PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Drew Abilez (ranked 3280 p4p, 313 weight class) and Matti Mattonen (ranked 2774 p4p, 276 weight class). Abilez comes to the cage accompanied by Rusty Cage. The crowd seem to be enjoying Mattonen's choice of entrance music: 「KING & ASHLEY」by MY FIRST STORY. Drew Abilez has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Abilez
vs
Mattonen

178 cm
25
158 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

155 cm
25
152 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Threads of HARDCORE

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Drew Abilez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Mattonen!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mattonen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Abilez swivels and escapes.
Mattonen with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Abilez to counter with a crisp jab.
Abilez lands with a cross.

Mattonen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Abilez is trying to defend but Mattonen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Abilez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Mattonen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Abilez has managed to free his arm - good work.
Abilez is looking for a sweep. Mattonen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mattonen is trying to control. Abilez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mattonen is working for a submission of some sort.

Mattonen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Abilez is just riding it out for now. Mattonen eventually gives up the hold.

Mattonen is looking for a kimura but Abilez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mattonen to get the leverage.

Mattonen is working for a kimura but Abilez is defending it quite comfortably.
Abilez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mattonen on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mattonen passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Abilez!

Mattonen looking for a guillotine from mount but Abilez is having none of it.

Mattonen has hold of Abilez's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Abilez manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abilez is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Abilez on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Abilez tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mattonen looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Abilez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Mattonen is working for a guillotine from mount but Abilez frees his head quite easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mattonen working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Mattonen wants to finish this one by submission but Abilez is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Mattonen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mattonen avoids the attempt from Abilez to control.

Mattonen looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Abilez is trying to escape the mount.

Mattonen is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Abilez is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Abilez flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Mattonen anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Abilez and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Mattonen slips an arm under Abilez chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Mattonen has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Mattonen is squeezing on Abilez like an anaconda would it's prey. Abilez fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Matti Mattonen!
In his post fight interview, Matti Mattonen started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.