PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tito Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paavo Matinheimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Henry
vs
Matinheimo

188 cm
21
193 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

177 cm
24
197 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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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 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tito Henry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Paavo Matinheimo!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matinheimo throws a leg kick but Henry sees it coming and moves out of range.
Henry catches Matinheimo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Henry lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Henry swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Matinheimo as Henry shoots in.
Matinheimo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Henry misses with a body shot.
Matinheimo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Henry swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Matinheimo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Matinheimo shoots and misses
and Henry connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Henry circles away from the clinch attempt.

Henry throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Matinheimo was covering up waiting for the punch and Henry finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Matinheimo has his foot on Henry's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Henry works his way back into a safe position though.
Henry throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Henry is looking to work some ground and pound but Matinheimo has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henry postures up.
Henry throwing strikes from guard but Matinheimo blocks nicely.
Henry lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matinheimo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Henry's guard.
Henry trying to keep a closed guard but Matinheimo is proving a slippery customer.
Henry seems keen to control Matinheimo's posture.
Henry is trying to control the position from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Henry is on top in guard.
Henry stopping the sweep attempt from Matinheimo.
Henry throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matinheimo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry throwing strikes from guard but Matinheimo blocks nicely.
Henry lands a couple of elbows.
Henry postures up and lands a big shot to Matinheimo's brow.
Henry throwing strikes but missing.
Matinheimo keeping full guard, as Henry tries to pass.
Matinheimo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Henry!
Matinheimo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Matinheimo tries to control but Henry wriggling away.
Henry tries to hold on but Matinheimo pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo trying to control but Henry is having none of it.
Henry tries to hold on but Matinheimo pushes him away.
Henry is squirming around, avoiding Matinheimo's attempts to control the action.
Henry really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Henry regains half guard.
Henry tries to get to full guard but Matinheimo has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Matinheimo slips a straight right by Henry.
Henry blocks the body kick.
Tito Henry seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matinheimo throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Henry's head.
Matinheimo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Henry is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Matinheimo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Henry sprawls well initially but Matinheimo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Henry is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Henry has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Henry wants to get back to full guard.
Henry is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Matinheimo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Matinheimo's back!
Henry will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Henry thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Henry lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tito Henry will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Henry scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Matinheimo is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Henry postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Henry in side control lands a decent elbow.
Matinheimo on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Matinheimo can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henry trying to control the action but Matinheimo is working from the bottom.
Matinheimo is looking for a sweep.
Henry lands a nice forearm strike.
Henry connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Matinheimo some visible discomfort.
Henry tries to score with some ground and pound. Matinheimo controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry is chipping away with strikes.
Matinheimo parries the strikes from Henry easily there. Henry is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Matinheimo to escape.
Henry scoring with punches and elbows.
Matinheimo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Henry's best efforts.

Henry wants to work for an arm triangle but Matinheimo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Henry lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Henry not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Henry working the head and body with strikes.
Henry working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Henry lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Henry with the ground and pound but Matinheimo uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry is fighting to break Matinheimo's control of his arms but Matinheimo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Matinheimo trying to control the position.
Henry loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Matinheimo is trying to control the position but Henry postures up.
Henry looking to pass the guard.
Matinheimo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Matinheimo looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Henry has picked Matinheimo up and slammed him! Matinheimo can't keep hold of the triangle and Henry manages to pass to side control!
Henry wants to lay and pray for a moment but Matinheimo keeps working.
Henry lands a few punches from side control.
Henry lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Henry in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henry decides to stand up, so the ref orders Matinheimo to his feet.
Matinheimo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Henry.

Henry looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Matinheimo!
Henry scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Matinheimo?
Henry lands a big elbow.
Henry fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Henry is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Matinheimo can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Henry has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Matinheimo's face.
Henry with the ground and pound from mount.
BOOM! Henry connects with a massive shot to the dome!
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!
Henry unloading with bombs!

Matinheimo is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matinheimo is trying to escape the mount.
Matinheimo is breathing heavily.
Henry fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Henry goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Matinheimo is on top in guard.
Henry is trying to keep Matinheimo in close.
Henry wants to sweep here but Matinheimo controlling him for the moment.

Henry has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Matinheimo off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henry lands an overhand right.
Matinheimo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henry paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tito Henry dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Henry comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Henry throws a body punch but Matinheimo moves out of range.
Matinheimo pushes Henry away with a front kick.
Matinheimo shoots in but no luck this time.

Matinheimo closes the distance and clinches.
A frustrated look appears on Henry's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Henry escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Henry rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Matinheimo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matinheimo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Matinheimo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Henry avoids it really well and circles away.
Henry ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Henry takes a swing at Matinheimo's ribcage but misses.
Henry is looking to wear down Matinheimo with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Matinheimo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matinheimo takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Matinheimo throws a big shot that misses.

Henry is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Matinheimo's half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Henry missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Henry wants to pass the guard but Matinheimo is defending well.
Henry is nestled in close to Matinheimo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Tito Henry overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Henry throwing shots but Matinheimo is blocking nicely.
Matinheimo wants to get back to full guard.
Henry scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Henry seems to be looking for submissions.
Matinheimo is trying to stand back up but Henry is controlling him
Matinheimo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Henry not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Henry looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Matinheimo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Henry.
Matinheimo wants to control but Henry is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Matinheimo wants to get back to full guard.
Henry missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Matinheimo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Henry.
Henry trying to control the action but Matinheimo is working from the bottom.
Henry working Matinheimo over with strikes.
Matinheimo is trying to maintain the position but Henry is very close to passing his half guard.

Matinheimo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tito Henry is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matinheimo trying to hold on to Henry's head to control him but Henry postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Henry is controlling the pace.
Paavo Matinheimo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matinheimo is looking to improve his position.
Henry content to control rather than advance.

We're going to have a standup here because Tito Henry wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Henry throws a big shot that misses.

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.
Henry looks to land a left hand but Matinheimo moved out of range nicely.
Matinheimo just misses with a punch to the body.
Henry throws out a powerful jab.
Henry lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Matinheimo at a distance.

Henry shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Matinheimo is staying active underneath Henry, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Henry keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Henry is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Matinheimo defends it well.
Henry wants to pass the guard but Matinheimo is defending well.
Henry sitting and controlling from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tito Henry showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Henry, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tito Henry!