PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Simo Rantalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mathew Matterson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matterson has chosen Dead by April - What can I say as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rantalainen
vs
Matterson

170 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Simo Rantalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mathew Matterson!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matterson shoots in for a takedown but Rantalainen shows good takedown defense.
Matterson shoots in for a takedown but Rantalainen shows good takedown defense.
Rantalainen stuffs the takedown attempt from Matterson. Matterson gets slowly back to his feet.
Simo Rantalainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mathew Matterson.
Matterson scores with a punch to the head.
Rantalainen shoots in looking for a takedown. Matterson tries to sprawl out of it but Rantalainen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Matterson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rantalainen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Rantalainen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Matterson's guard.
Rantalainen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rantalainen wants to stand but Matterson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rantalainen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Matterson on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matterson keeping full guard, as Rantalainen tries to pass.

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

Rantalainen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rantalainen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Matterson controls Rantalainen momentarily but Rantalainen frees himself.
Rantalainen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rantalainen tries to stand but Matterson is controlling from the bottom.

Matterson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rantalainen pushing down on Matterson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rantalainen is breathing heavily.

Matterson pushes Rantalainen off and gets back to his feet.
Matterson fails with the takedown

and Rantalainen counters by moving into the clinch.
Matterson tries to pull guard but Rantalainen won't allow it.
Rantalainen is trying to drag Matterson to the mat but Matterson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Rantalainen is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rantalainen pulls guard effortlessly.
Matterson wanted to stand there but Rantalainen had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matterson is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Rantalainen looking for a sweep. Not yet Rantalainen, not yet.
Rantalainen wants to stand but Matterson is controlling the position.
Matterson throwing strikes from guard but Rantalainen blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Matterson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rantalainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Matterson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rantalainen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Rantalainen forces Matterson back against the cage and clinches.
Rantalainen has Matterson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Matterson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Matterson manages to pull guard.
Rantalainen could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Matterson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rantalainen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rantalainen won't allow Matterson to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Simo Rantalainen will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rantalainen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Matterson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rantalainen looking to control but Matterson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rantalainen prevents Matterson from getting the reversal.
Rantalainen lands a heavy elbow.
Matterson tries to hold on but Rantalainen pushes him away.
Rantalainen blocks Matterson's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Matterson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Matterson throwing strikes from guard but Rantalainen blocks nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matterson looking to sit in guard and control but Rantalainen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Matterson is looking for a triangle but Rantalainen pushes his legs off easily.
Rantalainen stopping the sweep attempt from Matterson.

Rantalainen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two 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.
Rantalainen has his takedown stuffed
and Matterson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Rantalainen thinking.
Simo Rantalainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Matterson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rantalainen counters with a single leg into guard. Matterson didn't expect that.

Rantalainen gets to his feet - Matterson follows without any prompting.

Matterson moves into range and clinches up with Rantalainen.
Rantalainen looking for a takedown.
Matterson is trying to break free.
Matterson being controlled against the cage.
Rantalainen is looking to break free of the clinch but Matterson has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matterson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rantalainen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Rantalainen tries to clinch up but Matterson circles away and keeps his distance.
Matterson tries to clinch up

and Rantalainen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Matterson's guard now.

Matterson has an active guard here but Rantalainen has managed to pass into half guard.

Matterson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Matterson trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rantalainen stands up from half guard.
Matterson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Simo Rantalainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mathew Matterson.
Rantalainen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Matterson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rantalainen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Simo Rantalainen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rantalainen tries to clinch but Matterson moves out of range.
A punch combination from Matterson misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simo Rantalainen dominated that second round.
That's time! Rantalainen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Matterson with a poor takedown

and Rantalainen counters with a shoot takedown. Matterson fights it but they end up in guard.
Matterson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Matterson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Rantalainen uses it to pass to side control.
Matterson tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Matterson is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Rantalainen is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Simo Rantalainen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Matterson can't escape the position.
Matterson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Rantalainen with good strikes from the mount here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rantalainen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Matterson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Matterson is desperately trying to improve his position but Rantalainen has a good base and remains in mount.
Rantalainen controlling his opponent.
Matterson tries to hold on but Rantalainen pushes him away.
Rantalainen lands with some strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Matterson tries to hold on but Rantalainen pushes him away.
Matterson regains half guard.

Rantalainen seems to be looking for submissions.
Rantalainen blocks the strikes from Matterson.
Matterson tries to get to full guard but Rantalainen has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Matterson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rantalainen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Matterson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Matterson working a defensive guard but Rantalainen passes into half guard.
Rantalainen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rantalainen trying to control from half guard but Matterson is working away.
Matterson trying to control from the bottom.
Rantalainen wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Matterson makes his way to full guard, as Rantalainen worked for a kimura.

Matterson is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Rantalainen has his hands clasped together but Matterson extends an breaks Rantalainen's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Matterson.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mathew Matterson!