PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mihai Matei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josip Simunic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matei comes to the cage accompanied by MitiS & MaHi - Blu. 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.

Matei
vs
Simunic

169 cm
27
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
27
155 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mihai Matei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Josip Simunic!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Andrew Berry and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matei misses with a double jab.
Simunic is looking to clinch but Matei is avoiding it.
Simunic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Matei missing with a left hand there. Simunic was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Matei throws a series of punches but Simunic avoids them all with ease.
Simunic takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Simunic connects with a high kick.
Simunic is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Matei scores with a three punch combo!
Matei misses with a few strikes there.
Simunic fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Matei has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Simunic fails with a takedown attempt.
Matei stuffs the takedown attempt from Simunic. Simunic gets slowly back to his feet.
Matei throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Simunic.
Matei lands with a nice combination. Simunic backs away looking to recover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matei goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Matei slips a jab and a cross from Simunic.
Simunic has a takedown stuffed.
Mihai Matei has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josip Simunic.
Matei moves out of range of the body kick.
Simunic misses with a few strikes there.
Matei throws a series of punches but Simunic moves out of range.
Simunic throws a head kick but Matei moves out of range.
Matei tries to bum rush Simunic with a series of wild strikes but Simunic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Simunic shoots for a double leg takedown but Matei sprawls well. He's pushed Simunic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Simunic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Simunic walks into a straight right hand from Matei.
Simunic doesn't manage to clinch there - Matei circles away.
A nice combination there by Matei.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Matei throws a series of strikes that have Simunic backpedaling.

Simunic is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simunic tries to bum rush Matei with a series of wild strikes but Matei uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Simunic is still on wobbly legs! Can Matei finish him?
Simunic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Simunic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matei swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Simunic seems to have recovered his senses.
Simunic shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matei pinned against the cage. Matei gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Matei swinging wildly here.
Matei scores with a hook to the body. Simunic takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Matei looks to land a combination but Simunic avoids it well.
Simunic walks into a stiff left hand from Matei.
Matei misses with the combination.
Simunic slips under a jab.
Matei throws a series of punches but Simunic moves out of range.
Mihai Matei is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matei rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Simunic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Simunic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matei blocks a head kick by Simunic.
Matei is working the combinations to good effect here.
Simunic dodges the punch combination from Matei.
Matei throws a combination that misses
and Simunic counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Simunic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matei avoids the head kick by Simunic.
Simunic slips a jab and a cross from Matei.
Simunic wants to clinch.
Simunic tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Matei manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Matei throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Simunic counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matei closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Matei lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Simunic backs up against the cage.
Simunic throws the kick towards the body but Matei avoids it.
Some bone on bone action there as Matei checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Matei connects with a body shot that sends Simunic's belly button to the back.
Simunic throws a head kick but Matei moves out of range.
Simunic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Simunic fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Matei, pushing him back against the cage.
Simunic tries to pull guard but Matei forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Matei has had enough of the clinch but Simunic keeps him there for the moment.

Simunic manages to break the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Simunic fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Matei connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mihai Matei dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Matei dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A combination from Matei does no damage.
Matei circles away from the clinch attempt.
Simunic shoots in for a double leg but Matei sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sloppy strikes from Matei. Those never looked like landing.
Sloppy strikes from Matei. Those never looked like landing.
Sloppy strikes from Matei. Those never looked like landing.
We've been informed that Simunic has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Mihai Matei is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Matei leaves Simunic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Matei scores with a body shot.
Simunic connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Simunic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matei swivels and escapes.
Mihai Matei has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josip Simunic.

Simunic pushes Matei up against the cage in a clinch.
Matei tries to break free but Simunic pushes him back against the cage.
Matei wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matei has had enough of the clinch but Simunic keeps him there for the moment.

Simunic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Matei blocks a head kick by Simunic.
Matei scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Simunic dodges the punch combination from Matei.
Matei scores with a one two! Simunic had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A cross from Matei lands.
Simunic throws a solid leg kick but Matei takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Simunic.
Matei misses with a two punch combination.
Matei throws a series of punches but Simunic moves out of range.
Simunic will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Simunic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Simunic takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Simunic tries to close the distance and clinch but Matei swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Matei throws a series of punches but Simunic moves out of range.
Matei takes a swing at Simunic's ribcage but misses.
Simunic throws a head kick that misses.
Simunic is looking to land body kicks.
Matei misses with a double jab.

Simunic moves into range and clinches up with Matei.
Matei can't break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Matei's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Simunic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Matei has him pressed against the cage.
Simunic keeps control of Matei as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Matei wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Simunic has him pressed against the cage.
Simunic is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Matei is keeping busy.
Matei is trying to push Simunic away but Simunic has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simunic is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Matei to keep the fight standing.
Simunic prevents Matei from breaking the clinch.

Matei escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Simunic pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Matei!
Matei fails to land with a series of punches.
Simunic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Matei throws a nice looking combination but Simunic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Simunic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matei swivels and escapes.
Simunic throws a sloppy head kick and Matei moves out of range easily.
Matei scores with a jab to the body.
Simunic misses with a wild combination.
Simunic is breathing heavily.
Matei swats away the attempt to clinch by Simunic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matei tries to bum rush Simunic with a series of wild strikes but Simunic uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Simunic.
Matei throws a right and a left that both miss.
Simunic is looking to clinch.
Matei takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
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!
Matei defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Simunic.
Matei throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Matei misses with a combination

and Simunic counters by clinching up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Simunic is trying to maintain a safe position but Matei gets an underhook and turns Simunic into the cage.
Simunic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mihai Matei dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Matei darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Simunic is looking to clinch but Matei is avoiding it.
Simunic is trying desperately to land a takedown but Matei is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Simunic.
Simunic tries to clinch up but Matei circles away and keeps his distance.
Sloppy strikes from Simunic. Those never looked like landing.
Simunic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matei swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Matei misses with a jab, cross combination.
Simunic misses with a head kick.
Simunic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Matei but Matei pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A punch combination from Simunic misses.
Simunic dodges the punch combination from Matei.
Matei scores with a sloppy right hand. Simunic should have avoided that one.
Simunic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Matei throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Matei misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matei looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Matei lets his hands go wild with a nice combination. Left! Right! Uppercut! Spinning backfist! Simunic goes down and covers up as Matei starts wailing on him! The ref watches the action closely before stepping in and putting a stop to the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:14 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mihai Matei!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Mihai Matei waved his t-shirt featuring Dragon's logo in front of the cameras.