PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Seiryu Machida (ranked 1729 p4p, 212 weight class) and Kaino Heikkinen (ranked 1610 p4p, 199 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.

Machida
vs
Heikkinen

192 cm
28
187 lbs
10 - 6 - 2

190 cm
41
185 lbs
33 - 19 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

KAISER Nutrition - Q160
Urban Fighter

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 10 - 6 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seiryu Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Kaino Heikkinen!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Heikkinen.
Heikkinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Machida moves away.
Machida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Machida closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Machida.
Machida misses with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Machida.

Heikkinen breaks from the clinch.
Machida looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Heikkinen throws a leg kick which misses Machida's front leg but catches the back leg as Machida tries to avoid it.

Machida has closed the distance and engaged Heikkinen in a clinch.
Machida using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Heikkinen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Machida blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Machida scores with a knee to 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!
Heikkinen avoiding damage as Machida throws knees to the body.
Heikkinen tries to work over Machida's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Machida blocks an uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Machida.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heikkinen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Machida's elbow.
Heikkinen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Heikkinen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Heikkinen misses with an uppercut. Machida saw that one coming.
Machida takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Heikkinen throws a right hand that misses
and Machida counters with a nice low kick that buckles Heikkinen's knee momentarily.
Heikkinen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Machida is able to avoid easily.
A low kick from Heikkinen misses
and Machida counters with a stiff right hand.
Heikkinen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Heikkinen! But no joy.
Heikkinen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A punch lands to the side of Machida 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Machida tries to clinch there but Heikkinen circles away.
Heikkinen misses with a looping left.
Machida was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Machida keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Machida clinches.
Heikkinen tries to work over Machida's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heikkinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Machida lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Heikkinen tries to land knees in the clinch but Machida avoids the damage to the body.
Heikkinen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Heikkinen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Heikkinen.
Heikkinen tries a body shot but Machida blocks it.
Heikkinen can't find room to land a body shot as Machida controls the action.
Machida connects with a nasty looking knee right to Heikkinen's face.
Heikkinen takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Kaino Heikkinen has been cut.
Machida just leaning against Heikkinen, taking a breather.
Heikkinen struggles to land a body shot inside as Machida controls his hands.
Machida manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Machida blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Heikkinen misses with a knee strike.
Machida with a knee to the head.
Heikkinen has a couple of punches blocked by Machida.
Machida lands a knee to the head.
Heikkinen managing to block the knees to the body from Machida.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Heikkinen.
Machida misses with a knee to the head.
Machida with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Machida misses with a hook to the ribs.
Machida misses with a knee strike.
Heikkinen tries to throw a body punch but Machida avoids it by throwing Heikkinen back against the cage.
Machida with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Machida misses with a knee to the head.
Machida throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Heikkinen blocks it with crossed arms.
Machida blocks a body shot from Heikkinen.
Heikkinen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Heikkinen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but Heikkinen blocks with his arms.
Heikkinen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Heikkinen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A head punch on the inside from Heikkinen fails to land.
Heikkinen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Heikkinen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heikkinen swings wildly with an uppercut but Machida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Machida trying to land knees to the body.
Heikkinen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Heikkinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Heikkinen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Machida is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Heikkinen is defending well for now.
Machida blocking some punches.
Machida with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Heikkinen lands a hook that snaps the head of Machida backwards.
Machida missing with knees to the body.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but Heikkinen blocks with his arms.
Heikkinen tries to throw a body punch but Machida avoids it by throwing Heikkinen back against the cage.
Heikkinen tries to land a knee to the head but Machida blocks with his arms.
Heikkinen throws a head punch that misses.
A knee to the head by Machida.
Machida trying to land knees to the body.
Machida pushes off an throws an elbow but Heikkinen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Heikkinen misses with some punches.
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 Seiryu Machida will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kaino Heikkinen's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Machida throws a push kick but Heikkinen slaps the foot to one side.
Heikkinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Machida manages to avoid it.
Machida tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Heikkinen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Heikkinen lands a nice shot that snaps Machida's head back.
Heikkinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Machida.
A combination from Machida does no damage.
Heikkinen connects with a body shot that sends Machida's belly button to the back.
Machida throws a nice inside leg kick.

Machida darts in and clinches Heikkinen up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Heikkinen.
Machida lands a nice knee to the body.
Heikkinen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Heikkinen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but Heikkinen blocks with his arms.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body punch from Heikkinen.
Machida lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heikkinen throws a head punch that misses.
Machida using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Heikkinen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Heikkinen wants to get back to striking at distance but Machida won't allow it.
Heikkinen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Machida tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Heikkinen avoids it.
Heikkinen misses with a punch to the body.
Heikkinen misses with some punches.
Heikkinen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Machida throws a knee to the head but misses.
Machida throws a knee to the head but misses.
Heikkinen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Heikkinen misses with a punch on the inside.
Heikkinen lands an uppercut.
A knee to the head by Machida.
Machida using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Heikkinen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Heikkinen throws a head punch that misses.
Heikkinen wants to break free but Machida has control.
Heikkinen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Seiryu Machida has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Heikkinen connects with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heikkinen has a couple of punches blocked by Machida.
Machida looking to throw knees to the head but Heikkinen is blocking nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Machida scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Heikkinen takes an elbow to the temple.
Heikkinen takes a knee right on the jaw!
Machida scores with a knee to the head.
Heikkinen throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Machida lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Machida lands with a right to the head.
Heikkinen struggles to land a body shot inside as Machida controls his hands.
Machida looking to throw knees to the head but Heikkinen is blocking nicely.
Knees in the clinch landing for Machida.
Heikkinen tries to land a knee to the head but Machida blocks with his arms.
Heikkinen throws a punch but it's blocked by Machida.
Heikkinen pushes Machida back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Machida is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Heikkinen is defending well for now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Machida.
Heikkinen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Machida.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but Heikkinen blocks with his arms.
Machida misses with a knee to the head.
Machida pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Heikkinen is trying to break free.
Heikkinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Heikkinen looking to throw knees to the head but Machida is blocking nicely.
Machida creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Machida working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Machida tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Machida landing knees to the head.
Machida blocks an uppercut.
Heikkinen tries to throw a body punch but Machida avoids it by throwing Heikkinen back against the cage.
Heikkinen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Machida has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Heikkinen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knees to the body from Machida.
Heikkinen is breathing heavily.
Machida misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Heikkinen.
A knee to the head by Machida.
Machida misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machida blocks an uppercut.
Heikkinen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Machida's elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Heikkinen misses with the head strike.
Machida throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Heikkinens head.
Heikkinen tries to throw a body punch but Machida avoids it by throwing Heikkinen back against the cage.
Machida utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Machida tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Machida working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Heikkinen has a couple of punches blocked by Machida.
Machida misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Heikkinen.
Heikkinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Heikkinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Machida with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Heikkinen struggles to land a body shot inside as Machida controls his hands.
Heikkinen pushes Machida back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Machida looking to throw knees to the head but Heikkinen is blocking nicely.
Machida scores with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seiryu Machida dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kaino Heikkinen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Machida moves in looking to clinch but Heikkinen pushes him off.
Heikkinen connects with a looping right hand.
Machida closes the distance looking to clinch
and Machida takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Heikkinen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kaino Heikkinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Machida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Machida ducks under a wild hook from Heikkinen.
Heikkinen misses with a wild body shot.

Machida closes the distance and pushes Heikkinen back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Machida blocking some punches.
Machida is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Heikkinen can do to turn this around?
Heikkinen trying to land knees to the body.
Heikkinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Heikkinen pushes Machida back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Machida misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida missing with knees to the body.
Heikkinen misses with some punches.
Heikkinen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Heikkinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Heikkinen.
Heikkinen misses with a knee strike.
Machida throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Heikkinen blocks it with crossed arms.
Machida digs a right hand underneath Heikkinen's ribcage. Heikkinen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Heikkinen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Heikkinen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Heikkinen looks to land a right hand but Machida moved out of range.
Machida tries to clinch up.

Machida has closed the distance and engaged Heikkinen in a clinch.
Machida is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Heikkinen is defending well for now.
Machida lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Heikkinen swings wildly with an uppercut but Machida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Heikkinen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Machida backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heikkinen lands a body punch.
Machida connects with a knee to the head.
Heikkinen can't find room to land a body shot as Machida controls the action.
Heikkinen has a couple of punches blocked by Machida.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Machida gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Machida takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Machida lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Machida prevents a body shot from Heikkinen.
Heikkinen swings wildly with an uppercut but Machida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Machida controlling the action here for a moment.
Heikkinen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Heikkinen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Machida has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Heikkinen tries to work over Machida's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Machida lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heikkinen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Machida blocks it with crossed arms.
Machida tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Heikkinen avoids it.
Machida working Heikkinen over with knees to the body.
Heikkinen struggles to land a body shot inside as Machida controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Heikkinen.
Machida displaying some good clinch control by pressing Heikkinen up against the cage.
Machida lands a damaging elbow.
Heikkinen working aggressively here.
Heikkinen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Heikkinen lands with a light punch inside.
Heikkinen lands a nice knee to the body.
Heikkinen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Machida.
Machida creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Heikkinen's defenses.
Machida with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Heikkinen swings wildly with an uppercut but Machida uses good head movement to avoid it.
Seiryu Machida is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Machida lands an elbow that stopped Heikkinen in his tracks for a moment.
Kaino Heikkinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Machida misses with a knee to the head.
Machida tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Machida with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Heikkinen can't find room to land a body shot as Machida controls the action.
Heikkinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Machida blocks a body shot from Heikkinen.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Machida.
Heikkinen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Heikkinen pushes Machida back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Machida tries a knee to the head but Heikkinen blocks it.
Machida blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Machida working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Machida crunches a lovely knee into Heikkinen's ribcage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seiryu Machida showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Machida, 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seiryu Machida!
Our winner, Seiryu Machida, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.