PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between dark matter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergey Handozhko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sergey Handozhko told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

matter
vs
Handozhko

185 cm
19
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

186 cm
19
210 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, dark matter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sergey Handozhko!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Reed Andrews and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Handozhko tries to close the distance and clinch but matter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Handozhko fails with an attempt to clinch.

matter shoots in and bounces Handozhko off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Handozhko keeping moving, preventing matter from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Handozhko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

matter is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Handozhko pulls his head out easily.
matter wants to improve his position but Handozhko is controlling well.
Handozhko wants to stand up but matter manages to regain full guard.

matter looking for a guillotine here but Handozhko defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

matter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Handozhko defends well.
Handozhko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with matter. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Handozhko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
matter wants to sweep but no luck.

matter is looking for a triangle but Handozhko pushes his legs off easily.
Handozhko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Handozhko preventing the sweep.
matter is working hard here to advance position.
matter is breathing heavily.
matter has a closed guard, preventing Handozhko from standing up.
Handozhko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Handozhko with a lazy takedown attempt

and matter decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Handozhko's guard.

Handozhko kicks matter off and gets to his feet.
matter cracks Handozhko with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Handozhko misses with a wild combination.
Handozhko throws a right and a left that matter avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Handozhko looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for matter!
Handozhko controlling the pace for now.
matter can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Handozhko content just to control the position here.
matter is wriggling around trying to escape.
Handozhko throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for matter because Handozhko loaded up on that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

dark matter dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Handozhko gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
matter passes Handozhko's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

matter is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Handozhko doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time matter.
Handozhko is refusing to be controlled, as matter sits in half guard.
Handozhko looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
matter is looking to take a break and control but Handozhko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
matter trying to pass the guard but Handozhko defending well.
Handozhko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Handozhko tries to kick matter off but matter keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Handozhko throws a left and a right that both miss

and matter counters with a nice double leg into side control. Handozhko won't be happy with that.
Handozhko manages to get back to half guard.
Handozhko is staying active underneath matter, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handozhko wants to get back to full guard.

matter is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Handozhko has managed to free his arm - good work.
matter perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Handozhko is refusing to be controlled, as matter sits in half guard.
matter stalling away here and it's allowed Handozhko to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
matter trying to control the position from guard on top but Handozhko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Handozhko wants to get back to his feet but matter is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

matter scores with a takedown into Handozhko's guard.
Handozhko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. matter manages to get himself to full guard.
Handozhko trying to control but matter is working from the bottom.
matter is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
dark matter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

matter is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Handozhko defends well.

Handozhko gets to his feet - matter follows without any prompting.
Handozhko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Handozhko fails to land with a series of punches.

matter closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Handozhko did well to prevent matter getting side control.

matter maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Handozhko could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but matter has cracked it and Handozhko is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by matter!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). dark matter!