PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Seamus Heaney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Manhoef (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manhoef is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Killing In The Name. Melvin Manhoef will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Heaney
vs
Manhoef

178 cm
26
212 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

173 cm
29
205 lbs
15 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Heavy handed

F.ighters U.nlimited K.lothing C.ompany ☯

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Seamus Heaney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Melvin Manhoef!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Heaney swings for the body but Manhoef moves out of range.
Manhoef throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Heaney throws a looping overhand right but Manhoef ducks down to avoid it.
Manhoef closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Manhoef will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Heaney misses with an uppercut
and Manhoef counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The fighters circling - Heaney throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Heaney lands a body shot.
A left and a right from Heaney both land. Nice combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manhoef moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Seamus Heaney has been cut.
Heaney connects with a good right hand that stumbles Manhoef. Manhoef circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Manhoef throws a right hand that Heaney ducks under and follows up with a left that Heaney also avoids with ease.
Manhoef throws a series of punches but Heaney moves out of range.
A jab from Heaney does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Heaney is out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Manhoef working hard to break the clinch.
Heaney misses with a short punch on the inside.
Heaney drops down looking for an ankle pick but Manhoef pulls his leg out and moves away.
Heaney looks to score with a jab to the body but Manhoef is just out of range.
Melvin Manhoef is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Manhoef looks to land a combination. Heaney sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Heaney swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Manhoef.
Heaney takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Heaney tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manhoef swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Manhoef.
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!
Heaney dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Manhoef throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Heaney cracks Manhoef with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Manhoef swats away the attempt to clinch by Heaney.
Manhoef wants to land a leg kick but Heaney is out of range.
Heaney lands a jab to the nose.
Heaney misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Manhoef.
Manhoef moves away from the strike by Heaney.

Heaney shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Manhoef manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Heaney stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Manhoef swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heaney trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Manhoef avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Heaney lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Heaney postures up in Manhoef's guard and throws a big left but Manhoef blocks it.
Heaney loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Heaney is looking to work some ground and pound but Manhoef has wrist control.
Heaney with a flurry of punches that miss.
Heaney forces his way into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heaney thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Heaney thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Manhoef's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Heaney content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Heaney lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Heaney thows a huge punch but Manhoef dodges it nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Manhoef has hold of Heaney's hands but Heaney slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Heaney not landing any meaningful shots this time.
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 Seamus Heaney will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Seamus Heaney's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Manhoef falls off balance throwing a combination
and Heaney counters with a nice uppercut.
Heaney swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Manhoef.
Manhoef throws a left and a right that both miss
and Heaney counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Manhoef fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Heaney checks it well.
Heaney takes a swing at Manhoef's ribcage but misses.
Manhoef feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Heaney's calf.
Heaney lands a nice looking body shot.
Heaney fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Manhoef manages to avoid it.
Heaney fails to land the takedown.
Heaney rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Manhoef moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Heaney takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Manhoef looks to score with a jab to the body but Heaney is just out of range.
Melvin Manhoef seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Manhoef scores with a sloppy right hand. Heaney should have avoided that one.
Heaney avoids a punch combination nicely.
Manhoef slips a straight right by Heaney.
Heaney jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A combination from Manhoef does no damage.
Heaney throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Manhoef's waist but Manhoef gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Heaney off to one side.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Manhoef throws a leg kick but Heaney moved away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef fails to land with a series of punches.
Heaney shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Manhoef sprawls well. Manhoef wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Heaney gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Seamus Heaney. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Heaney drives through with a takedown into guard.
Heaney pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Manhoef is keeping the position for now.
Heaney trying to control but Manhoef is working from the bottom.
Heaney trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Heaney trying to control but Manhoef is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef keeping full guard, as Heaney tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Heaney accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Heaney throws a big right hand that misses.
Heaney trying to control the position from guard on top but Manhoef is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Heaney stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Manhoef swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heaney throws a big elbow that misses.
Heaney in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Heaney throws a strike but Manhoef rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Heaney 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.
Manhoef would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Manhoef throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Heaney managing to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Melvin Manhoef will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Seamus Heaney's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Heaney cracks Manhoef with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Manhoef rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Heaney moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Heaney throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Heaney.
A telegraphed right hand from Manhoef misses the target.
Heaney throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Heaney checks a leg kick nicely.
Heaney looks to score with a jab to the body but Manhoef is just out of range.
Heaney throws a right hand that misses
and Manhoef makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Manhoef throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhoef tries a low kick but Heaney avoids it.
Manhoef throws a leg kick but Heaney sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Manhoef scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Manhoef looks to land a combination but Heaney avoids it well.
Manhoef throws a right and a left that Heaney avoids nicely.
Manhoef misses with a double jab.
Manhoef misses with the combination.
Manhoef pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Manhoef takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Heaney lands with a shot to the body.
Heaney scores with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef takes one to the chin there.
Manhoef fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Heaney has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Heaney has a takedown stuffed.
Heaney looks to land a combination but Manhoef avoids it well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Heaney. Manhoef does a little dance to reset his feet.
Seamus Heaney seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manhoef takes one on the button.
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!
Heaney misses with a wild body shot.
Heaney fails in his attempt to clinch.
Manhoef avoids the body shot from Heaney.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heaney avoids the head kick by Manhoef.
Heaney throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Manhoef swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Manhoef avoids the body shot from Heaney.
Heaney checks the leg kick nicely there.
Heaney tries for a takedown but Manhoef sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Heaney tries to clinch up but Manhoef circles away and keeps his distance.
Melvin Manhoef is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Heaney misses the body punch
and Manhoef counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Manhoef throws a series of punches but Heaney avoids them all with ease.
Heaney misses with a shot to the body
and Manhoef counters with a nice leg kick.
Heaney tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Manhoef swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Seamus Heaney. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhoef lands a nice shot that snaps Heaney's head back.
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!
Manhoef throws a nice looking combination but Heaney bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Manhoef lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Heaney shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Manhoef as he jumps to the side.
Manhoef motions for Heaney to come forward. Manhoef throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Manhoef misses with a body shot.
Heaney dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A combination from Manhoef does no damage.
Manhoef misses with a looping left.

And that's the end of the fight!
Melvin Manhoef comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Manhoef has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight for Melvin Manhoef!
Judge William Peck scores the fight for Seamus Heaney!
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight as a draw!

The fight ends as a draw!