PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ari Sotaheimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oleksandr Matviyko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ari Sotaheimo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sotaheimo
vs
Matviyko

185 cm
28
192 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

185 cm
27
200 lbs
7 - 3 - 1

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Sotaheimo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Oleksandr Matviyko!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matviyko shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sotaheimo pinned against the cage. Sotaheimo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Matviyko rushes Sotaheimo and presses him up against the cage.
Sotaheimo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sotaheimo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Matviyko blocks it with crossed arms.
Sotaheimo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee to the head.
Sotaheimo is pushing Matviyko up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Sotaheimo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sotaheimo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Matviyko avoids it.
I was talking to Sotaheimo's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Sotaheimo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sotaheimo lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotaheimo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Matviyko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee to the head.
Matviyko blocks the elbow strike.
Matviyko avoiding damage as Sotaheimo throws knees to the body.
Sotaheimo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Matviyko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Matviyko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sotaheimo walks away with a smile on his face. Matviyko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Matviyko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sotaheimo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Matviyko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Oleksandr Matviyko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sotaheimo tries to clinch up but Matviyko circles away and keeps his distance.

Sotaheimo has managed to clinch.
Sotaheimo working Matviyko over with knees to the body.
Sotaheimo tries to land a knee to the head but Matviyko blocks with his arms.
Sotaheimo tries to land knees in the clinch but Matviyko avoids the damage to the body.
Sotaheimo tries to land a knee to the head but Matviyko blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotaheimo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Matviyko slowing the pace effectively.
Sotaheimo with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Matviyko breaks the clinch.
Matviyko dives in for a single leg takedown but Sotaheimo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ari Sotaheimo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oleksandr Matviyko.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but Matviyko blocks it.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee strike.
Sotaheimo lands a knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sotaheimo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee to the head.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee strike.
Sotaheimo stops a takedown attempt from Matviyko.
Sotaheimo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matviyko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sotaheimo tries to land a knee to the head but Matviyko blocks with his arms.
Matviyko fails to pull guard.
Sotaheimo with a knee to the head.
Matviyko wants a takedown but no success here.
Sotaheimo lands a knee to the body.
Sotaheimo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sotaheimo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sotaheimo looking to throw knees to the head but Matviyko is blocking nicely.
Matviyko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but Matviyko blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sotaheimo's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Sotaheimo scores a nice knee to the body.
Sotaheimo connects with a knee to the head.
Matviyko takes a knee right on the jaw!
Matviyko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sotaheimo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sotaheimo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sotaheimo trying to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Sotaheimo 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.

Sotaheimo looks to throw the jab but Matviyko is out of range.
Nice jab there from Matviyko.
Matviyko tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Sotaheimo moves into the clinch.
Sotaheimo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Matviyko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Matviyko tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sotaheimo smiles and moves away.
Matviyko avoids a kick to the body.

Sotaheimo closes the distance and clinches.
Sotaheimo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sotaheimo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Oleksandr Matviyko has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sotaheimo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ari Sotaheimo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Matviyko is breathing heavily.
Sotaheimo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Matviyko is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotaheimo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Sotaheimo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Matviyko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but Matviyko blocks it.
Sotaheimo has Matviyko pushed against the cage.
Matviyko tries to pull guard but Sotaheimo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sotaheimo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sotaheimo lands a knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Sotaheimo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sotaheimo lands a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotaheimo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Matviyko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sotaheimo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sotaheimo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sotaheimo missing with knees to the body.
Sotaheimo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Matviyko wants a takedown.
Ari Sotaheimo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oleksandr Matviyko.
Sotaheimo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sotaheimo looking to throw knees to the head but Matviyko is blocking nicely.
Stalling in the clinch from Sotaheimo.
Sotaheimo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sotaheimo is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matviyko avoids a wild elbow strike from Sotaheimo.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but Matviyko blocks it.
Sotaheimo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Matviyko is defending well for now.
Sotaheimo trying to land knees to the body.
Sotaheimo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Matviyko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Matviyko fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sotaheimo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Matviyko avoiding damage as Sotaheimo throws knees to the body.
Sotaheimo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Matviyko.
Sotaheimo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Matviyko.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matviyko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sotaheimo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Matviyko managing to block the knees to the body from Sotaheimo.
Sotaheimo is stalling here.
Sotaheimo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sotaheimo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Matviyko can do to turn this around?
Sotaheimo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Matviyko avoids it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but Matviyko blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sotaheimo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Matviyko is trying to pull guard but Sotaheimo has him pressed against the cage.
Sotaheimo lands a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Sotaheimo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Oleksandr Matviyko's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Sotaheimo rushes Matviyko and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sotaheimo landing knees to the head.
Sotaheimo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Matviyko's face.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee strike.
Matviyko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sotaheimo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sotaheimo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sotaheimo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sotaheimo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sotaheimo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sotaheimo lands an elbow just above Matviyko 's eye.
Matviyko tries to pull guard but Sotaheimo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sotaheimo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Matviyko tries to pull guard but Sotaheimo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ari Sotaheimo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oleksandr Matviyko.
Matviyko has Sotaheimo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sotaheimo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Sotaheimo looking to throw knees to the head but Matviyko is blocking nicely.
Matviyko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sotaheimo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Matviyko goes for a takedown attempt but Sotaheimo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Matviyko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sotaheimo misses with an uppercut.
Matviyko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sotaheimo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Matviyko.
Ari Sotaheimo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sotaheimo misses with a double jab.
Matviyko shoots for a double leg takedown but Sotaheimo sprawls well. He's pushed Matviyko's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matviyko shoots in looking for a takedown. Sotaheimo tries to sprawl out of it but Matviyko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sotaheimo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sotaheimo swats away the attempt to clinch by Matviyko.
Matviyko looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Matviyko tries to clinch up.

Sotaheimo clinches with his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sotaheimo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Matviyko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sotaheimo tries to land a knee to the head but Matviyko blocks with his arms.
Sotaheimo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Matviyko is defending well for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sotaheimo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Sotaheimo scores with a knee to the head.
Matviyko is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sotaheimo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Sotaheimo tries to land knees in the clinch but Matviyko avoids the damage to the body.
Sotaheimo trying to land knees to the body.
Sotaheimo misses with a knee to the head.
Sotaheimo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Matviyko is defending well for now.
Matviyko changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sotaheimo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
No luck for Matviyko with that takedown attempt.
Ari Sotaheimo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matviyko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sotaheimo is fending him off so far but Matviyko persists. Nope, Sotaheimo circles away and we're back to standing.
Sotaheimo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The fight stays on the outside here - Matviyko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Sotaheimo leaves Matviyko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sotaheimo leaves Matviyko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Oleksandr Matviyko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matviyko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sotaheimo scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A jab lands there for Sotaheimo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Matviyko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matviyko lands a glancing blow to the side of Sotaheimo's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Sotaheimo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sotaheimo 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 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Sotaheimo!
Our winner, Ari Sotaheimo, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
In defeat, Oleksandr Matviyko stepped up to the mic, saying 'Ari Sotaheimo is a good fighter. I gave my best effort.'.