PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eetu Matsubich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hef McDrum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Matsubich
vs
McDrum

225 cm
23
205 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

189 cm
19
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eetu Matsubich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hef McDrum!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDrum looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Matsubich really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Matsubich misses with a takedown attempt - McDrum sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
McDrum throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matsubich is looking to clinch but McDrum is avoiding it.

Matsubich rushes McDrum and presses him up against the cage.
Matsubich keeps control of McDrum as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
McDrum has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Matsubich avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on McDrum's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Matsubich looking to stall.
Matsubich is trying to drag McDrum to the mat but McDrum just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Matsubich stalling against the cage.

Matsubich has dropped down and is working for a takedown. McDrum is trying to keep an underhook but Matsubich manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Matsubich thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McDrum is looking for a sweep. Matsubich is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McDrum is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDrum is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McDrum is looking to escape.
Matsubich is keen to just control but McDrum is a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Matsubich will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eetu Matsubich. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Matsubich pushes McDrum up against the cage in a clinch.

McDrum manages to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Matsubich thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
McDrum is trying to keep Matsubich in close.
Matsubich is breathing heavily.

That's two 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.
Matsubich is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
McDrum trying to control the position here.
Matsubich trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

McDrum is looking for a triangle but Matsubich pushes his legs off easily.
McDrum seems keen to control Matsubich's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDrum wants to stand but Matsubich is controlling the position.
McDrum wants to sweep but no luck.
Matsubich tries to free his leg and advance position but McDrum is retaining full guard.
McDrum not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McDrum swats away the attempt to clinch by Matsubich.
McDrum will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A combination from McDrum does no damage.

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.
McDrum looks to land a combination but Matsubich avoids it well.

McDrum closes the distance and clinches.
McDrum has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Matsubich is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
McDrum tries to pull guard but Matsubich won't allow it.
McDrum drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McDrum tries to pull guard but Matsubich won't allow it.

McDrum ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. McDrum no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Matsubich trying to control the position from guard on top but McDrum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Matsubich wanted to stand there but McDrum had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eetu Matsubich dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

McDrum lands with an overhand left.
McDrum misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Matsubich slips a jab and a cross from McDrum.
McDrum swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Matsubich fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt McDrum.
McDrum circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matsubich wants to clinch

and McDrum counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by McDrum.
Matsubich drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McDrum gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Matsubich landing knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Matsubich lands a takedown into guard.
McDrum working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Matsubich.
McDrum keeping full guard, as Matsubich tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDrum looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Matsubich wants to stand and escape but instead McDrum has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Matsubich has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but McDrum has passed into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McDrum decides to take the fight back to the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The is referee keeping an eye on McDrum - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
McDrum landing knees to the body.
McDrum content to slow the pace in the clinch.

McDrum has Matsubich pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. McDrum pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Matsubich tumbling to the mat - McDrum dives into Matsubich's guard.
McDrum is looking to stand up but Matsubich won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsubich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McDrum is stalling in the full guard.

McDrum stands and steps away. Matsubich gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Matsubich throws a quick head kick that skims the top of McDrum's head.
Eetu Matsubich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McDrum gets a takedown into half guard.
Matsubich is looking to control McDrum's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Matsubich avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDrum is looking to advance position but Matsubich won't allow it.
McDrum stalling away here and it's allowed Matsubich to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Matsubich is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
McDrum passes Matsubich's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hef McDrum showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

McDrum misses with a few strikes there.
McDrum tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matsubich paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Matsubich shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McDrum is trying to defend but Matsubich finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Matsubich wants to stand up but McDrum is controlling the position.
McDrum tries to kick Matsubich off but Matsubich keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
McDrum is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Matsubich's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Matsubich's back!
McDrum tries to get the hooks in deep but Matsubich pushed the leg off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McDrum is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDrum is hanging on to Matsubich's back as he tries to escape.
McDrum is working the ground and pound. Can Matsubich escape?
Matsubich is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Will McDrum go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
McDrum controls the action.
Matsubich tries to roll but McDrum sticks to his back.
Matsubich holding both McDrum 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's two 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.
Matsubich trying to control the action but McDrum just sinks the hooks in.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

McDrum looking for the choke but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsubich turns into McDrum and is now in his guard.
Matsubich has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of McDrum is proving hard to escape from.
Matsubich throwing strikes but missing.
Matsubich is looking to stand up but McDrum won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Matsubich trying to control the position from guard on top but McDrum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDrum not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A jab from McDrum misses.
Matsubich tries to clinch but McDrum is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McDrum cracks the inside of Matsubich's front leg.
A shot to de liver by McDrum. Beautiful body shot.
McDrum pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
McDrum looks to land a body kick but Matsubich moved away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hef McDrum.
Well McDrum 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Hef McDrum!