PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tyron Mathews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hodir Ragnarsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hodir Ragnarsson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mathews
vs
Ragnarsson

199 cm
18
177 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tyron Mathews!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hodir Ragnarsson!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mathews fails to land the takedown.
Ragnarsson is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Mathews tries to clinch up.
Ragnarsson slaps away a takedown attempt from Mathews, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And Ragnarsson tries to counter it with a takedown but Mathews pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Ragnarsson has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ragnarsson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Mathews lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Ragnarsson manages to break the clinch.
Ragnarsson throws a leg kick
and Mathews counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ragnarsson.
Mathews seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Ragnarsson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mathews is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Ragnarsson.
Mathews shoots and misses

and Ragnarsson counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyron Mathews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ragnarsson is trying to push Mathews away but Mathews has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Ragnarsson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Ragnarsson closes the distance and clinches.
Mathews working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ragnarsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mathews is defended easily by Ragnarsson.

Ragnarsson has Mathews up against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Ragnarsson's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mathews tries to break the clinch but Ragnarsson is controlling the position.
Ragnarsson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Mathews to keep the fight standing.

Ragnarsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mathews keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A quick step to the side and Mathews tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Ragnarsson instigates a clinch.
Ragnarsson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ragnarsson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mathews changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ragnarsson tries to avoid it but Mathews manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ragnarsson to the ground. Ragnarsson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Ragnarsson pushes Mathews up against the cage in a clinch.
Mathews trying to stall but Ragnarsson improves his position.
Mathews fails to pull guard.
Mathews is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mathews is pressed up against the cage. Ragnarsson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mathews down to the mat. Mathews avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hodir Ragnarsson 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.

Ragnarsson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Mathews is trying to break the clinch but Ragnarsson has him pressed against the cage.
Ragnarsson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mathews has him pressed against the cage.
Ragnarsson stalling against the cage.
Mathews trying to control the position but instead, Ragnarsson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Mathews into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mathews taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mathews looking to stall.
Ragnarsson slowing the pace effectively.
Ragnarsson throws a head punch that misses.
Ragnarsson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mathews keeps control of Ragnarsson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Mathews looking to slow down the pace here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ragnarsson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ragnarsson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mathews is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mathews is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Ragnarsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Mathews with a poor takedown

and Ragnarsson counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ragnarsson prevents the takedown attempt.

Ragnarsson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Mathews regains guard immediately.

Mathews manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Mathews shoots and misses

and Ragnarsson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyron Mathews. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ragnarsson is breathing heavily.
Mathews tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Mathews escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ragnarsson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mathews will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ragnarsson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mathews is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ragnarsson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mathews swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mathews looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mathews looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ragnarsson puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ragnarsson trying to control from half guard but Mathews is working away.

Mathews looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hodir Ragnarsson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Ragnarsson rushes Mathews and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ragnarsson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mathews avoids it.
Ragnarsson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mathews up against the cage.

Ragnarsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ragnarsson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ragnarsson wants it to stay on the feet.
Ragnarsson looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Ragnarsson throws an overhand right that lands on Mathews's shoulder, as Mathews tries to avoid the shot.
Mathews is looking to counter the offense by Ragnarsson and move into the clinch.
Ragnarsson slaps away a takedown attempt from Mathews, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mathews tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ragnarsson misses with a jab to the body
and Mathews counters with a solid body kick.
Mathews moves in looking to clinch but Ragnarsson pushes him off.

Ragnarsson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Mathews is trying to trip Ragnarsson. He has hold of a leg but Ragnarsson is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Mathews persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ragnarsson wants to stand up but Mathews is controlling him.
Ragnarsson trying to keep a closed guard but Mathews is proving a slippery customer.
Ragnarsson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mathews is controlling him.
Ragnarsson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ragnarsson is trying to keep Mathews in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mathews with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hodir Ragnarsson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ragnarsson wants to sweep but no luck.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Mathews stands up over Ragnarsson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ragnarsson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ragnarsson has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Ragnarsson throws a combination. Mathews tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Hodir Ragnarsson seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Mathews avoids the body shot from Ragnarsson.
Mathews seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Ragnarsson closes the distance and clinches.
Mathews is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ragnarsson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyron Mathews. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ragnarsson'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.
Mathews working hard to break the clinch.
Tyron Mathews has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mathews misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hodir Ragnarsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ragnarsson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hodir Ragnarsson!
Hodir Ragnarsson bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.