PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zarius Matzischin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wain Gro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Matzischin
vs
Gro

188 cm
26
222 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

186 cm
21
215 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Good elbows
Powerful

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 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zarius Matzischin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wain Gro!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matzischin lands with a cross.
Gro tries to clinch there but Matzischin circles away.
Gro moves out of range as Matzischin strikes.
Matzischin looks to land a right hand but Gro moved out of range.
Gro tries to clinch but Matzischin moves out of range.
Matzischin throws a leg kick which misses Gro's front leg but catches the back leg as Gro tries to avoid it.
Matzischin lands a lovely overhand right.
Matzischin connects with the punch.

It looks like Wain Gro has been cut.
Matzischin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gro fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Matzischin checks it well.
Gro scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Gro tries a low kick but Matzischin avoids it.
Matzischin misses with an uppercut. Gro saw that one coming.
Matzischin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Gro moves into the clinch.
Matzischin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gro throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Gro blocks an uppercut.
Gro looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Matzischin scores with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matzischin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gros head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gro throws an elbow but misses.
Gro misses with an elbow over the top.
A hook to the body from Matzischin.
Matzischin digs a right hand into Gro's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Gro's gas tank.
Matzischin dodges an elbow strike from Gro.
Gro throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Matzischin is working Gro over against the cage.
Good body shot from Matzischin.
Matzischin tries to break free but Gro pushes him back against the cage.
Gro looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Matzischin lands with a right to the head.
Matzischin lands with a light punch inside.
Good body shot from Matzischin.
Gro looks gassed!
Matzischin utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Gro.
Matzischin scores with a shoulder strike.
Matzischin avoids the elbow strike from Gro, against the cage.
Matzischin lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gro or not.
Matzischin lands with a light punch inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gro throws an elbow but misses.

Matzischin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Matzischin dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gro. That did some damage!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gro avoids the body shot from Matzischin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matzischin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gro.
Gro staying out of range there.
Gro is looking to land body kicks.
Nice shot by Matzischin.
Matzischin dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gro. That did some damage!
Gro has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Matzischin finds it's way round the side to connect with Gro's head.
Matzischin connects with a solid leg kick.
Matzischin throws a shot to the body.
Gro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Gro throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gro on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Matzischin. Matzischin obviously looking to wear him down.
Gro walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Matzischin throws a series of strikes that have Gro backpedaling.
Gro throws a leg kick that is checked
and Matzischin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matzischin thumps Gro with a low kick.

Matzischin instigates a clinch.
Gro misses with an elbow strike.
Matzischin lands an elbow that stopped Gro in his tracks for a moment.
Matzischin lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Matzischin lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Gro or not.
Matzischin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Matzischin is trying to drag Gro to the mat but Gro just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Gro looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Gro pushes off an throws an elbow but Matzischin leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Matzischin blocks the elbow strike.
Matzischin avoids the elbow strike from Gro, against the cage.
Matzischin is working for takedown but Gro is calmly controlling the position for now.
Gro throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Gro looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Matzischin blocks the elbow strike.
Matzischin blocks an elbow strike from Gro.
Gro blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gro just misses with a elbow thrown towards Matzischin's brow.
Gro misses with an elbow strike.
Matzischin scores with a shot to the side of Gro's head.
Matzischin looking to throw knees to the head but Gro is blocking nicely.
Gro looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Matzischin lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gro backwards.
Matzischin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Gro pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gro throws an elbow but misses.
Matzischin lands with a light punch inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gro throws an elbow but misses.
Gro looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Matzischin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gro just misses with a elbow thrown towards Matzischin's brow.
Gro throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Gro looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Matzischin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Gro has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Matzischin softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matzischin avoids a wild elbow strike from Gro.
Matzischin avoids the elbow strike from Gro, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Matzischin.
Gro misses with an elbow over the top.
Gro throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Matzischin misses with a shot to the kidneys.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zarius Matzischin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Wain Gro's cut.
That's time! Matzischin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gro tries to clinch but Matzischin moves out of range.
Matzischin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gro tries to score with a low kick but Matzischin moves his leg out of the way.
Matzischin throws the left hand but Gro avoids the punch easily.
Gro tries to clinch but Matzischin moves away
and Matzischin counters with a two punch combo.
Matzischin avoids a kick to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Matzischin checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Gro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matzischin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Matzischin.
A head kick misses from Matzischin.
Matzischin throws a leg kick but Gro checks it.
Matzischin throws a leg kick
and Gro counters with a nice kick to the body.
Matzischin tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gro makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gro throws a lazy head kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Matzischin swats away the attempt to clinch by Gro.
Gro checks a low kick from Matzischin.
Gro fails in his attempt to clinch.

Gro pushes Matzischin up against the cage in a clinch.
Gro throws an elbow but it misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gro just misses with a elbow thrown towards Matzischin's brow.
Gro throws an elbow but it misses.
Gro pushes off an throws an elbow but Matzischin leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Gro misses with an elbow strike.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Matzischin blocks the elbow strike.
Gro throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Matzischin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Matzischin working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gro throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A knee to the head by Matzischin.
Matzischin tries to break free but Gro pushes him back against the cage.
Gro throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gro comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Matzischin breaks from the clinch.

Gro drives through and clinches with Matzischin against the cage.
Knees to the body from Matzischin.
Matzischin blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gro just misses with a elbow thrown towards Matzischin's brow.
Matzischin has a couple of punches blocked by Gro.
Gro throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Matzischin scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Matzischin avoids a wild elbow strike from Gro.
Matzischin throws a head punch that misses.
Gro misses with an elbow over the top.
Gro pushes off an throws an elbow but Matzischin leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Gro creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Matzischin takes an elbow to the forehead.
Matzischin avoids the elbow strike from Gro, against the cage.
Gro looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gro just misses with a elbow thrown towards Matzischin's brow.
Gro comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Matzischin blocks an elbow strike from Gro.
Gro throws an elbow that misses.
Gro misses with an elbow strike.
Gro misses with an elbow over the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matzischin blocks an elbow strike from Gro.
Matzischin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Gro blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Matzischin lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gro.
Matzischin dodges an elbow strike from Gro.
Gro looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Gro misses with an elbow over the top.
Matzischin blocks an elbow strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gro throws an elbow but misses.
Gro throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Gro lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Gro creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Gro pushes off an throws an elbow but Matzischin leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Matzischin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Gro lands an elbow inside that Matzischin shrugs off.
Gro misses with an elbow strike.
Matzischin blocks an elbow strike.
Gro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Matzischin connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gro's face.
A body shot lands from Matzischin.
Gro misses with an elbow strike.
Matzischin pushes Gro back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Gro misses with an elbow strike.
Matzischin dodges an elbow strike from Gro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matzischin cracks Gro with a nice body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Matzischin.

Matzischin manages to break the clinch.
Gro avoids a punch combination nicely.

Gro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Matzischin misses with a knee to the head.
Matzischin avoids a wild elbow strike from Gro.
Gro throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Gro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Matzischin misses with a knee to the head.
Gro gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Gro pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Matzischin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gro.
Gro pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Matzischin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gro throws a low kick, looking for Matzischin's leg but Matzischin calmly moves out of range.
Matzischin scoring well with a low kick there.
Some bone on bone action there as Matzischin checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Zarius Matzischin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Wain Gro's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Matzischin throws a looping overhand right but Gro ducks down to avoid it.
Matzischin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gro can pounce on him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Gro takes the fight into the clinch.
Gro throws an elbow that misses.
Gro pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Gro throws an elbow but it misses.
Matzischin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Gro looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Still in the clinch, Matzischin scores with a nice short uppercut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gro just misses with a elbow thrown towards Matzischin's brow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gro throws an elbow but misses.
Gro pushes off an throws an elbow but Matzischin leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Gro pushes off an throws an elbow but Matzischin leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matzischin gets through Gro's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Matzischin blocks the elbow strike.
Matzischin avoids a wild elbow strike from Gro.
Gro lands a damaging elbow.
Matzischin misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matzischin blocks the elbow strike.
Matzischin blocks the elbow strike.
Gro throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Matzischin blocks an elbow strike from Gro.
Matzischin lands a hook that snaps the head of Gro backwards.
Good body shot from Matzischin.
Zarius Matzischin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Matzischin scores with a knee to the head.
Gro throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Matzischin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gro misses with a body kick.
Zarius Matzischin is winning the standup battle so far.
Gro cracks the inside of Matzischin's front leg.
Gro throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Gro delivers a nice body kick.
Gro connects with a solid leg kick.
The fighters circling - Matzischin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Gro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Matzischin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gro buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matzischin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Matzischin keeps the fight on the outside.
Good leg kick by Gro there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Matzischin checks a leg kick.
Matzischin throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Matzischin misses with a hook. Gro ducked under it nicely.
Zarius Matzischin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matzischin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Matzischin tried to score with a low kick but Gro checks it.
Gro chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gro moves in looking to clinch but Matzischin pushes him off.
Gro misses with a low kick.
Gro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matzischin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gro doesn't manage to clinch there - Matzischin circles away.
Matzischin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gro moves away.
Wain Gro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Gro. That's going to slow Matzischin down.
Gro tries to clinch up.
Matzischin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Gro.
Gro fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gro misses with a low kick.
Matzischin throws a shot from downtown. Gro moves away and avoids it.
A slapping body kick lands there for Gro.
Gro tries to clinch but Matzischin moves out of range.
Matzischin on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Gro attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Gro is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matzischin moves out of range of the leg kick from Gro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matzischin moves out of range of the body kick from Gro.
Gro tries to close the distance and clinch but Matzischin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A low kick from Gro misses
and Matzischin counters with a nice uppercut.
Matzischin checks the leg kick.
Gro turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Gro tries to clinch but Matzischin is having none of it.
Gro tries to close the distance and clinch but Matzischin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matzischin cracks Gro with a right hand to the side of the head.
Matzischin tries to clinch up but Gro circles away and keeps his distance.
Gro is looking to land body kicks.
A low kick from Gro misses
and Matzischin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Gro thows a leg kick but Matzischin checks it
letting Matzischin counter with a right hand.
Gro misses with the body kick
and Gro takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wain Gro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Matzischin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Zarius Matzischin!