PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Raymond Matice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hriday Kakkar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kakkar has chosen The Call of Ktulu as his entrance music. 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.

Matice
vs
Kakkar

174 cm
20
151 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

170 cm
26
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q
Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raymond Matice!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hriday Kakkar!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matice fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kakkar sprawls well initially but Matice persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kakkar blocking the ground and pound attempt from Matice.
Matice lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Kakkar is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Matice pulls his head out easily.
Kakkar trying to get back to full guard but Matice takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Matice 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.
Matice sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matice controlling from the full mount.
Kakkar is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kakkar is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matice content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matice throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Kakkar tries to hold on but Matice postures up.
Matice looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matice has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kakkar's face.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matice controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raymond Matice dominated that round.
That's time! Matice's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Matice throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kakkar tries for a takedown but Matice sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Raymond Matice is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kakkar stuffs the takedown attempt from Matice. Matice gets slowly back to his feet.

Matice is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kakkar's half guard.
Kakkar wants to get back to his feet.
Matice slows the pace down in half guard.

Matice is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kakkar trying to control here.

Matice is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kakkar is trying to get back to full guard.
Matice thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Matice has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Matice controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matice trying to control but Kakkar is having none of it.
Matice controlling the pace for now.

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.
Matice lands a heavy elbow.
Matice content just to control the position here.
Raymond Matice overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raymond Matice dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Matice feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Matice slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Matice trying to control the position from guard on top but Kakkar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matice sitting in guard here, content to control.
Matice stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kakkar swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Raymond Matice just wasn't active enough.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kakkar.
Matice shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kakkar pinned against the cage. Kakkar gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Matice throws a leg kick that is checked

and Kakkar counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Matice looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matice keeping full guard, as Kakkar tries to pass.
Matice is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kakkar is staying active underneath Matice, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matice is controlling the pace.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Matice is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Kakkar reverses the position - he's now on top in Matice's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kakkar looking to pass the guard.
Kakkar being controlled here momentarily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Matice is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matice won't allow Kakkar to get back to his feet.
Matice is stalling in the full guard.
Matice pushes down on Kakkar's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Raymond Matice is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Matice looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hriday Kakkar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kakkar can do anything to dispel that myth.

Raymond Matice has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Matice shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Matice controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raymond Matice showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Matice 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight for Raymond Matice!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Raymond Matice!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Raymond Matice!

Raymond Matice wins by unanimous decision!