PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hiruku Matah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iivana Jalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matah comes to the cage accompanied by Walker the Texas Ranger Theme. Jalo is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Aino Venna - Waltz to Paris. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Matah
vs
Jalo

180 cm
25
240 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

203 cm
25
266 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hiruku Matah!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iivana Jalo!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Chad Campbell and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jalo loads up on a big right hand but Matah slips the punch.
Matah defending well as Jalo loads up on a big left hand.
Jalo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matah manages to avoid it.
Jalo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matah.
Jalo connects with a crisp jab.
Jalo looks to clinch

and Matah counters with a single leg into guard. Jalo didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Matah trying to control the position from guard on top but Jalo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Matah has gone for a leg lock! Jalo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Matah's guard.
Jalo trying to control the position from guard on top but Matah is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Matah working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jalo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jalo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jalo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Matah is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Jalo defends well.
Matah tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Matah is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matah has his foot on Jalo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jalo works his way back into a safe position though.
Matah tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jalo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jalo is looking to stand up but Matah won't let him.
Matah looking for a sweep. Not yet Matah, not yet.

Matah had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jalo defends it easily.

Matah is looking for a triangle but Jalo pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jalo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Jalo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Matah might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Matah working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jalo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jalo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Matah wants to sweep here but Jalo controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Matah had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jalo defends it easily.
Matah looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
My spies in Team Finland inform me that Jalo has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Matah had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jalo defends it easily.
Matah seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Matah throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Matah is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jalo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Jalo, as that shot connected.
Matah throws a leg kick but Jalo moved away.
Jalo misses with a hook. Matah ducked under it nicely.
Jalo lands a nice shot to the body.
Jalo throws a lazy right hand but Matah sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jalo listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Matah shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jalo defends it nicely.
Jalo digs a good body shot into Matah's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jalo bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Matah's head backwards.
Matah walks into a stiff left hand from Jalo.
Jalo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Matah sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Matah slips under a jab.
Jalo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matah swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Iivana Jalo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jalo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Iivana Jalo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Matah scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Matah tries to pass the half guard into mount. Jalo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Matah is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matah is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Jalo still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Jalo has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Jalo slows the pace down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Matah tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matah manages to work his way to half guard, despite Jalo's best efforts.

Matah looking for submissions off his back.
Matah has a hand on Jalo's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Jalo takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Jalo controlling his opponent.
Matah tries to improve his position but instead Jalo has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matah is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Matah here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iivana Jalo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Matah takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Matah gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jalo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jalo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Jalo connects with a looping right hand.
Jalo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Matah.
Jalo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Matah manages to avoid it.
Jalo looks to land a left hand but Matah moved out of range nicely.
Matah uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Jalo.
Matah looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jalo is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Jalo on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Matah shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jalo as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hiruku Matah. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matah shoots in for a takedown but Jalo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Matah darts in looking for a takedown but Jalo gets double underhooks and turns Matah into the cage.
Jalo pressing his opponent against the cage.
Matah tries for a takedown but Jalo manages to get underhooks.
Jalo lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A hook to the body from Jalo.
A body shot lands from Jalo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short left from Jalo.
Jalo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Jalo.
Jalo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Matahs head.
A nice left hand lands by Jalo.
A hook to the body from Jalo.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Jalo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Matah is rocked!
Jalo throws a big uppercut that drops Matah! More strikes from Jalo and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Matah lies dazed against the cage as Jalo celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Iivana Jalo!
After winning the bout, Iivana Jalo thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
In defeat, Hiruku Matah stepped up to the mic, saying 'Bah!'.