PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Markus Mattila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Rask (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Markus Mattila has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Mattila
vs
Rask

188 cm
24
190 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

186 cm
21
186 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Markus Mattila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikko Rask!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rask drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mattila manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rask is trying to get back to full guard.

Mattila decides to return to a standing position.
Mattila moves in looking to clinch but Rask pushes him off.

Rask moves into range and clinches up with Mattila.
Rask tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mattila just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rask fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rask tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mattila just stands there and leans against the cage.
Markus Mattila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikko Rask.
Rask is looking to break free of the clinch but Mattila has double underhooks.
Rask has a couple of punches blocked by Mattila.
Mattila keeps control of Rask as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mattila stalling.
Mattila gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rask.

Rask gets control of Mattila's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rask will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rask wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rask is on top in guard.

Rask drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mattila looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mattila looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mattila!

Mattila is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rask knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rask wants to get back to his feet.
Mattila misses with the ground and pound.
Rask wants to control but Mattila postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rask is not content to let Mattila control the position.
Rask gets back to half guard.
Mattila thows a huge punch but Rask dodges it nicely.

Rask looking for submissions off his back.
Mattila stops Rask from getting back to his feet.
Rask looks gassed!

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Mattila closes the distance and pushes Rask back into the cage.
Rask fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rask has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mattila avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rask tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mattila just stands there and leans against the cage.
Mattila scores with a knee to the head.
Rask tries to land knees in the clinch but Mattila avoids the damage to the body.
Rask tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Mattila just stands there and leans against the cage.

Rask pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Mattila lands a head kick. Rask smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Mattila dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mattila tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Markus Mattila seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mattila moves into range and clinches up with Rask.
Mattila lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Rask is looking to break free of the clinch but Mattila has double underhooks.
Mattila scores with a knee to the head.
Rask looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Mattila blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rask tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mattila connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rask's face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rask is trying to drag Mattila to the mat but Mattila just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rask is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rask is breathing heavily.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Mattila obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rask jumps guard but Mattila stands there with Rask around his waist. Rask gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Markus Mattila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikko Rask.
Mattila comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mattila being controlled against the cage.
Rask tries to score a body lock takedown but Mattila shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Mattila manages to pull guard.
Mattila is pulling down on Rask's head to control his posture.

Mattila has his foot on Rask's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rask works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mattila working for a triangle but Rask defends it easily.
Rask wants to stand but Mattila has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mattila wants to stand but Rask is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rask wants to stand and escape but instead Mattila has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Rask is looking for a triangle but Mattila pushes his legs off easily.

Mattila drops back looking for a leg! Rask is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Rask manages to kick Mattila off! Mattila jumps back into Rask's guard.
Rask wants to stand up but Mattila is controlling him.

That's four 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.
Rask not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rask managing to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Rask throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Mattila dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mattila shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Rask pinned against the cage. Rask gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rask throws a sloppy head kick and Mattila moves out of range easily.
Rask tries to clinch up.
Mattila wants to clinch up but Rask keeps it at a distance.
Mattila tries for a takedown but Rask circles away easily
and Rask counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rask closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mattila prevents Rask from breaking the clinch.
Rask struggles to land a body shot inside as Mattila controls his hands.
A frustrated look appears on Rask's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rask wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mattila fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Markus Mattila. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rask jumps guard but Mattila stands there with Rask around his waist. Rask gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rask wants a takedown.
Mattila gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Rask.
Rask is looking to break free of the clinch but Mattila has double underhooks.
Mattila landing knees to the head.
Rask is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mattila is keeping busy.
Mattila is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rask gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

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.

Rask pulls Mattila into guard.
Rask throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Mattila postures up.
Mattila wanted to stand there but Rask had control of the position.
Rask is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Rask misses with a head shot. Mattila uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rask stands up and waves to Mattila to follow him.
Rask shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mattila defends it nicely.
Mattila tries to clinch but Rask moves away

and Rask counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rask wants to control from the top but Mattila keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mattila is looking to stand up but Rask isn't so interested in that idea.
Mattila keeping moving, preventing Rask from controlling successfully.
Rask slips nicely into half guard.
Rask is controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikko Rask comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mattila 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Markus Mattila!