PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jc Matcheski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian BLaszczak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Damian BLaszczak has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Matcheski
vs
BLaszczak

180 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
23
258 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jc Matcheski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Damian BLaszczak!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
BLaszczak changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Matcheski tries to avoid it but BLaszczak manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Matcheski to the ground. Matcheski escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A head kick by Matcheski misses

and BLaszczak counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by BLaszczak.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Matcheski doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matcheski seems keen to control BLaszczak's posture.

Matcheski looking for submissions from the bottom but instead BLaszczak passes into side control.
Matcheski is not content to let BLaszczak control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matcheski tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Matcheski is trying to control BLaszczak's posture but BLaszczak avoids it.
BLaszczak wants to control but Matcheski is keeping him busy.
Matcheski tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BLaszczak is looking to take a break and control but Matcheski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Matcheski is looking for a sweep.
Matcheski controls the position for a moment.
Matcheski parries the strikes from BLaszczak easily there. BLaszczak is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Matcheski to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BLaszczak throws a strike aimed at the side of Matcheski's head but Matcheski avoids it well.
Matcheski tries to bench press BLaszczak off him but BLaszczak keeps the position.
Matcheski isn't going anywhere.
BLaszczak trying to control the action but Matcheski is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matcheski tries to buck BLaszczak off but BLaszczak is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BLaszczak trying to control the action but Matcheski is working from the bottom.
Matcheski is trying to get back to half guard.
Matcheski is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on BLaszczak's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Matcheski manages to get to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
BLaszczak trying to control the position from guard on top but Matcheski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Damian BLaszczak will probably get the nod.
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.

Matcheski closes the distance and pushes BLaszczak back into the cage.
Matcheski prevents the takedown attempt.
Matcheski goes for a takedown in the clinch but BLaszczak prevents it.
BLaszczak can't break the clinch.
BLaszczak wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Matcheski prevents a takedown attempt there.
BLaszczak gets underhooks to prevent Matcheski's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BLaszczak is working for takedown but Matcheski is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jc Matcheski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian BLaszczak.

Matcheski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
BLaszczak defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matcheski.
BLaszczak has his takedown stuffed

and Matcheski counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
BLaszczak wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Matcheski works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Matcheski is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
BLaszczak looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Matcheski puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BLaszczak tries to get to full guard but Matcheski has control of the leg.
BLaszczak is trying to control but Matcheski passes into side control!
Matcheski working away.
BLaszczak is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Jc Matcheski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Matcheski advances to mount.
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!
BLaszczak tries to hold on but Matcheski postures up.
Matcheski lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BLaszczak can't escape the position.
Matcheski with good strikes from the mount here!
BLaszczak slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Matcheski looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Matcheski trying to pass the guard but BLaszczak defending well.
BLaszczak is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BLaszczak won't allow Matcheski to pass to mount.

Matcheski is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so BLaszczak is just riding it out for now. Matcheski eventually gives up the hold.
Well, if Matcheski is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
BLaszczak is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jc Matcheski dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

BLaszczak leaves Matcheski with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Matcheski shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as BLaszczak sprawls well. BLaszczak wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Matcheski gets slowly back to his feet.
Matcheski darts in trying to clinch

and BLaszczak counters with a shoot takedown. Matcheski fights it but they end up in guard.
BLaszczak throwing strikes but missing.
Matcheski wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BLaszczak wants to control from the top but Matcheski keeps moving.
Matcheski tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Matcheski has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. BLaszczak is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Matcheski.
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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BLaszczak is looking to take a break and control but Matcheski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Matcheski tries to buck BLaszczak off but BLaszczak is having none of it.
Matcheski might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matcheski sneaks out the side door and pushes BLaszczak away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Matcheski tries to clinch but BLaszczak moves away

and BLaszczak counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Matcheski's guard now.
Matcheski working a defensive guard here.
Matcheski tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Matcheski trying to control the position here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
BLaszczak tries to free his leg and advance position but Matcheski is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matcheski can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as BLaszczak controls the pace.
Matcheski on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Matcheski tries to get out of the position.

Jc Matcheski has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matcheski changes levels and goes for a takedown here. BLaszczak fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jc Matcheski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
BLaszczak shoots for a takedown but Matcheski saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damian BLaszczak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think BLaszczak has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!