PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Usko Matonen (ranked 440 p4p, 776 weight class) and Elroy Clarks (ranked 25 p4p, 51 weight class). Usko Matonen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matonen
vs
Clarks

165 cm
37
140
22 - 16 - 2

163 cm
34
141
16 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Usko Matonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Elroy Clarks!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matonen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matonen moves forwards but Clarks connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Clarks bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice body kick from Clarks.
Matonen misses with a body punch
and Clarks counters with a one-two to the body.
Clarks lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Matonen has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Lab in the buildup to the fight.
Matonen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A cross from Clarks lands.
Clarks throws a shot from downtown. Matonen moves away and avoids it.
Clarks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Clarks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Matonen counters with an inside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Matonen scores with a nice head shot.
Clarks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matonen manages to avoid it.
It looked like Matonen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Clarks takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Clarks is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matonen closes the distance and pushes Clarks back into the cage.
Clarks is still on wobbly legs! Can Matonen finish him?
Matonen throws a head punch that misses.
Matonen gets underhooks to prevent Clarks's takedown attempt.
Matonen misses with a punch on the inside.
Matonen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Nice body punch from Matonen - that landed with a thud.
We've been informed that Clarks has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Matonen misses with some punches.
Clarks seems to have recovered his senses.
Matonen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Clarks misses with a punch on the inside.
Matonen lands a hook that snaps the head of Clarks backwards.
Clarks has a couple of punches blocked by Matonen.
Clarks lands with a left to the head.
Clarks tries for a takedown. No joy.
Matonen leaning his opponent against the cage.
Matonen prevents the takedown attempt.
Usko Matonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Elroy Clarks.
Clarks blocking some punches.

Matonen breaks from the clinch.
Clarks slips a straight right by Matonen.
Elroy Clarks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clarks tries to land a body kick
and Matonen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Matonen needs to keep his hands up - Clarks had a free shot at his head there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matonen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Clarks lands with a slapping head kick.
Matonen slips a straight right by Clarks.

Clarks shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Matonen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Matonen trying to control the position.
Clarks throws a big elbow that misses.
Clarks wants to control from the top but Matonen keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarks trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Matonen working a defensive guard here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Clarks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Matonen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Clarks thinks about the counter body kick.
Matonen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Clarks.
A slapping leg kick lands for Matonen.
Matonen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Clarks fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarks lands with a right hand.
Matonen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Clarks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Matonen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Clarks misses the body punch
and Matonen counters with a thumping low kick.
Clarks throws a sloppy head kick and Matonen moves out of range easily.
Clarks slips under a jab.
Clarks throws a head kick that misses.
Clarks scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Matonen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matonen throws a body punch but Clarks moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Elroy Clarks will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Clarks looks to score with a jab to the body but Matonen is just out of range.
Elroy Clarks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Matonen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Clarks stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Clarks is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Matonen's half guard.
Clarks sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Matonen defending well though.
Clarks not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Clarks not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Clarks seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Clarks is working for a kimura but Matonen is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clarks throwing shots but Matonen is blocking nicely.
Clarks has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Clarks 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.

Clarks is looking for a kimura but Matonen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Clarks to get the leverage.
Clarks wants to take a breather but Matonen is having none of it.
Still in half guard, Clarks seems content to control.
Matonen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Clarks working over Matonen with some ground and pound. Matonen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Clarks seems to be looking for submissions.
Clarks misses with a head shot. Matonen uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matonen keeping moving, preventing Clarks from controlling successfully.
Clarks is looking to advance position but Matonen has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Clarks is wriggling around trying to escape.
Clarks tries to improve his position but instead Matonen has taken his back!
Clarks wants to escape the position.
Elroy Clarks has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matonen is riding his opponent, not letting Clarks buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matonen continues to stall.
Matonen doesn't have the hooks in and Clarks manages to turn into his guard.
Matonen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Clarks controls the pace.
Matonen pulls Clarks in close to prevent any damage.
Matonen wants to sweep here but Clarks controlling him for the moment.
Clarks throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matonen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Clarks controls the pace.
Clarks is pushing down on Matonen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Matonen is fighting to maintain full guard but Clarks has managed to sneak the leg through.
Clarks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Clarks looks to land a strike but Matonen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Matonen trying to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Clarks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Clarks 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Elroy Clarks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Matonen tries to clinch but Clarks moves out of range.
Clarks is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Clarks throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Clarks throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Clarks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
No joy there for Clarks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Clarks lands a glancing blow to the side of Matonen's head.
Clarks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matonen throwing a counter right hand but Clarks manages to avoid it.
Clarks throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matonen throws a chopping leg kick but Clarks manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Clarks is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Clarks connects with a looping right hand.
Matonen throws a hook but Clarks blocks it.
Clarks moves away from the strike by Matonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarks digs a good body shot into Matonen's ribs.
Clarks pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Matonen back to the cage. Clarks follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Matonen blocks a head kick by Clarks.
Matonen thinks about countering with a head kick.
Clarks throws a head kick that half lands.
Clarks throws a looping overhand right but Matonen ducks down to avoid it.
Matonen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Clarks avoids the head kick by Matonen.
Clarks scores with a body shot.
Clarks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A little feinted left hand from Matonen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Matonen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Clarks.
Matonen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Clarks throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Clarks punishes Matonen's body with a nice straight punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Clarks throws a sloppy head kick and Matonen moves out of range easily.
Clarks fails with a takedown attempt.
Matonen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Usko Matonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clarks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Clarks with a poor takedown
and Matonen counters with a three punch combo that has Clarks backing up. Clarks nods at Matonen to acknowledge the strikes.
Matonen throws a leg kick but Clarks sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Clarks chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Matonen can pounce on him.
Matonen throws a head kick but Clarks moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarks comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Clarks throws out a loose jab but Matonen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Matonen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Clarks! But no joy.
Matonen is looking to chop away at Clarks's legs.
Clarks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matonen swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Elroy Clarks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A solid leg kick lands there for Matonen.
Matonen wants to slow Clarks down by chopping away at his legs.
Matonen jabs Clarks right on the nose. Clarks blinks but takes it well.
Clarks misses with a two punch combination.
A head kick by Clarks misses
and Matonen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Matonen misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matonen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matonen gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Matonen tries to clinch but Clarks moves out of range.
Matonen staying out of range there.
Matonen jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Matonen misses with a leg kick

and Clarks counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clarks sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Matonen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Clarks trying to control but Matonen is working from the bottom.
Clarks is looking to pass into half guard but Matonen pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Matonen is in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elroy Clarks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Clarks winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elroy Clarks!
An out of breath Elroy Clarks thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Usko Matonen was interviewed post fight and said 'Another decision lost? This was my last fight. '.