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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tali Ihantala (ranked 13 p4p, 57 weight class) and Ernesto Mathieu (ranked 2 p4p, 4 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 203 cm
35
253
32 - 12 - 0 |
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200 cm
32
267
16 - 3 - 0 |
Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tali Ihantala!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ernesto Mathieu!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Steve Montenegro and David Schapiro.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Mathieu lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ihantala has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ihantala and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
It looked like Ihantala wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mathieu clinches up with Ihantala and pushes him back against the cage.
I was talking to Ihantala's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Mathieu lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right from Mathieu on the inside.
Mathieu keeps control of Ihantala as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ihantala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Ihantala throws an overhand right that lands on Mathieu's shoulder, as Mathieu tries to avoid the shot.
Mathieu has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Mathieu is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Mathieu misses with an uppercut. Ihantala saw that one coming.
Mathieu just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromIhantala.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ihantala throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ihantala moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Ihantala
and Mathieu counters with a nice uppercut.
Mathieu throws a hook to the side of Ihantala's head but Ihantala sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ihantala is looking to counter punch.
Mathieu throws a shot to the body.
Ihantala misses with a hook to the body
and Ihantala takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mathieu misses with a hook.
Ihantala defending well as Mathieu loads up on a big left hand.
Ihantala throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mathieu looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mathieu defending well as Ihantala loads up on a big left hand.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala keeps the fight on the outside.
Mathieu thuds his shin into the meat of Ihantala's side.
Mathieu lands a jab to the head.
Mathieu avoids a kick to the body.
Ihantala throws a wild body kick that Mathieu sees coming a mile off.
Ihantala throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mathieu cracks a nice hook into Ihantala's ribs.
Mathieu misses with a low kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Mathieu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A telegraphed right hand from Ihantala misses the target.
Mathieu tried to score with a low kick but Ihantala checks it.
Mathieu throws a hook but Ihantala blocks it.
Ihantala scores with a nice strike.
It looks like Ernesto Mathieu has been cut.
Mathieu connects with a looping right hand.
Mathieu blocks a jab.
Mathieu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathieu misses with an uppercut. Ihantala saw that one coming.
An attempted straight right counter from Ihantala misses the target.
Mathieu lands the left hand.
Ihantala misses with a body kick.
Mathieu with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mathieu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ihantala was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Ihantala moves out of range as Mathieu strikes.
Ihantala throws out a loose jab but Mathieu uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mathieu scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ernesto Mathieu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ernesto Mathieu's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Mathieu lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ihantala's sensitive parts.
Mathieu slips a jab from Ihantala.
Ihantala backing away here, and Mathieu unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Mathieu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice defenses there by Ihantala.
Ihantala misses with a hook.
A little jabbing left from Mathieu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ihantala finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathieu misses with a straight right.
Mathieu looks for the body kick but Ihantala saw that one coming.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Mathieu misses.
Ihantala swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mathieu throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Ihantala to counter with a crisp jab.
Mathieu blocks the body kick.
Mathieu slips under a jab from Ihantala.
Ihantala on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ihantala throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mathieu counters with a straight right hand.
Mathieu fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mathieu avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala throws a jab when Mathieu was well out of range.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Mathieu. Ihantala shrugs it off though.
Ihantala misses with a kick to the body.
Ihantala backing away here, and Mathieu unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Ihantala ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mathieu moves away.
Mathieu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Mathieu scores with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mathieu connects with a looping right hand.
Mathieu fails in his attempt to clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathieu blocks a low kick nicely.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mathieu! But no joy.
A lazy body kick from Ihantala
and Ihantala takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mathieu blocks a head kick by Ihantala.
Sloppy strikes from Mathieu. Those never looked like landing.
An attempted straight right counter from Ihantala misses the target.
Ihantala on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Mathieu throws a front kick that sends Ihantala stumbling back into the cage.
Ihantala swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mathieu throws a wild body kick that Ihantala sees coming a mile off.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Mathieu takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mathieu throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mathieu misses with a body kick.
Ihantala is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Mathieu with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Ihantala scores with a jab to the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ihantala throws a lazy right hand but Mathieu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ernesto Mathieu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ernesto Mathieu's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Ihantala pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mathieu looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ihantala fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ihantala with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Mathieu to score with a decent uppercut.
Ihantala moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Ihantala lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mathieu moves into the clinch.
Ihantala has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ihantala lands a left hand that snaps the head of Mathieu backwards.
Mathieu breaks the clinch.
Mathieu misses with a head kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihantala takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Ihantala displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Mathieu throws out the jab.
Mathieu missing with a left hand there. Ihantala was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ihantala throws a low kick but it's checked well by Mathieu.
Ihantala scoring well with a low kick there.
Mathieu takes one to the side of the head.
Ihantala ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ihantala lands a body shot.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mathieu lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mathieu moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mathieu misses with a low kick.
Ernesto Mathieu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mathieu on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Mathieu fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A big left from Ihantala misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ihantala throws an off balance right hand
and Mathieu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathieu misses with a body kick.
Ihantala is looking to counter punch.
Ihantala throws a right hand that misses
and Mathieu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ihantala just misses with a punch to the body.
Ihantala swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mathieu.
Ihantala looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ihantala misses with a straight right.
A jab from Mathieu misses.
Mathieu checks a low kick from Ihantala.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathieu avoids the body shot from Ihantala.
Mathieu is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Ihantala with a body shot.
Jab from Ihantala.
Ihantala takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Ihantala on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A lazy left from Ihantala finds it's target.
Ihantala scores with a kick to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A slow jab from Mathieu misses its intended target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but Tali Ihantala did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Ernesto Mathieu's cut.
That's time! Ihantala's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Mathieu connects with a solid leg kick.
A punch combination from Ihantala misses.
Ihantala avoids the head kick by Mathieu.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ihantala.
Mathieu with the inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathieu throws a shot to the body.
Ihantala throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ihantala backing away here, and Mathieu unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Ihantala fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathieu ducks under a wild hook from Ihantala.
Mathieu tries to land a front kick but Ihantala steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mathieu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ihantala misses with a body punch
and Mathieu counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ihantala throws a jab when Mathieu was well out of range.
Mathieu swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Mathieu scores with a punch to the head.
Ihantala is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Mathieu.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala blocks a low kick nicely.
Mathieu pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Mathieu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Mathieu blocks a jab.
A little jabbing left from Mathieu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ihantala lands the left hand.
Mathieu tests Ihantala's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mathieu throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ihantala thinks about countering with a head kick.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala throws a right hand that misses
and Mathieu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mathieu lands an overhand right.
Ihantala misses with a right hand
and Mathieu counters with an inside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Ihantala throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ihantala takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ihantala tries to land a body kick
and Mathieu counters with a stiff right hand.
Mathieu lands a glancing blow to the side of Ihantala's head.
Mathieu misses with a low kick.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Mathieu counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ihantala takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ihantala misses with a looping right.
Ihantala pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mathieu tries a quick counter leg kick but Ihantala is wise to it.
Tali Ihantala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ihantala throws a shot from downtown. Mathieu moves away and avoids it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mathieu cracks Ihantala with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A telegraphed right hand from Ihantala misses the target.
A little jabbing left from Mathieu on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Ernesto Mathieu dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Ernesto Mathieu'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.
A big left from Mathieu misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ihantala. Mathieu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ihantala is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Mathieu avoids a kick to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Mathieu.
Ihantala takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathieu scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mathieu looks to land a right hand but Ihantala moved out of range.
Ihantala is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Mathieu has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ihantala finds it's way round the side to connect with Mathieu's head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Mathieu. Ihantala does a little dance to reset his feet.
A quick step to the side and Ihantala tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A swing and a miss from Ihantala.
Ihantala misses with a double jab.
The fighters circling - Ihantala throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Mathieu misses the jab.
An attempted straight right counter from Ihantala misses the target.
Mathieu connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ihantala throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Mathieu blocks the leg kick.
Ihantala throws a lazy uppercut
and Mathieu counters with a stiff right hand.
Mathieu avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Mathieu scores with a decent looking hook.
Mathieu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ihantala.
Ihantala slips under a jab from Mathieu.
Nice shot lands for Ihantala.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Ihantala throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ihantala takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ihantala looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Mathieu listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Mathieu throws a combination that misses
and Ihantala counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Ihantala misses with a straight left.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mathieu! But no joy.
Ihantala throws a series of punches but Mathieu moves out of range.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathieu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mathieu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ihantala avoids it.
Ihantala's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Ihantala for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Mathieu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mathieu tries to land a knee to the head but Ihantala blocks with his arms.
Mathieu misses with a knee strike.
Ihantala throws a head punch that misses.
Mathieu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ihantala avoids it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ihantala.
Ihantala struggles to land a body shot inside as Mathieu controls his hands.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ihantala lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mathieu lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ihantala misses with a body punch.
Ihantala will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Ihantala scores with a hook to the body.
Mathieu is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Ihantala works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ernesto Mathieu.
Well Mathieu has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 46:49
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 45:50
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 46:49
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ernesto Mathieu!
Ernesto Mathieu is the new super heavyweight champion!
After winning the bout, Ernesto Mathieu thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
43% |
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