PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hans Lankari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Matua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lankari comes to the cage accompanied by AC/DC - Thunderstruck. John Matua is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Lankari
vs
Matua

177 cm
20
142 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

194 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hans Lankari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Matua!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lankari fails to land the takedown.
Matua looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
A punch combination from Matua misses.

Lankari shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Matua manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lankari drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lankari jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Matua is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lankari is controlling him.
Matua is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Lankari decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Matua, up you get!
Lankari tries to clinch up but Matua circles away and keeps his distance.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Matua enables Lankari to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Matua manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Lankari gets to his feet - Matua follows without any prompting.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lankari changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Matua looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Lankari has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Matua gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lankari to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Lankari sitting in guard here, content to control.
Matua keeping moving, preventing Lankari from controlling successfully.
Lankari thows a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lankari forces his way into half guard.
Lankari scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Matua can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lankari takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Matua keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Lankari decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Lankari fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice body punch from Lankari.

Lankari drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Matua keeping moving, preventing Lankari from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Lankari's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lankari passes into half guard.
Lankari lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

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.
Matua is not content to let Lankari control the position.

Lankari is working for a kimura but Matua is defending it quite comfortably.
Lankari sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lankari passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Matua!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hans Lankari dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lankari lands with a slapping head kick.

Lankari drives through with a takedown into guard.
Matua can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lankari controls the pace.
Lankari trying to control the position from guard on top but Matua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lankari stays in close to Matua's body and controls the position.
Lankari wants to control from the top but Matua keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hans Lankari has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Lankari scores a takedown into full mount!
Matua is breathing heavily.
Lankari wants to control the pace but Matua is squirming around nicely.

Lankari working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Lankari controlling the position easily from mount.
Lankari is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lankari trying to control but Matua is having none of it.
Lankari is really struggling to control Matua but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Matua is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Lankari lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lankari is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Matua is surviving well by controlling Lankari's body position as best he can.
Lankari punishing his opponent with strikes.
Lankari wants to control the pace but Matua is squirming around nicely.
Matua has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.

Lankari working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Lankari somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

Lankari looking to break Matua's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Matua remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Lankari will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Lankari has Matua flattened out and is raining down punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hans Lankari dominated that second round.
That's time! Lankari's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lankari closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Lankari wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matua keeps working.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Hans Lankari overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Matua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matua is pushing Lankari's head away, looking to escape. Lankari manages to hold on to the position though.

Lankari is trying to get an arm triangle but Matua is defending well.
Matua is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Lankari wants to control but Matua is keeping him busy.

Lankari tries for a kimura but Matua is defending well.

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.
Lankari trying to control the action but Matua is working from the bottom.
Lankari is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lankari is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Matua has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lankari throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

Lankari has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Lankari tries to clinch up but Matua circles away and keeps his distance.

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.
Matua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lankari throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Lankari misses with a head kick.
Hans Lankari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Lankari closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Matua defending against the ground and pound.
Lankari throws a strike aimed at the side of Matua's head but Matua avoids it well.

Lankari stands up and beckons Matua to his feet.
Lankari scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Matua avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lankari fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
John Matua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hans Lankari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Lankari darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hans Lankari showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lankari 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:25
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:25
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hans Lankari!