PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Liha Rekka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Speakman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rekka
vs
Speakman

202 cm
27
220 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

205 cm
26
215 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Perkele!

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Liha Rekka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jeff Speakman!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Speakman on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rekka. Rekka obviously looking to wear him down.
Rekka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rekka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Speakman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rekka misses with a low kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Rekka misses the target.
Speakman takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Jeff Speakman has been cut.
Rekka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rekka fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Speakman is out of range.
Speakman ducks right into an uppercut from Rekka.
Rekka tries to clinch there but Speakman circles away.
Rekka tries to clinch but Speakman moves out of range.
Rekka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rekka fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rekka tries to clinch up but Speakman circles away and keeps his distance.
Speakman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rekka.
Rekka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rekka throws a sloppy head kick and Speakman moves out of range easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Rekka.
Rekka tries to land a leg kick but Speakman saw it coming and moves away.
Rekka looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Speakman moves out of range of the strikes.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rekka.
Rekka goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Speakman is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rekka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rekka feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Speakman's calf.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Speakman blocks the low kick.
Liha Rekka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Speakman checks a leg kick.
Rekka looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Speakman moves out of range as Rekka throws a body kick.
Rekka lands a nice leg kick that just misses Speakman's sensitive parts.
Speakman on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rekka. Rekka obviously looking to wear him down.
Rekka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rekka scores with a head kick. Speakman tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Speakman takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Rekka lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rekka looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rekka misses with a head kick.
Rekka pivots, looking for a leg kick but Speakman is out of range and Rekka settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rekka.
Donk. Rekka catches Speakman right on the button with a cross.
Liha Rekka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Speakman takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Rekka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
An inside leg kick from Rekka misses.
Rekka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rekka fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Speakman.
Rekka lands a high kick!
Rekka tries to clinch up but Speakman circles away and keeps his distance.
Rekka feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Speakman's calf.
Speakman avoids the head kick by Rekka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rekka lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rekka misses with a wild body shot.
Rekka misses with a body kick.
Rekka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Speakman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A leg kick checked by Speakman.

Rekka forces Speakman back against the cage and clinches.

Speakman breaks from the clinch.
Rekka tries to close the distance and clinch but Speakman swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Rekka has Speakman up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Speakman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rekka as Speakman tries to tie him up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liha Rekka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jeff Speakman's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rekka lands with a kick to the temple. Speakman shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Rekka has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rekka is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Speakman is keeping busy.
Rekka missing with knees to the body.
Rekka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Speakman is defending well for now.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Speakman avoids it.
Rekka just leaning against Speakman, taking a breather.
Rekka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Speakman takes a knee right on the jaw!
Come on Speakman - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speakman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rekka misses with a knee strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Speakman tries to break the clinch but Rekka is controlling the position.
Speakman's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Knees to the body from Rekka.
Rekka trying to stall but Speakman improves his position.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Speakman blocks with his arms.
Speakman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rekka leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rekka misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rekka taking a breather.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Speakman.
Speakman managing to block the knees to the body from Rekka.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rekka taking a breather.
Rekka throws a knee to the head but misses.

Speakman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rekka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rekka throws the kick towards the body but Speakman avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rekka instigates a clinch.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Speakman blocks with his arms.
Rekka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Speakman is trying to break the clinch but Rekka has him pressed against the cage.
Rekka trying to land knees to the body.
Rekka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Speakman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Speakman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rekka clinches up with Speakman and pushes him back against the cage.
Rekka slows down the pace here.
Speakman has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Speakman manages to break the clinch.
Rekka throws a chopping leg kick but Speakman manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rekka misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rekka throws a body punch but Speakman moves out of range.
Rekka swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rekka tries a head kick but it misses.
Rekka throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rekka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Speakman can do to turn this around?
Rekka lands a head kick!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rekka connects with a high kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rekka tried to score with a low kick but Speakman checks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liha Rekka dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jeff Speakman's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Rekka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rekka tries to clinch
and Speakman counters with a one-two to the body.
Rekka looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rekka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rekka connects with an inside leg kick.
Rekka moves to clinch but Speakman breaks away
and Speakman counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rekka clinches up with Speakman and pushes him back against the cage.
Speakman wants a takedown but no success here.
Speakman is trying to break free.
Rekka scores with a knee to the head.
Rekka is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Speakman is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rekka lands a knee to the head.
Speakman has had enough of the clinch but Rekka keeps him there for the moment.
Speakman is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Rekka.
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Speakman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but Speakman blocks it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Speakman as Rekka tries to tie him up.
Speakman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rekka effectively controlling the action here.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Speakman blocks with his arms.
Rekka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rekka trying to land knees to the body.
Rekka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Speakman blocks it with crossed arms.
Rekka is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Speakman blocks with his arms.
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Speakman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rekka looking to slow down the pace here.
Rekka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Speakman.
Rekka being controlled against the cage.
Speakman looking to stall.
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Speakman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rekka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Speakman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rekka misses with a knee strike.
Speakman is trying to break the clinch but Rekka is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rekka misses with a knee to the head.
Speakman is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rekka is keeping busy.
Rekka pushes off an throws an elbow but Speakman leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Speakman tries to break the clinch but Rekka is controlling the position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Jeff Speakman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rekka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Speakman blocks it with crossed arms.
Rekka looking to throw knees to the head but Speakman is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rekka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Speakman is defending well for now.
Rekka tries a knee to the head but Speakman blocks it.
Liha Rekka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rekka tries to land a knee to the head but Speakman blocks with his arms.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Liha Rekka.
Well Rekka has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Liha Rekka!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for Liha Rekka!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Liha Rekka!

Liha Rekka wins by unanimous decision!