PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Dragunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Matrix (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dragunov's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Soviet National Anthem. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dragunov
vs
Matrix

208 cm
21
287 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

200 cm
21
280 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

M/S Paint Fightwear *** Cheapest in town ***

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maxim Dragunov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Matrix!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Radbod Blank and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matrix ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
No joy there for Matrix, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Matrix misses with a straight left.
Dragunov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Matrix is out of range.
Matrix works Dragunov's body with a nice hook.
Dragunov throws a low kick but Matrix avoids it.
Some wild striking there from Matrix.
Dragunov throws a head kick that misses.
Dragunov thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Matrix if he has to take too many more of those.
Dragunov throws a sloppy head kick and Matrix moves out of range easily.
Dragunov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Matrix tries to clinch but Dragunov moves out of range.
Matrix moves out of range as Dragunov throws a body kick.
Dragunov misses with a low kick as Matrix jumps back.
Matrix ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dragunov moves away.

Matrix moves into the clinch.
Dragunov is trying to break free.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Matrix lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matrix presses Dragunov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Matrix has Dragunov pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Matrix pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Dragunov tumbling to the mat - Matrix dives into Dragunov's guard.
Dragunov keeping moving, preventing Matrix from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matrix throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matrix would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Matrix throws a strike but Dragunov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov won't allow Matrix to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matrix is looking to stand up but Dragunov isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matrix looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Dragunov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Matrix is trying to get back to full guard.
Matrix is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

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.
Matrix is refusing to be controlled, as Dragunov sits in half guard.
Matrix trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Matrix dominated that 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.

Some bone on bone action there as Matrix checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Matrix shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Matrix has gone for a leg lock! Dragunov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Matrix's guard.
Matrix has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Dragunov has passed into side control.
Matrix tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
What's Matrix going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Matrix is not content to let Dragunov control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Matrix tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dragunov decides to stand up, so the ref orders Matrix to his feet.
Dragunov is looking to score with low kicks.
Matrix misses with a hook. Dragunov ducked under it nicely.
Dragunov wants to land a leg kick but Matrix is out of range.
Matrix connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Dragunov momentarily.
Matrix just misses with a punch to the body.
Matrix lands a body shot.

Matrix closes the distance and clinches.
A body shot lands from Matrix.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Matrix takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Dragunov tries to break free but Matrix pushes him back against the cage.
Matrix is trying to drag Dragunov to the mat but Dragunov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Dragunov trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matrix lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short left from Matrix.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A left hand lands to the body for Matrix.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stalling in the clinch from Matrix.
Matrix lands a shoulder strike.
Matrix pushes Dragunov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Matrix softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Matrix pressing his opponent against the cage.
Nice body punch from Matrix.
Matrix lands a body shot.
Matrix dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Matrix drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Matrix digs a right hand into Dragunov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Dragunov's gas tank.
Matrix drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Maxim Dragunov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Matrix.
Dragunov wants to break the clinch but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matrix dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Dragunov tries to break free but Matrix pushes him back against the cage.
Matrix lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Matrix lands a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Matrix 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.

Matrix instigates a clinch.
Matrix works on Dragunov's body with a couple of short punches.
Matrix lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
John Matrix seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Dragunov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Matrix is keeping busy.
Good body shot from Matrix.
Matrix gets through Dragunov's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Matrix lands a nice uppercut.

Dragunov is rocked!
Dragunov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Oh Dragunov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Nice body punch from Matrix.
Matrix pushes Dragunov against the cage. Matrix is working some dirty boxing. Matrix pushes off with a quick right hook! Dragunov goes down! Dragunov tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! Matrix moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Matrix!
John Matrix is the new heavyweight champion!