PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Heng Keo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mahti Sonni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keo comes to the cage accompanied by Ich Will - Rammstein. 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?

Keo
vs
Sonni

173 cm
33
157 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

170 cm
32
151 lbs
21 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Heng Keo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mahti Sonni!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sonni throws a right hand that Keo ducks under and follows up with a left that Keo also avoids with ease.
Sonni throws a wild body kick that Keo sees coming a mile off.
Keo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sonni as he avoids it easily.
A left lands for Sonni.

Keo closes the distance and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Sonni's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Keo slowing the pace effectively.
A frustrated look appears on Sonni's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Sonni pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sonni thows a body shot but no joy.
Sonni moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Keo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sonni.
Sonni misses with an uppercut
and Keo counters with a good low kick that Sonni was not able to check.
The fighters circling - Sonni throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
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!
Sonni stuffs the takedown.
Sonni connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Keo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sonni sprawls well initially but Keo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Sonni wants to control but Keo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sonni is trying to stand.

Sonni looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sonni on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sonni is staying active underneath Keo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sonni wants to get back to his feet.
Keo works his way into full mount!
Sonni stops Keo from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Keo postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sonni looks a forlorn figure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sonni is desperately trying to improve his position but Keo has a good base and remains in mount.
Sonni squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Keo wants to finish this one by submission but Sonni is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Keo.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sonni sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sonni actively working from the bottom here.
Keo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Keo connects with a nice short shot to Sonni's temple.
Sonni looks like he's trying to stand up.

Keo is looking for a kimura here.
Sonni is trying to stand back up but Keo is controlling him
Keo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Keo is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Sonni trying desperately to get to his feet.
Sonni is working to get back to half guard.
Keo postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sonni looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonni regains half guard.
Sonni is trying to stand.
Keo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Sonni is trying to stand up here but Keo is controlling him well.
Keo is nestled in close to Sonni, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Keo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Well, if Keo is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Sonni is trying to stand back up but Keo is controlling him
Sonni looks winded!
Sonni is staying active underneath Keo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Keo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Heng Keo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Sonni scores with a jab. Keo acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Keo has taken the fight to the clinch.

Keo pulls guard effortlessly.
Sonni tries to free his leg and advance position but Keo is retaining full guard.

Keo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sonni can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Sonni decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Keo, up you get!
Mahti Sonni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sonni swings widly with a right hand
and Keo makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Sonni really felt that one!
A leg kick checked by Keo.

Keo closes the distance and clinches.
Sonni wants to get back to striking at distance but Keo won't allow it.

Sonni pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sonni enables Keo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sonni manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Keo lands a couple of digs.
Sonni wants to stand but Keo is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heng Keo dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sonni misses with a wild combination.
Sonni misses the shot to the body.
Keo looks to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Sonni pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Keo tries to clinch up.
Keo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sonni manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sonni throws a body punch but Keo moves out of range.
Keo defending well as Sonni loads up on a big left hand.
Keo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Heng Keo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Keo dives in for a single leg takedown but Sonni sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Sonni is trying to break free.
Keo is trying to stall.
Keo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Keo keeps control of Sonni as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sonni tries to break free but Keo pushes him back against the cage.
Keo misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Keo pulls guard.
Keo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Sonni is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Keo is working an open guard so Sonni takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Sonni throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Keo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sonni tries to work over Keo's front leg with a kick but Keo checks it.
Sonni throws a nice looking combination but Keo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Keo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sonni.
Sonni looks to land a right hand but Keo moved out of range.
Keo is looking to clinch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sonni.

Keo shoots in and gets a takedown into Sonni's guard.

Sonni escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Keo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sonni is breathing heavily.
Keo trying to control the position from guard on top but Sonni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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!
Keo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sonni swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Keo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Keo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sonni swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sonni controls Keo momentarily but Keo frees himself.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice uppercut lands for Sonni. That snapped Keo's head back.
Sonni tries to bum rush Keo with a series of wild strikes but Keo uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sonni misses with a looping right.
Sonni swats away the attempt to clinch by Keo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sonni moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Keo shoots in and gets a takedown into Sonni's guard.
Sonni wants to get back to his feet but Keo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Keo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Keo prevents Sonni from getting back to his feet.

Sonni escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Keo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Keo lands a couple of elbows.
Keo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sonni takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
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!
Sonni is looking to regain half guard here but Keo keeps moving and retains side control.

Keo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sonni is pushing Keo's head away, looking to escape. Keo manages to hold on to the position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Keo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sonni, who protects the arm well.
Keo is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Sonni's shoulder. That is not cool.

Sonni bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Sonni tries to keep at a distance but Keo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Keo scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Keo jumps guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sonni stays in close to Keo's body and controls the position.
Sonni looking to sit in guard and control but Keo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sonni looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sonni tries to land a leg kick but Keo saw it coming and moves away.

Keo clinches up with Sonni and pushes him back against the cage.
Keo will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sonni up against the cage.
Sonni wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Keo successfully pulls guard.
Keo keeping moving, preventing Sonni from controlling successfully.

Keo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sonni defends it easily.
Heng Keo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sonni postures up.
Sonni slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Keo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sonni slips nicely into half guard.
Sonni tries to pass the half guard into mount. Keo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sonni is looking for a kimura here.
Keo is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sonni's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sonni's back!
Keo lands punches and elbows.

Keo is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Sonni is defending well though. Keo let's go of the attempt for now.
Keo lands punches and elbows.
Sonni trying to control but not successfully.
Sonni grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Keo lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Mahti Sonni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sonni is trying to shake Keo off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Keo won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Sonni takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Keo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sonni manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mahti Sonni is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Keo slips a straight right by Sonni.
Keo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sonni paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sonni circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sonni misses with a leg kick

and Keo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Keo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sonni wants to break the clinch but can't.
Keo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Keo is trying to pull guard but Sonni has him pressed against the cage.
Sonni lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sonni wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Keo has him pressed against the cage.
Sonni has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Keo seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Sonni can turn it around.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sonni as Keo tries to tie him up.
Sonni wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keo fails to pull guard.

Sonni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Keo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Sonni looking for submissions off his back.
Sonni moves into full guard.

Sonni throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Keo escapes and throws Sonni's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Sonni is trying to get back to his feet.
Keo is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Sonni is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keo lands a nice forearm strike.
Keo is staying tight to Sonni's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Keo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sonni is looking for a sweep.
Keo controlling from side mount.
Sonni striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sonni is not content to let Keo control the position.
Sonni wants to control but Keo postures up.
Sonni takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heng Keo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Keo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

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