkuri tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Manhoef cracks Hilkuri with a good jab.
Hilkuri throws out a leg kick but Manhoef moves out of range and Hilkuri only half commits.
Hilkuri misses the shot to the body.
Manhoef looks to land a left hand but Hilkuri moved out of range nicely.
Hilkuri fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Manhoef manages to avoid it.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Manhoef - that will leave a mark!
Manhoef with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hilkuri just misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Manhoef.
Hilkuri takes a swing at Manhoef's ribcage but misses.
Manhoef uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hilkuri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilkuri misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Manhoef.
Manhoef tries to score with a low kick but Hilkuri moves his leg out of the way.
Manhoef fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hilkuri.
Hilkuri throws a hook but Manhoef avoids it easily.
Hilkuri takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hilkuri misses with a straight left.
Hilkuri throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Manhoef keeps Hilkuri at a distance using the push kick.
Manhoef looks for the body kick but Hilkuri saw that one coming.
Manhoef lands with a cross.
Hilkuri throws a leg kick
and Manhoef counters with a straight right hand.
Hilkuri takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A solid leg kick lands there for Manhoef.
Hilkuri lands a right hook to the body.
Hilkuri misses with a right hand
and Hilkuri takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hilkuri throws a series of punches but Manhoef avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hilkuri 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.
Manhoef connects with a leg kick. Hilkuri looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Manhoef takes a swing at Hilkuri's ribcage but misses.
Manhoef throws a quick inside leg kick.
Manhoef with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Manhoef fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hilkuri has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hilkuri moves out of range of the body kick from Manhoef.
Hilkuri throws a sloppy head kick and Manhoef moves out of range easily.
Hilkuri swings for the body but Manhoef moves out of range.
Manhoef scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Manhoef lands a really nice looking cross but Hilkuri seems unphased.
Good leg kick by Manhoef there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Manhoef avoids the head kick by Hilkuri.
A solid body kick from Manhoef.
Hilkuri blocks a head kick by Manhoef.
Hilkuri lands a leg kick that knocks Manhoef off balance momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hilkuri misses with a body shot
and Hilkuri takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A slow jab from Manhoef misses its intended target.
Manhoef buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Manhoef throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hilkuri misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hilkuri jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hilkuri connects with the punch.
Hilkuri wants to land a leg kick but Manhoef is out of range.
Hilkuri throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hilkuri blocks a leg kick.
Hilkuri lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hilkuri misses with a double jab.
Manhoef lands a leg kick that knocks Hilkuri off balance momentarily.
Manhoef jabs Hilkuri right on the nose. Hilkuri blinks but takes it well.
Manhoef lands an overhand right.
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!
Hilkuri connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Manhoef momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hilkuri swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Manhoef makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Manhoef swings for the body but Hilkuri moves out of range.
Manhoef uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Manhoef connects with a high kick.
Manhoef on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hilkuri. Hilkuri obviously looking to wear him down.
Hilkuri displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Manhoef throws out the jab.
Manhoef lands with a shot to the body.
Manhoef fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hilkuri on the side of the head.
Nice defenses there by Manhoef.
Good shot there by Hilkuri.
A head kick misses from Manhoef.
Hilkuri takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hilkuri throws a wild body kick that Manhoef sees coming a mile off.
Donk. Manhoef catches Hilkuri right on the button with a cross.
Hilkuri pivots, looking for a leg kick but Manhoef is out of range and Hilkuri settles back down.
Hilkuri on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Melvin Manhoef comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Manhoef 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Melvin Manhoef!
A relieved looking Melvin Manhoef thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.