PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Soda Popinski (ranked 1650 p4p, 223 weight class) and Keijo Maki (ranked 1471 p4p, 200 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Popinski
vs
Maki

198 cm
24
207 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

205 cm
22
220 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Soda Popinski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Keijo Maki!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popinski throws a leg kick that is checked
and Maki counters with a low kick, right behind Popinski 's knee.
Keijo Maki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maki keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A jab from Maki misses.
A solid leg kick lands there for Maki.
Maki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Popinski getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Maki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Popinski.
Good leg kick by Maki there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Popinski lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Maki at a distance.
Maki tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Maki cracks Popinski with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Maki misses with a looping right.
Popinski throws a hook but Maki avoids it easily.
Popinski on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Popinski has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Popinski there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popinski looks to land a right hand but Maki moved out of range.
Popinski chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Popinski looks to land a combination but Maki avoids it well.
Popinski has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Tessin's Toughest in the buildup to the fight.
Popinski walks into a jab.
Popinski lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Maki misses with a low kick.
Maki looks to throw the jab but Popinski is out of range.
Maki lands with a thumping leg kick.
Popinski lands a leg kick that knocks Maki off balance momentarily.
A combination from Popinski does no damage.
Popinski throws a leg kick which misses Maki's front leg but catches the back leg as Maki tries to avoid it.
Maki misses with a body shot.
Popinski fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Popinski will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Maki avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maki lands a jab to the head.
Maki jabs Popinski right on the nose. Popinski blinks but takes it well.
Maki scoring well with a low kick there.
Good standup being displayed there by Maki as he connects with a hook.
Maki throws a leg kick
and Popinski counters with a stiff right hand.
Maki throws a jab when Popinski was well out of range.
Popinski misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maki missing with a left hand there. Popinski was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Popinski lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maki circles away quickly and effectively.
A little jabbing left from Maki on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Maki dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Popinski. That did some damage!
Popinski throws a head kick that misses.
A slow jab from Maki misses its intended target.
Maki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Maki lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maki ducks under a wild hook from Popinski.
Maki checks the leg kick.
Maki throws a front kick aimed at Popinski's knee but Popinski avoids it well.
Popinski on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Maki misses with a low kick as Popinski jumps back.
Maki dodges the punch combination from Popinski.
Maki tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Popinski throws a quick counter kick to the body but Maki avoids it.
Donk. Popinski catches Maki right on the button with a cross.
Maki lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Popinski misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Maki keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Maki.
Maki misses with the body kick
and Popinski counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Popinski is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maki tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Popinski lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Keijo Maki has been cut.
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!
Maki slips under a jab.
Popinski misses with a low kick as Maki jumps back.
Maki misses with a straight left.
Maki takes one to the chin there.
Maki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Popinski holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Popinski lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Maki.

Popinski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Popinski lands the left hand.
Maki moves into range and connects with a jab.
Maki tries a low kick but Popinski avoids it.
Maki has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Popinski throws a wild body kick that Maki sees coming a mile off.
Popinski throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maki.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Popinski throws a nice inside leg kick.
Maki checks the leg kick.
Maki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Popinski.
Popinski keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Maki.
Maki moves away from the strike by Popinski.
Popinski throws a sloppy head kick
and Popinski takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Popinski takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Popinski looks to throw the jab but Maki is out of range.
Maki looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Popinski goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Maki misses with an uppercut. Popinski saw that one coming.
Maki scoring well with a low kick there.
Maki swings for the body but Popinski moves out of range.
Popinski walks into a stiff left hand from Maki.
Popinski on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Maki throws a lazy right hand but Popinski sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
As Maki looks to move away, Popinski throws a big counter combo but Maki just gets out of the way.
A head kick misses from Popinski.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Popinski avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Popinski looks to land a combination. Maki sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Maki ducks under a wild hook from Popinski.
Maki throws a hook but Popinski blocks it.
Maki scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Popinski lands with a nice combination. Maki backs away looking to recover.
Maki misses with a hook.
Popinski seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Popinski misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maki.
Maki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Popinski throws out the jab.
Maki lands a glancing blow to the side of Popinski's head.
Maki misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Maki slams his shin into Popinski's torso.
Maki looks to throw the jab but Popinski is out of range.
Popinski throws a hook but Maki blocks it.
Maki lands a nice hook to Popinski's body. Popinski takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Maki lands with a shot to the body.
Popinski connects with a looping right hand.
Popinski checks the leg kick.
Good leg kick by Maki there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Maki moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Popinski takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Popinski displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Maki throws out the jab.
Popinski blocks the body kick.
Popinski dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Maki. That did some damage!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maki throws a hook to the side of Popinski's head but Popinski sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Maki bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Popinski looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Popinski blocks a head kick by Maki.
Popinski scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Maki lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Popinski feints and then cracks Maki's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maki down.
Popinski scores with a nice strike.
Popinski feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Maki's calf.
Popinski misses with a leg kick
and Maki counters with a nice low kick that buckles Popinski's knee momentarily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Maki, as that shot connected.
Maki smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Maki jabs at Popinski's body.
Popinski keeps Maki at a distance using the push kick.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Maki throws a quick inside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Popinski. Maki does a little dance to reset his feet.
Popinski misses with a head kick.
Popinski throws a nice inside leg kick.
Maki lands a jab to the nose.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Maki - that will leave a mark!
Maki looks to score with a jab to the body but Popinski is just out of range.
Popinski thinks about countering with a head kick.
Popinski avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Maki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Popinski throws a leg kick but Maki sees it coming and moves out of range.
Maki cracks Popinski with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Maki takes a swing at Popinski's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Keijo Maki will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Keijo Maki's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A swing and a miss from Popinski.
Popinski blocks a leg kick.
Popinski is looking to counter the offense by Maki and move into the clinch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Maki, right into the meat.
Keijo Maki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Popinski finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Maki pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Popinski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Popinski lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Popinski slips under a jab from Maki.
Popinski jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popinski takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Maki looks to land a body kick but Popinski moved away.
Popinski throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Maki counter with a right hand.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Maki. Popinski shrugs it off though.
Popinski blocks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Popinski keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maki throws the kick towards the body but Popinski avoids it.
Popinski lands a nice leg kick that just misses Maki's sensitive parts.
Popinski uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Maki.
Popinski ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maki moves away.
Maki showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Popinski.
Maki let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Popinski will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Maki throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A little feinted left hand from Popinski on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Popinski scores with a shot to the body.
Popinski fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Maki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Soda Popinski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Popinski takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Maki throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Popinski throws a counter high kick but Maki was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maki misses with a right hand
and Popinski counters with a three punch combo that has Maki backing up. Maki nods at Popinski to acknowledge the strikes.
Popinski throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Maki.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Popinski looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Maki connects with a solid leg kick.
Maki throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Maki takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Popinski avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Maki moves out of range as Popinski throws a body kick.
Popinski throws a series of punches but Maki moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Maki - just one landing.
Maki throws a big shot that misses.
Maki blocks a low kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maki throws a leg kick
and Popinski counters with a two punch combo.
Maki scores with a jab to the jaw.
Maki takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That has opened up Keijo Maki's cut even more.
Maki throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Popinski.
Maki gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Maki throws a body punch but Popinski moves out of range.
Popinski seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Popinski chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Popinski is looking to land body kicks.
Maki slips under a jab.
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!
Good leg kick by Maki there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Both fighters circling a little - Maki finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Crunch! Maki slams his shin into Popinski's torso.
Maki walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Popinski checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maki scores with a leg kick.
A jab lands there for Maki.
Popinski checks the leg kick.
Maki thumps Popinski with a low kick.
Maki scores with a jab.
Maki checks the leg kick nicely there.
Popinski moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Popinski shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Popinski ducks under a wild hook from Maki.
Maki swings for the body but Popinski moves out of range.
Popinski moves out of range of the strikes.
Maki scores with a crisp jab that stopped Popinski in his tracks.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Popinski feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Maki's calf.
Maki lands a nice leg kick that just misses Popinski's sensitive parts.
Nice uppercut there from Maki.
Popinski throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Popinski throws a right and a left that Maki avoids nicely.
Maki flicks out a counter leg kick but Popinski steps away.
Maki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Popinski checks the leg kick.
Popinski throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Maki counters with a nice low kick that buckles Popinski's knee momentarily.
Maki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Popinski.
A low kick from Maki is predictable there
and Popinski cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Popinski looks to land a combination but Maki avoids it well.
Popinski takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Maki shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Popinski chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Maki can pounce on him.
Popinski's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Maki 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.
It looked like Popinski was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Maki.
Popinski throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maki looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Maki looks to throw the jab but Popinski is out of range.
Popinski will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
An inside leg kick lands from Popinski.
Popinski misses with a looping left.
Popinski throws a leg kick which misses Maki's front leg but catches the back leg as Maki tries to avoid it.
Maki lands with a thumping leg kick.
Popinski swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Popinski slips a straight right by Maki.
Maki moves out of range of the leg kick from Popinski.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Popinski throws a body punch but Maki moves out of range.
A big left from Maki misses.
The fighters circling - Maki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Popinski moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Maki misses with a wild combination.
Popinski throws a body punch but Maki moves out of range.
Popinski looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Maki fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Popinski on the side of the head.
Popinski throws a lazy uppercut
and Maki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Popinski connects with a single shot there.
Popinski cracks Maki with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Maki moves out of range of the leg kick from Popinski.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Popinski.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Popinski is predictable there
and Maki counters with a nice low kick that buckles Popinski's knee momentarily.
Popinski uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maki.
Popinski throws a looping overhand right but Maki ducks down to avoid it.
Popinski walks into a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maki checks a leg kick.
Maki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Popinski.
A decent looking cross lands there for Maki.
A low kick from Popinski misses
and Maki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Soda Popinski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Popinski walks into a straight right hand from Maki.
Popinski looks to land a body kick but Maki moved away.
Maki showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Popinski.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Popinski scores with a head kick.
Maki pivots, looking for a leg kick but Popinski is out of range and Maki settles back down.
Maki ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Good work by Popinski as he checks the leg kick.
Maki scores with a hook.
Popinski motions for Maki to come forward. Popinski throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Popinski misses with a two punch combination.
An inside leg kick lands from Maki.
Maki moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Maki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Maki takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A nice combination there by Popinski.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Keijo Maki.
I think Maki 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Keijo Maki!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Keijo Maki!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Keijo Maki!

Keijo Maki wins by unanimous decision!
Keijo Maki thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Soda Popinski stepped up to the mic, saying 'Please Mac take me back, my new manager is clueless and didn't even check my profile!'.