PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Matesic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Cordova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Matesic
vs
Cordova

186 cm
18
243 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

190 cm
22
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

CHOKEOUT Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ivan Matesic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Cordova!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Dean Styles and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cordova throws a sloppy head kick and Matesic moves out of range easily.

Matesic closes the distance and pushes Cordova back into the cage.
Matesic wants a takedown but no success here.
Cordova wants to get back to striking at distance but Matesic won't allow it.
Matesic prevents Cordova from breaking the clinch.
Cordova can't break the clinch.
Cordova wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Matesic has him pressed against the cage.
Matesic is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cordova tries to break the clinch but Matesic is controlling the position.
Cordova is trying to break free.
Matesic keeps control of Cordova as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Matesic prevents Cordova from breaking the clinch.
Matesic prevents Cordova from breaking the clinch.
Matesic drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cordova pulls his leg out and moves away.
A head kick misses from Cordova.
Matesic could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Matesic gets a takedown into half guard.
Cordova wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matesic slows the pace down in half guard.
Cordova keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Matesic controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Matesic has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Matesic looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matesic slows the pace down in half guard.

Cordova kicks off Matesic and gets to his feet.
Matt Cordova is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cordova throws a quick inside leg kick.
Matesic is breathing heavily.
A big right from Matesic misses.
Cordova throws a right and a left that Matesic avoids nicely.
Matesic blocks a head kick by Cordova.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cordova throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Matesic's head.
Cordova lands a two punch combo.
Matesic wants to clinch up but Cordova keeps it at a distance.
Cordova lands with a slapping head kick.
Good leg kick by Cordova there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Cordova pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cordova goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cordova lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Cordova feints and then cracks Matesic's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Matesic down.
Cordova works over Matesic's head and body with a nice combination.
Cordova lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cordova.

Matesic gets the takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Cordova dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Matesic blocks a head kick by Cordova.
Matesic buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Matesic shoots in and bounces Cordova off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Matesic looking to pass the guard.
Matesic postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matesic is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matesic drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Cordova dives on top into guard.
Matesic controls Cordova momentarily but Cordova frees himself.

Cordova decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Matesic, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cordova lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A head kick misses from Cordova.
A head kick misses from Cordova.
Cordova throws a head kick but Matesic moves out of range.
Cordova misses with a head kick.
Matesic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cordova circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matesic takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cordova throws a sloppy head kick and Matesic moves out of range easily.
Cordova misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Matesic shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cordova's guard.
Matesic has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Matesic postures up and lands a big shot to Cordova's brow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cordova can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Matesic controls the pace.
Matesic seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Cordova for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cordova avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Matesic throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cordova wants to stand and escape but Matesic is having none of it.
Matesic passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Cordova is not content to let Matesic control the position.
Matesic thows a huge punch but Cordova dodges it nicely.
Cordova regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Matesic.
Matesic trying to move into half guard but instead Cordova has managed to sweep!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Matesic dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Cordova throws a head kick but Matesic moves out of range.
Cordova ducks right into an uppercut from Matesic.
Cordova throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Matesic.
Matesic takes a kick to the side of the head.

Matesic clinches up with Cordova and pushes him back against the cage.

Matesic has picked Cordova up - he's going for a ride! Matesic dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Matesic perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Cordova makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cordova lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Cordova scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Matesic tries for a takedown but Cordova sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cordova sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A head kick by Cordova misses

and Matesic moves into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Matesic - that landed with a thud.

Matesic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cordova throws a sloppy head kick and Matesic moves out of range easily.
Matesic takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Cordova connects with a high kick.

Cordova gets caught flat footed, as Matesic shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Matesic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cordova is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matesic thows a big elbow that misses.
Matesic postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Matesic seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Matesic trying to control but Cordova is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matesic looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Matesic trying to control but Cordova is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cordova moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Cordova throws a series of punches but Matesic moves out of range.
Cordova displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Matesic pushes Cordova up against the cage in a clinch.
Cordova blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cordova wants to get back to striking at distance but Matesic won't allow it.
Cordova has had enough of the clinch but Matesic keeps him there for the moment.
A right hand to the body from Matesic.
Cordova wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Matesic has him pressed against the cage.
Matesic has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Cordova avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Cordova wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Matesic pushes Cordova back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Matesic looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Matesic. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Matesic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cordova lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Matesic showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Matesic has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Matesic!