PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matti Matikainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Power (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matti Matikainen had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. On his way into the cage it seems that Matti Matikainen has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Matti Matikainen seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Matikainen
vs
Power

185 cm
19
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Matikainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Max Power!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Power tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matikainen swivels and escapes.

Power closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Matikainen prevents Power from improving position.
Matikainen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Power wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Matikainen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Power on the ground.
Matikainen prevents Power from moving into mount.
Matikainen wants to control but Power postures up.

Power tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Power has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Power decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Power will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Power blocks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Power throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Matikainen's waist but Matikainen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Power off to one side.
Matti Matikainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Power.
Power shoots for a double leg takedown but Matikainen sprawls well. He's pushed Power's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Power keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Power gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Matikainen counters with a head kick.
Matikainen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Power counters with a takedown into side control.
Matikainen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Power off and has taken his back!

Matikainen has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
You can see the frustration on Power's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Power manages to reverse the position and now he's in Matikainen's guard. Nice work there by Power.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Power looks gassed!
Power wants to control from the top but Matikainen keeps moving.
Power stands and throws Matikainen's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Power thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Matikainen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matikainen is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Matikainen struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen is looking for a sweep.

Power wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Matikainen, who protects the arm well.
Matikainen is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Matikainen is trying to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Power looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Power passes to side control.
Power working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen pushes Power away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Power gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Matikainen struggling a bit here.
Matikainen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Matikainen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Power does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Matikainen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Matikainen tries to pass to full mount but Power defends it.
Matikainen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Power does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Power is trying to get back to full guard.
Matikainen is looking to advance position but Power won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Power dominated that round.
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.

Matikainen throws a combination that misses

and Power counters with a nice double leg into side control. Matikainen won't be happy with that.
Matikainen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Matikainen wants to get back to his feet.
Power is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Matikainen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Matikainen's back!
Matikainen is in bad spot here.
Power is trying to stick to Matikainen's back but Matikainen is turning into Power. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Power's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Matikainen.
Power keeping moving, preventing Matikainen from controlling successfully.
Power keeping full guard, as Matikainen tries to pass.
Power thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Power keeping busy on the bottom but Matikainen has passed one foot through into half guard.
Power wants to control but Matikainen is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Power is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Matikainen pulls his head out easily.
Power is staying active underneath Matikainen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Matikainen sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Power actively working from the bottom here.
Power is looking to improve his position.
Power slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Power escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Matikainen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Power throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Power has his foot on Matikainen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Matikainen works his way back into a safe position though.

Power working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Matikainen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Matikainen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Power manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Power pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Power prevents Matikainen from getting the reversal.
Max Power has got the better of the ground game so far.
Power looking to control but Matikainen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Matikainen bucks Power off and manages to get back to his feet!
Matikainen has a takedown stuffed.
Matikainen looks to land a combination but Power avoids it well.

Power scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Matikainen tries to buck Power off but Power is having none of it.
Power working the ground and pound.
Matikainen struggling a bit here.

Power tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Power has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Power thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Power wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Matikainen, who protects the arm well.
Power tries to move into full mount but can't pass Matikainen's legs.
Matikainen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Power advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Power showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Power scores a takedown into full mount!

Power has control of Matikainen's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Matikainen regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Matikainen wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Power wants to finish this one by submission but Matikainen is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Power.
Power lands a nice shot to the head.
Matikainen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Matikainen tries to hold on but Power postures up.

Power is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Matikainen is surviving well by controlling Power's body position as best he can.

Power looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Power can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Matikainen is looking to escape.
Power breaks from Matikainen's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Matikainen defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Power.
Matikainen is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matikainen wants to control but Power is having none of it.

Power jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Matikainen manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Power throws a strike aimed at the side of Matikainen's head but Matikainen avoids it well.

Power working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Power working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Matikainen is looking for a sweep.
Matti Matikainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Power wants to control but Matikainen is keeping him busy.
Matikainen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Power has hold of Matikainen's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Matikainen seems comfortable defending it but Power has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Matikainen is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Matikainen is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Power couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Max Power!