PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Igor Igor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Matulac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Matulac will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Igor
vs
Matulac

198 cm
25
289 lbs
4 - 3 - 2

225 cm
20
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Igor Igor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mark Matulac!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Igor misses with a looping left.
Igor looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Igor stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Igor wants it to stay on the feet.
Igor throws a right and a left that both miss.
Matulac dodges the punch combination from Igor.
Matulac wants to clinch up but Igor keeps it at a distance.
Matulac slips a straight right by Igor.
Igor slaps away a takedown attempt from Matulac, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Matulac tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Some wild striking there from Igor.
Matulac scores with a sloppy right hand. Igor should have avoided that one.
Matulac shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Igor Igor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Matulac.

Matulac darts in and clinches Igor up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Matulac creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Matulac taking a breather.

Matulac breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Matulac has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matulac lands a hook that snaps the head of Igor backwards.
Matulac connects with a nasty looking knee right to Igor's face.

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

Matulac has his foot on Igor's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Igor works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matulac working a defensive guard here.

Matulac looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Matulac wants to get back to his feet but Igor is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Matulac 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.
Matulac is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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.
Matulac looking for a sweep. Not yet Matulac, not yet.
Igor might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Matulac is trying to control the position from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Matulac drives through and clinches with Igor against the cage.
Matulac tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Igor smiles and moves away.
Igor misses with a two punch combination.
Matulac fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matulac tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Igor swivels and escapes.
Igor Igor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Matulac has Igor up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matulac tries for a takedown. No joy.
Matulac dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Igor wants to break free but Matulac has control.

Matulac escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Igor throws a nice looking combination but Matulac bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Matulac closes the distance and pushes Igor back into the cage.
Igor is trying to break the clinch but Matulac is controlling him.

Matulac's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Igor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Igor misses with a wild combination.

Matulac clinches up with Igor and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Matulac keeps control of Igor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Matulac breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Matulac has Igor up against the cage in a clinch.
Matulac scores a nice knee to the body.
Igor looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Matulac has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Igor avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Matulac has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Igor avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Matulac breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A punch combination from Igor misses.
Igor swings for the body but Matulac moves out of range.
Matulac lands with a good body shot.
Igor loads up on a big right hand but Matulac slips the punch.
Matulac is trying hard to land a takedown here. Igor sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Igor throws a series of punches but Matulac moves out of range.
Matulac lands a high kick!

Matulac instigates a clinch.
Igor is trying to break the clinch but Matulac has him pressed against the cage.
Igor wants to break the clinch but can't.
Matulac displaying some good clinch control by pressing Igor up against the cage.
Matulac changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Igor fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Igor moves forwards but Matulac connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Matulac fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Matulac shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Matulac showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Igor pushes Matulac off looking to stand but Matulac dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Igor manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Matulac is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Matulac lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Igor circles away quickly and effectively.
Igor just misses with a punch to the body.
Matulac fails with the takedown.
Igor rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matulac moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Matulac rushes Igor and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Matulac ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Matulac no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matulac has a closed guard, preventing Igor from standing up.

Matulac looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Igor passes into half guard.
Igor tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Matulac.
Matulac moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Igor gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Igor Igor is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matulac doesn't manage to clinch there - Igor circles away.
Matulac goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Matulac wants to clinch.
Igor could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Igor misses with a series of wild punches.
Igor takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Matulac closes the distance and clinches.
Igor tries to break free but Matulac pushes him back against the cage.
Matulac tries to pull guard but Igor won't allow it.
Igor Igor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Matulac.

Matulac gets control of Igor's arms and successfully pulls guard. Matulac will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Igor stands up and waves to Matulac to follow him.
Igor swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Matulac counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matulac thuds a left hand into Igor's body.
Matulac looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Matulac fails in his attempt to clinch.
Matulac fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Igor throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Matulac counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Matulac.
Igor has had enough of the clinch but Matulac keeps him there for the moment.
Matulac tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Matulac pulls guard.
Igor is looking to stand up but Matulac won't let him.

Igor gets to his feet - Matulac follows without any prompting.
Igor pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Igor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Good standup being displayed there by Matulac as he connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Matulac showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Matulac closes the distance and clinches.

Matulac breaks the clinch.
Igor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matulac manages to avoid it.
Igor Igor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Matulac does no damage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Matulac.
Matulac doesn't manage to clinch there - Igor circles away.
Matulac throws a right hand that Igor ducks under and follows up with a left that Igor also avoids with ease.
Matulac closes the distance and clinches up with Igor, looking for a takedown. Matulac pushes Igor against the cage but Igor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheers as Igor lands an impressive looking overhand right. Matulac doesn't seem phased though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matulac is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A big right from Igor misses.
Igor misses with a double jab

and Matulac counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Matulac.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Igor is trying to break the clinch but Matulac is controlling him.
Matulac jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Igor walks away with a smile on his face. Matulac gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Igor Igor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Matulac.
Matulac doesn't manage to clinch there - Igor circles away.
Matulac moves away from the strike by Igor.
Igor has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Igor swats away the attempt to clinch by Matulac.
Matulac throws a head kick but Igor moves out of range.
Igor takes a kick to the side of the head.
Matulac tries to clinch up.
Matulac looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Igor swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Matulac counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Igor's guard now.
Igor wants to stand up but Matulac is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matulac pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Igor is keeping the position for now.
Matulac trying to control the position from guard on top but Igor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Igor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Matulac is standing up over Igor. Igor looks to escape but Matulac dives into side control.
Igor tries to escape but Matulac is in control.
Matulac trying to control the position but Igor is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Igor tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Igor is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Igor on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Igor tries to get out of the position.
Matulac landing strikes from the mount and Igor is in trouble!
Igor is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Igor is squirming around, avoiding Matulac's attempts to control the action.
Igor is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Igor defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Matulac.
Matulac wants to control the pace but Igor is squirming around nicely.

Matulac is working for a guillotine from mount but Igor frees his head quite easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Igor's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Matulac comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Matulac 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Matulac!